"Iraq has escaped the constraints of the past and is engaged in new challenges," Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki said at the start of his meeting with Shinzo Abe. "The country is one and the people are one in the effort to reconstruct Iraq."

Al-Maliki also noted the current depth of friendly bilateral ties. "The support being given to Iraq is a symbol of that friendship," he said.

Japan and Iraq also signed off on ¥102.84 billion in loans Tokyo is giving in support of four projects aimed at repairing Iraqi oil processing and export facilities, rebuilding a fertilizer plant and power sector reconstruction.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 14, 2007
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