*EPF305 12/15/2004
Text: U.S., Japan Launch Cooperative Program for Humanitarian Aid
(Two nations seek new ways to collaborate and coordinate efforts) (300)

Government officials from the United States and Japan met December 13 to explore new ways to coordinate the efforts of both countries in humanitarian aid.

A December 14 State Department release said the "U.S.-Japan Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance" would provide a forum for ongoing discussions on issues such as food security and humanitarian aid initiatives in Iraq, Afghanistan and on the African continent. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in spring 2005.

Following is the text:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
December 14, 2004

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

United States-Japan Bilateral Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance

The United States and Japan held the inaugural session December 13 of the U.S.-Japan Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance. The participants reaffirmed the strong level of cooperation between the United States and the Government of Japan on humanitarian issues and, as world leaders in humanitarian response situations, agreed to explore new avenues for continued collaboration and coordination.

Arthur E. Dewey, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, William J. Garvelink, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, and Kaoru Ishikawa, Director General of the Global Issues Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led their respective delegations in discussing global and multilateral issues, including: policy priorities and practice of humanitarian assistance; human security; meeting global challenges multilaterally; food security issues; humanitarian initiatives; and opportunities for sustained coordination in Iraq, Afghanistan, and crises on the African continent.

The delegations agreed to continue these talks to determine a framework for increased cooperation between the governments in humanitarian affairs. The next meeting will be held in Tokyo in spring 2005.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents