Japan Stresses Limits On Use Of Fuel By Naval Forces -AFP

Feb 5, 2008

TOKYO (AFP)--Japan Tuesday told four nations that oil it supplies for their naval forces must only be used for operations in Afghanistan amid suspicions that the US military has used it for the Iraq war.

Japan signed diplomatic notes with Britain, France, Pakistan and the United States and said the use of Japanese supplies must be "consistent with the charter of the United Nations," a foreign ministry statement said.

The Japanese navy has provided fuel to US-led forces operating in and around Afghanistan as part of the "war on terror" launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

However, Japanese opposition lawmakers raised suspicions that the United States used some of the Japanese fuel for the Iraq war. This would violate the mission's guidelines, even though Japan also backed the Iraq invasion.

The newly signed notes came after the US reportedly refused to promise not to use the Japanese fuel for operations outside the Indian Ocean, saying it was not practical to strictly monitor where the fuel goes.

Even by signing the fresh diplomatic notes, the recipient nations don't make any promises, only recognising the intent of the Japanese naval mission.

The diplomatic notes also say the recipient nations won't release received oil to third parties without consent from Japan.

Two Japanese naval ships are to resume provision of fuel and other support to coalition forces later this month.

Japan pulled its ships from the Indian Ocean in November, ending its main contribution to the military effort due to a domestic political deadlock on the mission.

Opposition parties refused to support the mission, arguing that Japan, which has been officially pacifist since defeat in World War II, should not take part in "American wars." The government countered that Japan, as the world's second largest economy, needed to contribute to global security. The ruling coalition rammed renewal of the mission through parliament using a rare parliamentary procedure.


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02-05-080640ET
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