Tuesday, September 18, 2007

U.N. Security Council to extend the mission of the International Security

The resolution likely will mention for the first time the maritime OEF activities the Maritime Self-Defense Force participate in by refueling U.S.-led ships in the Indian Ocean. The maritime activities are being carried out by multinational forces, including those of Britain and the United States.

As the Democratic Party of Japan has refused to extend the Antiterrorism Law, which is set to expire on Nov. 1, the MSDF's refueling operations would be halted. The government therefore asked Britain and the United States to recognize the important role played by the MSDF via its refueling mission in an attempt to sway the DPJ.

According to U.N. diplomatic sources, the key permanent Security Council members--Britain, France and the United States--have entered the final stage of discussion on a preamble to be included in the resolution, which likely will state the council appreciates the role played by participating countries in the ISAF and OEF operations, including the marine activities.

The main purpose of the resolution is to achieve a one-year extension of the ISAF mission that expires in mid-October.

The mission of the U.N.-mandated ISAF squad, which was dispatched to Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, has been extended every year with a new U.N. resolution.

If the resolution is submitted to the Security Council on Tuesday, it likely will be adopted Wednesday.

The preamble, which also will summarize the Security Council's views on its operations in Afghanistan, will include words of appreciation for countries participating in the OEF mission, which by assisting the ISAF campaign, have contributed to maintaining security in Afghanistan.

The marine activities that form part of OEF operations, look set to be mentioned for the first time since the first resolution was adopted in 2001.

Preambles until 2006 only thanked nations who joined the ISAF and OEF missions for their contributions without praising the willingness of such nations to take part in the missions.

DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa has opposed extending the Antiterrorism Law, saying the activities in which the MSDF has been participating are being carried out despite the lack of a U.N. resolution.

As such, the government has asked the United States and other countries to include in the resolution words pointing to the importance of the MSDF's role. However, since such wording will only be included in the preamble, it remains to be seen whether the DPJ will be swayed by the resolution.

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