Japanese Premier: Japan Is Ready To Help Finance Economic Recovery Of Afghanistan

Japan will help finance the economic recovery of Afghanistan when the anti-terrorist operation and political settlement in the country are over, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday. Simultaneously, according to Russian diplomat Alexander Losyukov, the premier pointed out that the Japanese government fully understands Moscow's stance on the problem of fighting international terrorism. According to Losyukov, the fact that Putin and Chinese leader Jiang Zemin jointly called for immediate termination of the military operation in Afghanistan and the beginning of political settlement "does not mean Russia has changed its stance" on the problem of fighting international terrorism. "The announcement made by Putin and Zemin fully corresponds with Moscow stance," stressed the diplomat.