Japanese Envoy Meets Ex-Afghan King in ItalyJapan's Ambassador to Italy Akira Hayashi told former Afghan King Zahir Shah on Monday that Japan plans to take an active role in the establishment of a broad-based government in Afghanistan.Japanese officials said Hayashi reaffirmed Japan's position in a meeting Monday that the only way to peace in Afghanistan is to set up a popularly backed government that would be acceptable to the international society. Zahir Shah, who met the Japanese envoy for the second time since Oct. 1, expressed appreciation on the role Japan has played for peace in Afghanistan and reiterated the importance that a new Afghan government must be chosen by the free will of the people. The Japanese government has sought to promote peace in Afghanistan by inviting various Afghan factions for a meeting in Tokyo in March last year. Japanese Foreign Ministry officials met with Taliban Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil Muttawakil in June and have held talks with the opposition Northern Alliance's Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah in Malaysia. |
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