### 5. Middle East

Japan’s bilateral assistance to the Middle East in 2007 was approximately US$948.98 million, 16.3% of total bilateral ODA.

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Peace and stability of the Middle East is crucial for the peace and stability of the entire international community since it is the world’s major energy supplying region. It also supplies more than 90% of Japan’s imported crude oil. The reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the progress in the Middle East peace process bear vital importance in achieving peace and stability in the region.

In this region, economic conditions vary, ranging from the high-income oil-producing countries to least developed countries. In the low and middle-income countries, the building of socio-economic infrastructure and measures against poverty is vital. Meanwhile, even in the ODA graduated and high-income oil-producing countries, challenges such as the development of human resources still exist. It is a vitally important challenge to ensure and manage valuable water resources that may influence the stability of the region.

The Maghreb countries, such as Tunisia and Morocco, play an important role for security and terrorist countermeasures. From their geographic positions, these countries also serve as a bridge between European and the Arab and Islamic countries culturally, religiously, and politically.

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For linking with the peace and stability of the entire international community, both the achievement of peace and stability in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the realization of peace in the Middle East that hinges on the Palestine track are significant. Japan recognizes the great significance of achieving “human security” and “peace building”—the basic principles of Japan’s ODA Charter—and continues to cooperate with the rest of the international community for proactive engagement.

Japan continues to view support for the management of water resources, improvement of socio-economic infrastructure and human resources development as important, and as such is engaged in providing support to help with social stability and economic development in the Middle East. For the Maghreb Countries too, in 2007, Japan steadily applied a range of support including the decision to extend ODA loans for projects such as the Greater Tunis Flood Control Project and the Integrated Reforestation Project (II) in Tunisia, and the implementation of grant aid in the form of providing machinery and equipment $ ^{78} $ for flood countermeasures in Morocco.

## Support to Iraq and Afghanistan

Japan’s proactive support for Iraq includes assistance for humanitarian rehabilitation provided by the Self-Defense Forces, a maximum US$5 billion in ODA, approximately US$6 billion in debt relief, and assistance for promoting harmony among citizens. For Afghanistan, Japan declared that it would provide US$450 million at the London Conference on Afghanistan held in January 2006. While in 2008, at the International Conference in Support of Afghanistan, it pledged an additional US$550 to help in the implementation of successful national development strategies in the country, through which the total amount pledged has reached US$2 billion. Of the amount pledged for support, US$1.45 billion had been implemented by the end of July 2008.

See page 96 for peace building support for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Shibayama participating in a ceremony to commemorate the foundation of Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), and opening ceremony of the commemorative symposium

## Support for Peace in the Middle East

Japan’s support for peace in the Middle East has included approximately US$900 million in assistance to the Palestinian Territory provided between 1993, when the current peace process was initiated, and the end of 2007. It has also included support for realizing the two-state solution, and consistent support of the peace efforts of President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority (PA). At the International Conference of the Donors for Palestinian State held in December 2007