assistance to ministries of Iraq and direct financial aid to international organizations. According to a breakdown of the fund of 500 million dollars, 490 million dollars was provided to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq $ ^{23} $ (of which 360 million dollars was managed by the United Nations and 130 million dollars was managed by the World Bank), while the remaining 10 million dollars was provided to the small-scale enterprises financial facility of IFC (International Finance Corporation). The matters regarding the management and operation of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq are discussed at meetings held by the Donor Committee consisting of major donors of the Fund. The Committee held a meeting in Abu Dhabi in February in 2004, in which Japan was elected as the chair. At the end of May, Japan presided over a meeting in Doha, in which 43 countries and organizations attended including such new participants as Germany, France, Russia, Iran, and Turkey as a result of Japan's efforts to invite those countries. The next Donor Committee meeting is scheduled to be held in the autumn of 2004 in Tokyo.

Japan also provided assistance to Iraq in cooperation with Arab countries. For example, Japan provided a Jordan-based NGO called the Hashemite Charity Organization with assistance totaling approximately 150,000 dollars, which was used by the Organization to supply medicines and other medical products to the Al Kadhmiyah Education Hospital $ ^{24} $ in Baghdad, greatly benefiting the Iraqi people.

Moreover, Japan cooperated with Egypt in supporting the reconstruction of the medical systems in Iraq. In this collaborative effort, Japan placed special emphasis on human resources development in pediatrics and other medical fields in high demand. Approximately 100 Iraqi medical personnel were trained at Cairo University and other medical institutions in Egypt. Japan plans to further strengthen its effort through such project as the training of Iraqi medical personnel in Japanese medical institutions.

In December 2003, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto visited France and Germany as an envoy of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Mr. Hashimoto met the heads of the two countries and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq. They agreed to commence a study on cooperation among France, Germany, and Japan in rebuilding Iraq. Japan plans to announce its agreement with France in the fields of culture, sports, and medicine, while planning to cooperate with Germany in supporting the police in Iraq.

## (d) Future Assistance

For the reconstruction of Iraq, it is important to give the Iraqi people a concrete vision of the future so that they can have a positive outlook for the future. In order for this to happen, the international community has to act in a coordinated manner.

Plan for the provision of medical equipment to Samawah Maternity and Children's Hospital

ner in its efforts to support the reconstruction of Iraq.

On June 1, 2004, the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Adviser Lakhdar Brahimi announced the elected personnel of the Iraqi Interim Government, as an official announcement of the establishment of the Iraqi Interim Government. On June 28, the Japanese government recognized the Iraqi Interim Government, to which the authority to rule Iraq was transferred. The Japanese government made this decision based on the understanding that the Iraqi Interim Government is authorized to take over all the responsibility and authority to rule Iraq under the UN Security Council resolution 1546. On July 12, the U.N. Secretary-General appointed the ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, as the Special Representative for Iraq of the U.N. Secretary-General. Japan announced its intention to continue to give as much assistance and cooperation as possible to help UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) carry out its activities.

Furthermore, Japan is also making preparations for