In 1993, Japan's Environmental Agency created the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia. Tokyo invited researchers from China and South Korea to do joint research to deal with the problem. Japan has also been quietly pushing its own officials into top positions in the United Nations. In November, Japanese diplomat Koichiro Matsuura was unanimously appointed director-general of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Japan's Sadako Ogata leads the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Japan enjoys similar goodwill with Africa.
In June, visiting Ghananian President Jerry Rawlings expressed support for Japan's campaign for U.N. reform during a meeting with Mori. The premier thanked the African leader by promising more economic support. Despite all the diplomatic niceties though, analysts still do not paint a rosy picture for Japan's efforts to gain a U.N. Security Council seat. The nation's Peace Constitution does not allow Japanese troops to participate in civil wars overseas, a stipulation that must be changed if Japan enters the Security Council. Mindful of pacifist public opinion critical of the militarism that led Japan into World War II, the Japanese government has been careful in asserting itself as a global player.