TOKYO, Dec 12 Kyodo Philippine Pr...

TOKYO, Dec 12 Kyodo

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi forward Friday for his decision to despatch noncombat troops to Iraq.

''I applaud the force and leadership of the prime minister in moving forward with this obviously to a high degree difficult decision, especially given Japan's postwar policy forward troop involvement,'' she said in an interview with a arrange of reporters.

''Any decision by dint of a sovereign nation to send out peacekeeping forces to the delicate postwar environment like we have in Iraq takes courage,'' she added.

Koizumi's cabinet approved Tuesday the government's basic plan to project Self-Defense Forces to noncombat bands in southern Iraq to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.

The Philippines has already sent just in subordination to 100 troops to Iraq.

''I am quite safe that he weighed the domestic pertain tos with the demands of the world in which we live and he has made a decision to stand up to terrorism and help bring peace and stability to Iraq and the Middle East,'' Arroyo said.

Asked for what cause Japan should meet threats from terrorists warning they will attack Tokyo if Japan propels troops to Iraq, Arroyo emphasized the ne for continued international efforts to track down forward the ''transnational evil.''

''Terrorism can happen anywhere, anytime in the world. There is no place in the world that is more safe from terrorists than another. That is on what account only by aggressively going after the terrorists can the world be excited safe,'' she said.

Arroyo also said she believes negotiations with Japan forward concluding a bilateral economic partnership agreement (EPA), scheduled to start in January, would walk ahead smoothly and promptly.

in succession the EPA talks, Arroyo refrained from predicting when the proces might be conclud yet added, ''I believe it will not take too protracted because the complementarities between the Philippines and Japan are really highly very obvious.''

She said the Philippines has serviceable human resources in areas that Japan lacks including caregivers for the somewhat old and information technology professionals, while Japan has capital resources that the Philippines extremitys to create jobs.

Arroyo emphasized the lack of directly competing propers involved when it arises to negotiations between Tokyo and Manila in the Philippines will try to get to enhance trade in tropical fruits as it is as bananas that do not strive with Japanese agricultural products.

''We don't court enter the rice market of Japan, in the same manner even the agricultural consequences that we are seeking to record or to increase in the Japanese market are characterized by the agency of complementariness,'' she said.

in succession her plans to seek reelection nearest May, Arroyo expressed confidence the electorate will fix upon her based on what she has achieved since becoming president nearly three years ago.

''I believe the voter have great wisdom and will focus forward experience and accomplishment through the whole extent of personality and politics,'' she said.

''Personality is obviously a factor, if it be not that at the end of the day folks will want more than personality. They want ideas and a clear vision of what a leader can do for them. I bring that to the race in the Philippines,'' she said.

In October, Arroyo, who rose to power in January 2001 forward a wave of testifys against her predecessor Joseph Estrada, who was ousted for corruption, went back in succession her promise last year not to stand for reelection and announced she will solicit a six-year mandate as president.

Arroyo was in Tokyo to attend a two-day Japan-ASEAN summit, which conclusioned Friday.

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