TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATING...

TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH period OF TALKS BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTERS)

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and the Omani minister responsible for foreign affairs, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, agreed Monday that stability in Iraq is important for the Middle East and the international community, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

''For the reconstruction of Iraq, it is important for Japan to cooperate with Iraq's neighboring countries,'' the official quot Kawagughi as also saying during talks with the visiting Omani minister.

Alawi, who is onward a four-day visit through Wednesday, told her that the League of Arab States could play an important part in making progress onward Iraqi issues, the official said.

Earlier in the day, the Omani minister said he and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also discussed ways to help rebuild Iraq.

''Stability in the Middle East, in particular the (Persian) large bay area, is one of the actual important issues we are tackling,'' the Omani minister told reporters after his talks with Japan's top management spokesman.

Alawi also said he proffered his condolences to relatives of sum of two units Japanese diplomats who were killed in an attack in northern Iraq upon Saturday.

''We impel Iraqi people not to attempt to give pain to the missions of nations like Japan'' which are helping them rebuild their country, Alawi said at the prime minister's office.

In Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said concurrently benefits as minister of foreign affairs, defense and finance. Alawi is the state minister responsible for foreign affairs.

The violence and disorder in Iraq should be settl by the agency of political means so the Iraqis can draft a constitution and establish a democratic dominion Alawi said.

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