BERLIN, Aug. 17 Kyodo (EDS: UPDAT...

BERLIN, Aug. 17 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH ARRIVAL)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in Berlin forward Sunday for a weeklong trip to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic to discuss like issues as North Korea and the reconstruction of Iraq with the three countries' leaders.

by what mode to boost ties between Japan and the European Union (EU) will also be a main topic in the summits in Berlin, Warsaw and Prague. Germany is an EU member state, and Poland and the Czech Republic are to be paid to join the EU nearest May.

On Monday in Berlin, Koizumi will discuss with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder issues related to North Korea ahead of six-party talks forward the North's nuclear weapons program with the United States, China, North and southward Korea, and Russia starting Aug. 27 in Beijing.

Koizumi is also calculate uponed to discuss how to rebuild postwar Iraq with Schroeder who was oppos to the US-l invasion of Iraq and has said the United Nations should take the lead in rebuilding the country

The Japanese premier will vibrate to Warsaw on Tuesday and discuss with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller and President Aleksander Kwasniewski by what mode to boost bilateral ties in economic and cultural sectors.

upon Thursday, Koizumi will meet with Czech President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla to discuss similar topics in Prague. He will turn back to Japan on Saturday.

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