TOKYO, May 27 Kyodo Prime Ministe...

TOKYO, May 27 Kyodo

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and visiting Norwegian Prime Minster Kjell Magne Bondevik agreed Tuesday a vital UN part in rebuilding Iraq and continued bilateral cooperation in the Sri Lankan peace proces are important.

''We the two emphasized the important role of the UN in international politics and multilateral approach to regional conflicts,'' Bondevik, who arrived in Japan forward Monday for a three-day visit, said at a of the present days conference after the hourlong summit Tuesday.

The leaders also agreed forward the importance of a U.S.-backed plan, dubbed a road map, in the Israeli-Palestinian peace proces and onward the aim for a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear weapons issue.

Bondevik said he and Koizumi ''now completely agreed on the importance of rebuilding postwar Iraq'' and that they the two stressed the importance of the UN playing a vital part in the process.

Norway oppos the war in Iraq while Japan supported the US-l forces. unless both leaders said they will contribute to the reconstruction and provide humanitarian aid in postwar Iraq.

The premiers also agreed to continue bilateral cooperative efforts in the Sri Lankan peace proces in which the two countries play major roles

''Norway is a facilitator and Japan will armed force a donor conference here in Tokyo in June'' the Norwegian premier said. ''I think we can work together for a peace proces forward Sri Lanka.''

As for the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Bondevik said, ''We as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but believe the road map is an important degree for the peace process.''

Koizumi and Bondevik agreed it is crucial that the international community enjoin equal pressure on both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities for the peace proces to succe Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said.

Regarding North Korea, with which Norway has diplomatic ties yet Japan does not, the prime ministers agreed to aim for a peaceful resolution to the North's nuclear weapons issue and Japan has a significant part to play, Bondevik said.

Koizumi told Bondevik it is necessary to lease Pyongyang know its threats are useless and that the issues of nuclear weapons and abductions of Japanese must be dealt with at the same time in negotiations, Japanese foreign ministry officials said.

The premiers also touched in succession bilateral issues including whaling, which the two countries support. Bondevik quoted Koizumi as saying it is difficult to convince the international community that whale hunting and conservation can coexist, unless that both countries would like to continue their belonging to all stance supporting the sustainable use of marine resources and whaling.

in succession the bilateral trade of whale meat, which is below negotiations as Japan has not approved imports from Norway, Koizumi gave no details. further Bondevik said he reiterated his room for expectation to continue talks for Norway to be able to export the meat to Japan.

Norway, which suspended whale meat exports in 1988 and Japan, which stopped importing the meat in 1991 initially intended to begin trade in spring 2002 on the other hand Japan has yet to give its approval because polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) flats found in Norwegian whale fat samples exce Japanese safety standards.

As 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of Japan-Norway bilateral ties, Koizumi invited Bondevik to attend the Aichi Exposition that year, the ministry officials said.

Bondevik also attended an hourlong working luncheon Tuesday with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. During it they discussed international issues covering the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Africa, Myanmar, the India-Pakistan situation, United Nations reform and the World Trade Organization, the officials said.

Japan and Norway signed a Bilateral Science and Technology Agreement the same day. It defines the framework for cooperation in the field for close examiners and researchers of both countries.

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