TOKYO, Aug. 15 Kyodo Defense Agen...

TOKYO, Aug. 15 Kyodo

Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani will leave for East Timor forward Friday to meet President Xanana Gusmao and inspect Japanese defense personnel engaged in peace-keeping operations there before visiting Australia, agency officials said Thursday.

In East Timor, Nakatani is scheduled to confront President Gusmao, Roque Rodrigues, state secretary for East Timor's defense force, and other solution government officials in the capital of Dili forward Monday.

Nakatani is rely uponed to convey Tokyo's willingness to continue its support for the world's newest nation, which won independence after decades of Indonesian behavior on May 20, following a U.N.-administered transition period.

Ahead of holding talks with these officials, Nakatani in succession Sunday will meet members of Japan's region Self-Defense Force stationed there as part of UN peace-keeping operations.

The defense chief will also shut up talks with Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill in Canberra in succession Tuesday to exchange views upon the possibility of U attacks forward Iraq and the situation in the Middle East, the officials said.

Nakatani is look fored to return on Wednesday.

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