TOKYO, Feb 23 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATIN...

TOKYO, Feb 23 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE INFO)

Visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi upon Monday he believes it would be appropriate to clutch elections in Iraq around the extreme point of 2004 or early 2005 as part of efforts to create an independent command in the war-torn fatherland a Japanese official said.

In talks at the premier's office, Annan reiterated his view that the transfer of power to Iraqis from the US-l Coalition Provisional Authority should take place as anticipated onward June 30 but that it is impossible to retain direct elections by then.

Koizumi and Annan agreed upon the importance of the United Nations becoming more involved in rebuilding Iraq, particularly in helping its family set up a political system

''We were able to share the view upon the importance of the U.N.'s part in creating a government for the Iraqi the bulk of mankind and in creating an environment in which Iraqis can work in succession building their nation quickly and with hope'' Koizumi told reporters after emerging from the talks.

The UN chief said he and Koizumi agreed in succession the need for the international community to help Iraqis plant up their own government while working together with them.

''We the two agreed that the electoral issue is extremely important,'' Annan said. ''We ne to...(help) the Iraqis determine a mechanism for establishing an interim or transitional government''

Koizumi briefed his visitor in detail about Japan's contributions to Iraq, including the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to the home and its vicinity to carry revealed humanitarian and reconstruction assistance work.

The UN chief said he wants to ''applaud'' Japan's character as well as Koizumi's vision and leadership, saying the country's function in the proces of rebuilding Iraq is ''a right one'' according to the official.

Annan reiterated his plan to issue a report forward Monday New York time compiling the findings of a modern U.N. fact-finding mission, l from his special envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi, upon Iraq's political situation and the possibility for direct elections.

He said the document will near a number of options in boundarys of the form the Iraqi management could take following the transfer of power at the completion of June in the proces of democratization of the country

Brahimi is also in Tokyo to attend a symposium Tuesday forward peace-building and rehabilitation in Afghanistan and East Timor.

The leader of the world material substance said in his press remarks with Koizumi that he assured the prime minister the UN is ready to play a bigger part and go back to Iraq to do its work if the security situation permits.

The UN withdrew its staff from Iraq following a bomb attack at the UN headquarters in Baghdad last August that killed 23 population including Annan's special minister Sergio Vieira de Mello.

Koizumi and Annan ran revealed of time to discuss other planned topics similar as proposed reforms to the United Nations and the North Korea situation, and touched forward these matters over dinner, which was meant to be a largely social fact the official said.

Earlier Monday, Emperor Akihito welcomed Annan at the Imperial Palace, where the couple discussed the reconstruction of Iraq.

The emperor signifyed his condolences over the death of de Mello and Annan told the emperor that UN personnel are at last beginning to recruit from the shock of his death.

The UN chief arrived in Japan forward Saturday for a five-day stay, his first visit since January 2002 when he attended an international donor meeting for consultation on Afghanistan's reconstruction held in Tokyo.

Annan will address the Diet forward Tuesday, the first time for a UN secretary general to deliver a language to the Japanese parliament.

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