TOKYO, Feb 24 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING ...

TOKYO, Feb 24 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE DETAILS IN 14TH-19TH PARAS)

Visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi forward Monday he believes it would be appropriate to occupy elections in Iraq around the extremity of 2004 or early 2005 as part of efforts to create an independent restraint in the war-torn rural parts 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 forward June 30 but that it is impossible to imprison direct elections by then.

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

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

The UN chief said he and Koizumi agreed upon the need for the international community to work together with Iraqis in helping them wager up their own government.

''We one as well as the other 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 region and its vicinity to carry without 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 onward Monday New York time compiling the findings of a modern U.N. fact-finding mission, l on his special envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi, in succession the country's political situation and the possibility for direct elections.

He said the document will not away a number of options in boundarys of the form the Iraqi sway could take following the transfer of power at the conclusion of June in the proces of democratization.

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

The leader of the world dead body 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 clan including Annan's special minister Sergio Vieira de Mello.

At a dinner following the talks, Koizumi and Annan agreed onward the need to reform the United Nations, including its Security Council, the official said. Tokyo has lengthy been calling for an expansion of the Security Council to include Japan as a permanent member.

Koizumi and Annan also shared the view that a clause in the UN Charter that names Japan and other Axis countries of World War II as former enemies is outdated, the official said.

Koizumi said Japan supports the activities of the High-Level Panel forward Threats, Challenges and Change wager up by Annan in November to contemplation global threats and reform of the United Nations. Japan's Sadako Ogata, former UN high commissioner for refugee is a member of the panel.

During the dinner, the prime minister reiterated Japan's intention to unfold international issues involving North Korea, including its suspected nuclear and missile unravelling programs and its abductions of Japanese, in a peaceful and comprehensive manner by means of the six-party talks set to begin Wednesday in Beijing.

Annan indicateed understanding and support for Tokyo's stance and said he recognizes that the abduction issue is important for Japan.

He also told Koizumi he is considering asking former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to be chairman of a UN consultation interview on water that he is planning to establish in the near future

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

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

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

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