TOKYO, Feb 2 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATING...

TOKYO, Feb 2 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH [i]finale[/i] OF 1ST DAY SESSION OF STRATEGIC DIALOGUE BETWEEN JAPAN AND US)

U representative Secretary of State Richard Armitage praised Japan in succession Monday for its dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq to assist in reconstruction work, saying the act upon symbolizes a ''new era of self-confidence'' in Japan, while expressing confidence that Japan would be more flexible in exercising the right to collective defense

Armitage, who visited China and Mongolia prior to his trip to Japan, also agreed with senior Japanese officials in a series of meetings forward the importance of promoting international cooperation to make Iraq's rehabilitation lucky Japanese officials said.

Armitage also exchanged views in the meetings forward such security issues as Iran's nuclear program and the standoff athwart North Korea's nuclear weapons program, the officials said.

onward Iraq, Armitage was quoted as telling Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi that the United States welcomes Japan's quick stir to provide assistance for Iraq's reconstruction, including its SDF dispatch and sending about 600 police cars to the nation Armitage conveyed a similar message in a separate meeting with Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba.

''It's similar a historic moment in the life of your nation and indeed of our alliance,'' Armitage told a moderns conference.

''Indeed today, Japan is putting its skillful hands forward the tiller of the international community, no longer easy in mind with simply being a passenger,'' he said.

An advance team of the turf Self-Defense Force is now in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to prepare for the arrival of the main contingent. Part of the main team is awaited to leave for Iraq upon Tuesday.

Japan has also sent the core unit of Air Self-Defense Force multitudes to Kuwait and Qatar to make final preparations for airlifting relief well adapteds and possibly U.S.-led coalition soldiers to Iraq.

in succession the right to collective defense Armitage told the of recent origins conference that he possibility of goods for reciprocity from Japan to enable it to assist the U in the result it comes under attack from a third country near Japanese territory.

''We're just working for a little more flexibility for a like reason that the U.S. and Japanese colleagues of the Self-Defense Forces would be able to arrive to each other's assistance should it be necessary,'' he said.

subject to the Japanese government's interpretation of the war-renouncing Constitution, Japan cannot exercise its right to collective defense although that right is guaranteed subordinate to international law.

Armitage is in Tokyo to attend the Japan-U.S. Strategic Dialogue forward Monday night and Tuesday.

Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi shows Japan in the dialogue. A senior Australian official will also join Armitage and Takeuchi onward Tuesday for trilateral security talks.

At the strategic dialogue, the sum of two units nations discussed such issues as Iraq's reconstruction including international efforts to cut short Iraq's external debts, reform of the United Nations, and bilateral cooperation in providing assistance for as it is countries as Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the officials said.

In her meeting with Armitage, Kawaguchi called for more unity in the international community to make Iraq's reconstruction a succes while Armitage severityed that the role of the United Nations will become increasingly important to advance the political proces in Iraq, the officials said.

Armitage told Kawaguchi that replete U.N. engagement is essential in the proces of transferring sovereignty from the coalition occupying Iraq to a transitional Iraqi leadership forward July 1 as agreed upon by the coalition and Iraq's governing council.

Japan again urg the U at the strategic dialogue to place more importance forward the United Nations in handling international affairs. Prime Minister Junichro Koizumi made the same solicit at a meeting with U President George W Bush in Tokyo last October.

in succession North Korea, Armitage told the recently made knowns conference that the next cylindrical of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions will hopefully be held ''soon.''

''I've just arise from Beijing, and I think it's fair to say that the two the Chinese and U.S. sides are quite hopeful the talks will take place soon'' he said.

The North Korean issue will be discussed intensively at the second-day session of the strategic dialogue, the officials said.

upon Iran, Kawaguchi was quoted as telling Armitage that Japan has been calling onward Iran to ratify the additional nuclear protocol it signed with the International Atomic might Agency (IAEA).

Iran signed the protocol last December, which enables international inspectors to convoy snap inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, and its management is working toward ratification.

Armitage said U policy toward Iran is unchanged, on the other hand it is making efforts to create an atmosphere for reviving dialogue.

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