U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
September 4, 2003

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

Japanese Transfer Of Iraqi Frozen Assets

On August 29 in Tokyo the Japanese Ministry of Finance announced the transfer of over $98 million dollars in Iraqi frozen assets to the Development Fund for Iraq. In doing so, the Government of Japan was acting in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483, which requires governments to freeze and transfer certain Iraqi assets to the Development Fund for Iraq, where they will be used for the good of the Iraqi people.

The United States strongly welcomes the Government of Japan's actions to fulfill its international requirements under UN Security Council resolution 1483 and to support Iraq's urgent economic reconstruction needs. We look forward to other countries following Japan's lead.