TOKYO —

Japan called on Myanmar’s military government on Friday to admit international disaster relief personnel to facilitate assistance following the devastating cyclone last week, while offering additional emergency aid of up to $10 million through U.N. agencies.

In a letter sent to Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen Than Shwe, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda expressed his condolences as the head of government to the victims of the cyclone and noted the importance of deploying relief personnel in the event of a major disaster, a Foreign Ministry official said.

Fukuda was quoted as saying in the letter that Japan ‘‘is ready to provide an emergency medical team to Myanmar. Furthermore, given the large area and many people hit by the disaster this time, it is important that support and relief personnel be admitted not only from our country but also from other countries and international organizations, and we hope you will positively consider accepting them.’’

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said in a news conference that while Myanmar has approved the entry of two members of the Japanese Red Cross, it is not accepting representatives from nongovernmental organizations in large numbers.

© 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

1 Comments

• 

  illsayit at 05:29 PM JST - 10th May

  Nice moves, Integrity.

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