Sadako Ogata, former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, called Tuesday for Japan's financial support to help rebuild Afghanistan and stabilize neighboring countries.
She made the call during a meeting with Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka.
Ogata is visiting Japan from New York, where she is head of the U.N.-related Commission on Human Security, which will hold a meeting in Tokyo next month.
During the talks held at the Foreign Ministry, Ogata said the international community must first deal with stabilizing daily life in Afghanistan, then take steps to encourage refugees to go back to their country once the rehabilitation stage begins.
Ogata stressed that Japan's financial support for Afghanistan and neighboring countries is important, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Tanaka replied that Japan is planning to hold in Tokyo an international conference on Afghan reconstruction, adding that in addition to financial help, contributions by nongovernmental organizations and the government are also important, the official said.
