Summit agrees the U.N. should coordinate disaster response.

JAKARTA-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in the Indonesian capital Thursday for a multination emergency disaster summit, pledged ``maximum assistance'' to Indian Ocean nations reeling from a natural disaster that is unprecedented in scale.

Koizumi also stressed the United Nations should play a central role in coordinating relief efforts.

He was addressing a one-day summit sponsored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss aid to a region devastated by a Dec. 26 earthquake off Sumatra that triggered monstrous tidal waves that killed people as far away as Africa.

At least 150,000 people are known to be dead, and that toll will surely rise, say officials voicing concern for the 5 million displaced people.

The conference ended with a declaration confirming a U.N.-led assistance effort and agreement to establish a tsunami early-warning system in the region.

Koizumi pledged up to $500 million (51.5 billion yen) in grants. The money will go to stricken nations either through the U.N. or other international organizations or directly from Japan.

``A major natural disaster in Asia is an issue that involves us directly,'' Koizumi told the international gathering. ``We will provide the maximum assistance possible on three fronts-financial, personnel contributions and knowledge.''

He indicated that Japan could provide additional assistance to individual nations over the middle to long term.

Koizumi also touched on possible debt relief for affected nations in the form of a moratorium on repayments of Japanese loans.

In addition, Japan has dispatched the Self-Defense Forces to the region to assist in emergency relief efforts.

Meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Koizumi agreed the U.N. would play a central role in coordination. The comment came as the United States said it would give up on its idea of leading a ``core group'' of nations handling relief assistance.

Koizumi pledged 13 billion yen in grant aid to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's quake-hit nation.(IHT/Asahi: January 7,2005)