Crown prince hopes to 'express gratitude' for Germany's quake assistance+

TOKYO, June 18 Kyodo -
Crown Prince Naruhito said Friday he hopes to ''express gratitude'' to the German people for their assistance and sympathy for disaster-hit Japan during his visit to the country from Tuesday.
''I would like to take an opportunity to express gratitude for all the sympathy and various assistance Germany has offered'' to Japan in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster, the crown prince told a press conference in Tokyo.
On the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and Germany's planned move toward denuclearization, the crown prince said, ''I would like to refrain from commenting, as I am in a position of maintaining a certain distance from politics.''
He added, however, ''I sincerely hope the problem (in Fukushima) will be contained as soon as possible.''
He also said his wife, Crown Princess Masako, who is under treatment for a stress-induced illness, has had strong desire to offer care to those who have been affected by the disaster. ''She is doing the best she can, while considering her health.''
She will not accompany him on the trip due to health reasons.
Looking back on his visit to West Berlin in 1987, the crown prince said, ''When I first saw the Berlin Wall, I remember being honestly shocked by the severe reality of international politics.''
''I would like to contribute to deepening the ties between the two countries,'' said the crown prince, who is the Japanese side's honorary head of events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of friendship between the two countries.
Japan and what was then the state of Prussia signed a treaty of amity and commerce in 1861.
==Kyodo
2011-06-18 00:10:3