Netherlands willing to act on illegal protests by Sea Shepherd

TOKYO, Oct. 28 Kyodo - The Netherlands expressed its willingness Monday to cooperate in response to
Japan's request to take action against any illegal activities by the
anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as the two nations' foreign
ministers met in Tokyo.
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi
Nakasone also agreed on the need for Japan and Europe, as well as the world as
a whole, to work together in tackling the serious situations stemming from the
current financial crisis, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said.
At the talks, the two ministers also shared views on international affairs
including the North Korean nuclear and abduction issues, as well as the
situations in Georgia and Afghanistan, according to the officials.
Nakasone took up the issue of the Sea Shepherd with Verhagen because the
group's ship Steve Irwin, which was used by the activists in harassing Japanese
whaling fleets, flies a Dutch flag.
In response to Japan's request, Verhagen was quoted by the officials as
reiterating the Netherlands' stance against whaling but also saying that his
government would respond appropriately to any behavior that violates the rule
of law.
Interpol has put three Sea Shepherd activists -- two Americans and one Briton
-- on an international wanted list on suspicion of interfering with Japan's
whaling activities in the Antarctic Ocean in February last year.
Meanwhile, Verhagen asked Nakasone about Tokyo's position regarding Japan's
wartime sex slavery. He expressed his understanding after Nakasone explained
that a 1993 government statement that apologized for the issue continues to be
upheld.
The Dutch minister was also quoted by the officials as saying he would relay
the explanation to the Dutch parliament.
Last November, the Netherlands' lower house unanimously passed a resolution
urging Japan to apologize and pay compensation to the victims, euphemistically
known as ''comfort women'' in Japan. The victims were mostly Asian women but
included Dutch nationals who lived in Indonesia under Japanese rule during
World War II.
Earlier on Monday, Verhagen said in a speech at Aoyama Gakuin University, ''The
Netherlands and Japan may come from different parts of the world, but there are
many similarities in our approach to global affairs. I see great merit in
intensifying our partnership.''
Citing international cooperation between Japanese and Dutch troops in Iraq and
in Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, the minister said, ''Our
joint effort in Iraq was a good example of an integrated approach that embraced
defense, development and diplomacy. I would be happy to work together again on
that same basis.''
''It seems to me that such cooperation would be fully in line with Japan's
growing desire to play a part in promoting international peace and security, in
line with its economic standing in the world and its (nonpermanent) membership
of the (U.N.) Security Council,'' Verhagen added.
Verhagen arrived in Japan on Saturday for his first visit to Japan. The
four-day trip came as the two nations mark the 150th anniversary of diplomatic
relations this year.
The Dutch minister invited Nakasone to visit the Netherlands next year, when
the two nations will celebrate 400 years of bilateral trade, the officials
said.