ID :
70437
Wed, 07/15/2009 - 09:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/70437
The shortlink copeid
Hatoyama vows to discuss secret nuke pact with U.S. if DPJ takes power+
TOKYO, July 14 Kyodo - Yukio Hatoyama, chief of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said Tuesday his party will discuss with the United States a secret Japan-U.S. pact allowing nuclear-armed U.S. ships to stop over in Japan if the DPJ wins the
upcoming general election.
Hatoyama told reporters at the DPJ headquarters, ''Tokyo and Washington will
thoroughly discuss the issue if we take the reins of government. It is most
desirable to openly abide by the 'three nonnuclear principles'.''
The Japanese government has kept denying the existence of the pact because it
would contradict the country's nonnuclear principles of not possessing,
producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Taro Aso said he has no intention of opening an
investigation following comments by former Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata
testifying to the existence of the accord in various media interviews.
Aso on the same day told reporters at his official residence that the
government ''consistently denies the existence of the secret pact because, in
fact, no such deal has existed. I will not conduct a new investigation into the
issue.''
Under the secret deal, which the two countries agreed on in revising the
Japan-U.S. security treaty in 1960, Tokyo gives tacit approval for stopovers by
U.S. military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons, though the treaty
stipulates that Washington must hold consultations with Tokyo before bringing
nuclear weapons into Japan.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone criticized a procedure
by a parliamentary committee chief that led him to decide that the government's
denial of the existence of the secret pact is false.
Nakasone stressed he read in media reports that Taro Kono, the chairman of the
House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, met ''alone'' with Murata
and thought that the former vice minister's remarks were highly credible.
''I doubt that it is appropriate, from the viewpoint of the procedure, to seek
a correction of government statements (on the issue) to parliament by deciding
on his own and without conclusive evidence,'' Nakasone said.
Kono, a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is calling for the
government to correct its remarks in parliament denying the existence of the
deal.
==Kyodo
upcoming general election.
Hatoyama told reporters at the DPJ headquarters, ''Tokyo and Washington will
thoroughly discuss the issue if we take the reins of government. It is most
desirable to openly abide by the 'three nonnuclear principles'.''
The Japanese government has kept denying the existence of the pact because it
would contradict the country's nonnuclear principles of not possessing,
producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Taro Aso said he has no intention of opening an
investigation following comments by former Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata
testifying to the existence of the accord in various media interviews.
Aso on the same day told reporters at his official residence that the
government ''consistently denies the existence of the secret pact because, in
fact, no such deal has existed. I will not conduct a new investigation into the
issue.''
Under the secret deal, which the two countries agreed on in revising the
Japan-U.S. security treaty in 1960, Tokyo gives tacit approval for stopovers by
U.S. military aircraft or vessels carrying nuclear weapons, though the treaty
stipulates that Washington must hold consultations with Tokyo before bringing
nuclear weapons into Japan.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone criticized a procedure
by a parliamentary committee chief that led him to decide that the government's
denial of the existence of the secret pact is false.
Nakasone stressed he read in media reports that Taro Kono, the chairman of the
House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, met ''alone'' with Murata
and thought that the former vice minister's remarks were highly credible.
''I doubt that it is appropriate, from the viewpoint of the procedure, to seek
a correction of government statements (on the issue) to parliament by deciding
on his own and without conclusive evidence,'' Nakasone said.
Kono, a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is calling for the
government to correct its remarks in parliament denying the existence of the
deal.
==Kyodo
