Bush tells Fukuda he will not forget about abductions

TOKYO, June 26 Kyodo - U.S. President George W. Bush told Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday that he will not forget about the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents and fully understands Japan's concerns, Japanese officials said.

During their 20-minute talks on the phone held a day before North Korea is
expected to present a declaration of its nuclear activities, the two leaders
agreed to continue to closely cooperate in dealing with North Korean problems,
including trying to resolve the abduction issue.

Once the declaration is submitted, the United States is set to respond by
beginning steps to remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of
terrorism, a longstanding demand by Pyongyang.

Bush's remarks are apparently aimed at allaying Japan's concerns, as Tokyo has
been worried that if Washington goes ahead with the delisting prior to progress
on the abduction issue would hamper Japan's efforts to push for a resolution.

Fukuda stressed the importance of ''pushing forward the six-party talks
process'' aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions and urged the United
States to continue supporting Japan in its efforts to resolve the abduction
issue.

The two leaders also agreed to step up cooperation to make the Group of Eight
summit in Hokkaido in July a success, the officials said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a press conference Wednesday
that Japan intends to raise the abduction issue during the summit, which will
bring together the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Russia and the United States.==Kyodo