ID :
83576
Thu, 10/08/2009 - 12:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/83576
The shortlink copeid
Defense official reprimanded for comments on refueling mission
TOKYO, Oct. 7 Kyodo -
A parliamentary defense secretary received a reprimand from Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on Wednesday for saying that Japan's refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean should be extended beyond January, a remark that
stirred controversy as it contradicts the government's basic stance on the
matter.
Hirano told a press conference that he summoned the parliamentary secretary,
Akihisa Nagashima, to the prime minister's office earlier in the day and told
him to refrain from making comments concerning the contentious refueling
mission while the government is trying to work out its policy.
Nagashima apologized to Hirano for causing a stir and told him he would be
careful about what he says in future, according to Hirano.
Since earlier this month, Nagashima has repeatedly said Tokyo should explore
avenues to keep the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission going by
revising the existing law, which expires in January, to add some preconditions,
namely requiring Diet approval before dispatching the SDF.
On the heels of his remarks, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday
that ''enacting a new law to continue the refueling mission is not an option,''
stressing there is no discord on that issue among members of Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet.
Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada have said the government will not
''simply extend'' the noncombat mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism
operations in and around Afghanistan after the special law authorizing it
expires Jan. 15.
Asked exactly what not ''simply'' extending means, Hatoyama told reporters on
Wednesday, ''We do not want to act from the position of 'instead of refueling,
we will do such and such for Afghanistan.'''
''We would like to find an answer, while considering what role Japan should
play for Afghanistan or what is the appropriate activity for which Japan would
win praise from the international community,'' Hatoyama, who heads the ruling
Democratic Party of Japan, said.
''We will not simply extend the mission just because the (expiration) time has
arrived,'' he added.
==Kyodo
A parliamentary defense secretary received a reprimand from Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on Wednesday for saying that Japan's refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean should be extended beyond January, a remark that
stirred controversy as it contradicts the government's basic stance on the
matter.
Hirano told a press conference that he summoned the parliamentary secretary,
Akihisa Nagashima, to the prime minister's office earlier in the day and told
him to refrain from making comments concerning the contentious refueling
mission while the government is trying to work out its policy.
Nagashima apologized to Hirano for causing a stir and told him he would be
careful about what he says in future, according to Hirano.
Since earlier this month, Nagashima has repeatedly said Tokyo should explore
avenues to keep the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission going by
revising the existing law, which expires in January, to add some preconditions,
namely requiring Diet approval before dispatching the SDF.
On the heels of his remarks, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Tuesday
that ''enacting a new law to continue the refueling mission is not an option,''
stressing there is no discord on that issue among members of Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet.
Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada have said the government will not
''simply extend'' the noncombat mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism
operations in and around Afghanistan after the special law authorizing it
expires Jan. 15.
Asked exactly what not ''simply'' extending means, Hatoyama told reporters on
Wednesday, ''We do not want to act from the position of 'instead of refueling,
we will do such and such for Afghanistan.'''
''We would like to find an answer, while considering what role Japan should
play for Afghanistan or what is the appropriate activity for which Japan would
win praise from the international community,'' Hatoyama, who heads the ruling
Democratic Party of Japan, said.
''We will not simply extend the mission just because the (expiration) time has
arrived,'' he added.
==Kyodo
