| 09.23.2004 The Asahi Shimbun Koizumi tells the U.N. Japan's time has come He says peace efforts show the nation is ready for a permanent seat on the Security Council. NEW YORK--Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, stressing Japan's peace efforts but withholding mention of its restrictive pacifist Constitution, urged the United Nations General Assembly to give Tokyo a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. ``We believe that the role that Japan has played provides a solid basis for its assumption of permanent membership on the Security Council,'' Koizumi said in his speech, delivered in English, on Tuesday. As examples of Japan's international contributions, the prime minister cited the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces in peacekeeping activities to East Timor and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Japan has been praised for its peace efforts abroad, but some say Article 9 of the Constitution, which bans the use of force to resolve international disputes, stands in the way of Japan gaining permanent membership. Critics say Japan should make clear what it can do as a permanent member under the current Constitution. Otherwise, its role would be only to vote in favor of the United States. Koizumi's predecessors have said in their addresses to the United Nations that Japan would not use force overseas, nor would it change Article 9. The night before his speech, Koizumi told reporters that Japan would not revise the Constitution to gain permanent membership. But he did not mention that stance in his speech to the nations that will vote on whether to accept Japan's bid. During his speech, the prime minister did say another change was needed. ``The time has come to make a historic decision to reform the United Nations, and the Security Council, in particular,'' he said. The council ``must improve its representation to better reflect today's world'' and ``must be provided with adequate resources to address the challenges effectively,'' Koizumi said. Koizumi said there is a need to expand the number of both permanent and nonpermanent members and to include developing and developed nations. ``Countries with the will and resources to play a major role in international peace and security must always take part in the council's decision-making process,'' he said. Japan's financial contributions to the United Nations are second in size only to the United States, a fact that previous prime ministers have noted in their pitches for permanent membership. But Koizumi shifted the focus to Japan's human contributions, namely SDF personnel. Koizumi noted that Japan's contributions to global peace are ``rooted in the fundamental belief cherished by the Japanese people who have been seeking an honored place in an international community striving for peace and prosperity.'' He said that since peace requires peace-building and then nation-building, Japan's role has become increasingly vital to maintain international peace and security, which is the mandate of the Security Council. Backing from BushKoizumi earlier Tuesday had a 40-minute meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at a hotel in New York. Koizumi said Japan was ready to do its share as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and asked for Washington's support, Japanese officials said. Bush replied that the U.S. position in supporting Tokyo's bid-made clear in a June summit with Koizumi-has not changed. The U.S. president also agreed to Koizumi's proposal to continue working-level discussions on reforming the United Nations that could open the door for Japan's entry into the Security Council. Another issue brought up in the talks was U.S. military realignment. Bush said the plan is intended to create a strong, capable and effective military. Koizumi, meanwhile, asked that the burden be eased on Japanese areas that host U.S. military facilities, especially Okinawa Prefecture. He said Okinawans are especially concerned after the Aug. 13 crash of a Marine Corps helicopter from the Futenma air station in Ginowan. Bush promised efforts to reduce the burden. Washington has also pressed Tokyo to decide whether it will host unified command centers as part of the U.S. military realignment. The U.S. side wants an answer by the end of the year. But Japanese officials have not replied, and the U.S. side has accused Japan of stalling. (IHT/Asahi: September 23,2004) (09/23) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| moreAbout East Asia |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|