Kyodo news summary

0 Comments | Asian Political News, April 18, 2005

TOKYO, April 12 Kyodo

---------- N. Korean nuke issue could be brought Security Council: Bolton

WASHINGTON - John Bolton, who is facing a Senate confirmation hearing to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday there is a ''real possibility'' North Korea and Iran could be brought before the U.N. Security Council if they fail to halt their nuclear development programs.

At the hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bolton, a strong critic of the world body, also said he will pursue U.N. reforms, but added he sees an ''even more complex situation ahead for Japan's bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council due mainly to China's recent reluctance.

---------- Bush urges Sharon not to expand settlement, Sharon noncommittal

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a meeting Monday to cease West Bank settlement growth and abide by its commitments under the internationally sanctioned ''road map'' for negotiations toward a final Middle East peace accord.

Sharon vowed to follow the road map, but stopped short of committing to give up his controversial plan to build new homes in the West Bank and stressed the need for Palestinians to end terror attacks before proceeding with peace negotiations.

---------- Campaigning for by-elections in Fukuoka, Miyagi begins

TOKYO - Campaigning officially began Tuesday for two House of Representatives by-elections in Fukuoka and Miyagi prefectures to be held April 24.

The by-elections in the Fukuoka No. 2 and Miyagi No. 2 constituencies are seen as a test for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization plan, which has been opposed by many lawmakers in his own Liberal Democratic Party.

---------- Bolton sees 'more complex' situation for Japan's bid for UNSC seat

WASHINGTON - U.S. Ambassador-nominee to the United Nations John Bolton said Monday he sees an ''even more complex'' situation ahead for Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council due mainly to China's recent reluctance.

While expressing support for Japan's bid and calling it a case growing ''even stronger over the years,'' Bolton said in his Senate confirmation hearing, ''It's going to be politically very difficult to make any change in the composition of the permanent membership.''

---------- U.N., Nepal agree to create office to monitor human rights

GENEVA - U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and Nepalese Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey signed an agreement Monday to set up a U.N. office in Nepal to monitor the nation's human rights situation.

The office will gather information on the human rights situation in Nepal and will report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission and other U.N. bodies.

---------- Annan calls U.S. envoy-nominee Bolton before Senate hearing

NEW YORK - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan telephoned U.S. Ambassador-nominee to the United Nations John Bolton last week before his nomination hearing began at the U.S. Senate, a U.N. spokesman said Monday.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Annan was simply ''reaching out to someone he may be working with closely'' and had no wish to ''prejudge the legislative process'' in the United States.

---------- Support rate for Koizumi Cabinet slips to 47.8%: Yomiuri

TOKYO - The support rate for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stood at 47.8 percent in a weekend poll, down 1.6 percentage points from the previous month, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Tuesday.

Asked what issues the Cabinet should prioritize, 60 percent said the economy, 55 percent said the pension and other social security systems, and 33 percent said employment.

---------- American contractor kidnapped in Baghdad: CNN

NEW YORK - An American contractor was kidnapped Monday at a construction site in Baghdad, CNN reported, quoting a U.S. Embassy official.

The Associated Press said in a dispatch from Baghdad that the contractor was working on a reconstruction project.

---------- Emperor, empress to visit Norway, Ireland in May

TOKYO - Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Ireland and Norway next month, accompanied by an entourage led by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, the government said Tuesday.

The emperor and empress will leave Tokyo on May 7 and arrive in Dublin later that day. They will arrive in Oslo on May 10 and visit Norway's first capital of Trondheim. The couple are scheduled to return to Japan on May 14.

---------- Shimane governor invited to South Korea despite Takeshima row

MATSUE, Japan - South Korea's North Kyongsang Province has invited Shimane Gov. Nobuyoshi Sumita to a ceremony in May despite having said it would sever bilateral friendship ties due to a territorial row, prefectural officials said Tuesday.

It is the first time that the South Korean province has made a positive move since Sumita sent it a letter on March 23 calling for calm in the row over the Sea of Japan island called Takeshima in Japan and Tokto in South Korea, the officials said.