Japan, U.S. vow tie-ups on Afghanistan, U.S. backs Japan's new aid

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SINGAPORE, Nov. 11 Kyodo -
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton on Wednesday affirmed tie-ups in the reconstruction of Afghanistan,
with Clinton voicing appreciation for Japan's new aid plan for the country
worth $5 billion.
They also agreed that the two countries will try to reach a conclusion on the
relocation of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa Prefecture ''as quickly as
possible'' through a new ministerial-level working group, Okada told reporters
after meeting with Clinton in Singapore.
They reaffirmed cooperation in addressing North Korea's nuclear ambitions as
Clinton briefed Okada about a U.S. plan to send Stephen Bosworth, special
representative for North Korean policy, to Pyongyang in the near future to pave
the way for a resumption of the stalled six-party denuclearization talks.
The Okada-Clinton talks on the sidelines of a two-day Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation ministerial meeting through Thursday came a day after Japan decided
to extend up to $5 billion, or about 450 billion yen, in civilian aid to
Afghanistan over five years from 2009 as part of efforts to combat terrorism.
''We unveiled this policy because peace and stability in Afghanistan are
extremely important to Japan,'' Okada said. ''They are also important to the
world as a whole.''
Okada quoted Clinton as telling him that she ''appreciates'' Japan's new aid
plan. Clinton also said she wants Japan to engage in close consultations with
the United States when promoting specific aid projects so that funds provided
by the two countries are used effectively, according to Okada.
As for a row over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station
in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Okada and Clinton agreed to reach a conclusion
as quickly as possible, but neither Okada nor Clinton referred to a specific
date by which the issue should be settled, according to the Japanese foreign
minister.
Okada said he did not speak to Clinton about his proposal to consolidate
Futemma with the nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base because he believes the proposal
will be discussed by the bilateral working group that the two governments
agreed Tuesday to set up.
The government of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, launched in
September, and the United States are at odds over a 2006 bilateral accord to
transfer Futemma to another Okinawa city.
The Hatoyama government is seeking to review the planned realignment of U.S.
forces in Japan, while the United States is calling for the implementation of
the 2006 accord.
Diplomatic experts were closely watching how Clinton would respond to Japan's
new aid plan for Afghanistan, especially at a time when the Hatoyama government
is planning to end Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led
antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan in January, despite
Washington's desire for the mission to continue.
Some experts interpreted Clinton's comments as a political gesture to avoid
giving the impression that Japan-U.S. relations have become strained.
''Washington's real intention is that it wants Japan to continue the refueling
mission,'' said Shinichi Mizuta, a foreign policy analyst at the Mitsubishi
Research Institute in Tokyo.
''Fresh aid cannot simply make up for the planned end of the refueling mission.
But I think that in consideration for (the maintenance of) Japan-U.S.
relations, the U.S. side is trying to accept it as a policy shift by the new
government,'' Mizuta said.
On North Korea, Okada asked Clinton to ensure ''close communication'' with
Japan when pursuing North Korean policy, including the planned dispatch of
Bosworth to Pyongyang.
In April, North Korea declared its withdrawal from the multilateral nuclear
talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States and
in May it conducted its second nuclear test.
Among other issues, Okada and Clinton agreed that Tokyo and Washington will
join hands in ensuring that a general election slated for next year in Myanmar
will involve all people in the country.
Clinton sought Japan's cooperation in addressing issues related to Iran's
nuclear development program, according to Okada.
Okada asked Clinton for the United States' help in investigating a fatal
hit-and-run accident in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, suspected of having been
caused by a U.S. Army member, and Clinton agreed.
The two also agreed to ensure the success of a two-day visit to Tokyo by U.S.
President Barack Obama from Friday, including talks that evening with Hatoyama.
==Kyodo