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Koizumi reiterates stand on U.S. military bases

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday indicated that there would be no change in his administration's agenda of negotiating with the United States' new plans for the realignment of its military forces across Japan. The Prime Minister's comment, indicative of a political resolve to stay the course with the U.S. on issues relating to its bases in Japan, assumes importance in the context of Sunday's referendum in a Japanese prefecture that went against Tokyo's current plan to relocate a U.S. military facility in the area. Mr. Koizumi told reporters in Tokyo that the Japanese Government would strive to persuade the people of the Iwakuni prefecture, where the referendum was held, to accept the U.S.' base relocation plan despite the overwhelming negative vote.

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