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From: TSS ()
Subject: Koizumi says he made no promises to U.S.
Date: April 7, 2005 at 9:03 am PST

Koizumi says he made no promises to U.S.

by Pete Hisey on 4/7/2005 for Meatingplace.com

Coming under fire from opposition politicians, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said that he never promised the United States anything in regard to reopening the Japanese market to American beef.

"I told the United States very clearly that this has to be done on the basis of scientific knowledge and that it is impossible to say when imports would be resumed," Koizumi said, according to the Kyodo News Service.

Katsuya Okada, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, charged Koizumi with "diplomacy failure" in getting American hopes up that the border would reopen to U.S. beef quickly.

"I think it is important to resolve the issue diplomatically in a way that does not damage mutual trust and that does not become the source of bilateral confrontation, while ensuring food safety based on Japanese standards and rules," Koizumi said.
http://web.meatingplace.com/news/init.asp?s=13d972005_14068

TSS

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