JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/23/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/23/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) President Bush plans to show "my friend" Prime Minister Koizumi the former home of Elvis Presley during upcoming US visit Iran issues: 5) To pressure Iran on nuclear standoff, US has asked Japan to freeze participation in Azadegan oil field project 6) METI not planning to change its plan to participate in Iran's Azadegan oil field project 7) Foreign Minister Aso concerned about US, India nuclear cooperation China connection: 8) Foreign Minister inclined to postpone yen-loans to China due to worsening bilateral ties 9) Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Blue Book mention's concern for China's arms buildup for the first time 10) First ever private sector person appointed consul general to New York: former Mitsubishi president Sakurai 11) Prime Minister Koizumi stresses that Japan will make its own decision on pulling out SDF troops from Iraq Defense and security issues: 12) Still no exit in sight in USFJ realignment talks still stalled over Futenma relocation and Guam relocation cost issues 13) Nago City may hold the key to successful conclusion of USFJ realignment talks 14) Government and Nago City in a tug-of-war over revising the plan to relocate Futenma functions to Camp Schwab site Political agenda: 15) Minshuto lawmaker Nagata testifies in Diet committee on e- mail caper, but clams up on source, refuses to quit Diet seat 16) LDP, New Komeito planning to submit constitutional referendum bill to Diet with session 17) Socialist and Communist party leaders meet to exchange views 18) METI simulation predicts annual 2.2% economic growth Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Education Ministry's survey: one in 11 public high school students received tuition waivers and cuts in FY2004 Mainichi: JAL flew plane 41 times without checking landing gear Yomiuri: Government to allow smaller traffic signs around tourist attractions, first in Kanazawa City TOKYO 00001495 002 OF 013 Nihon Keizai: Japan Post Co. mulls buying computer system from major bank Sankei: US asks Japan to freeze Azadegan oil field development Tokyo Shimbun: Issuance of entertainment visas for Filipino women drops by 40% last year 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) must quickly resolve email fiasco (2) China, Russia should not forget responsibilities as major powers Mainichi: (1) PSE mark: Political responsibility needed (2) Spring high-school baseball: Thinking about fundamentals Yomiuri: (1) Unification of kindergarten and nursery school systems is too late (2) Minshuto must put end to email uproar and make fresh start Nihon Keizai: (1) Tokyo Sock Exchange's management setup unsatisfactory (2) China, Russia aim at practical benefits and seek to check US Sankei: (1) Lawmaker Nagata's apology: Why doesn't Minshuto take legal steps? (2) Revival of mass hiring: Rethink the importance of nurturing new employees Tokyo Shimbun: (1) New law to support technical improvement: Development of human resources should not be forgotten (2) Cultural exchanges between Japan, China, and South Korea: Expanding diverse cultures 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, March 22 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 08:34 Cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Defense Agency Director General Nukaga stayed on. 09:50 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 10:00 Met with former Foreign Minister Machimura. 11:00 TOKYO 00001495 003 OF 013 Met with Ambassador to the UN Oshima 14:05 Met with President Franz Humer of Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche and Chugai Pharmaceutical President Osamu Nagayama. Then met with Foreign Minister Aso and Vice Foreign Minister Nishida. 15:05 Met with Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister (MLIT) Kitagawa and Vice Minister Sato. 16:35 Met with former Vice LDP President Yamasaki. 17:17 Comprehensive Science and Technology meeting. 18:14 Met with Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) Kosaka, Chief of the MEXT Secretariat Tamai, and Lifelong Learning Policy Bureau Director General Tanaka. 18:51 Arrived at the official residence. 4) President Bush to give "my friend" Prime Minister Koizumi tour of Elvis Presley's former residence during US visit SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is scheduled to visit the US in late June. In this connection, coordination is now under way for President George Bush to show Koizumi around the former residence of the later rock star Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, following their summit meeting in Washington. This was revealed on March 21 by an informed Japan-US related source. Koizumi is known to be a great fan of Presley. The same source said that it was the president's idea to invite the prime minister to Memphis. Koizumi's US visit this time will be his last as prime minister. The plan reflects the president's own wish to give him a warm reception in view of their close friendship. Another aim is presumably to play up the closeness of Japan-US relations through warm treatment of Koizumi, with an eye on the upcoming summit meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao scheduled for April 20. It is Bush's stock-in-trade to introduce during his whistle-stop tours the episode that though Japan and the US were enemies during World War II, in which his father, former president Bush, served on active duty, nowadays the two nations are working hand in hand in the war on terror. Bush has introduced Koizumi as a Presley fan in the past as well. When Bush invited former secretaries of state and defense to the White House in January for an exchange of views, some participants criticized him: "You are focusing only on Iraq. You are not seeing to other issues." Bush immediately objected, "I have a good relationship with Japan." TOKYO 00001495 004 OF 013 Amid the growing criticism of the Bush administration due to the Iraq issue, Bush presumably wants to appeal to the domestic audience that his close relationship with Koizumi is a major diplomatic achievement for him. However, there is deep-seated dissatisfaction in Washington about the way aides to the prime minister have handled such bilateral issues as BSE and the USFJ realignment. The same source noted that it would be a race against time as to whether these issues can be settled before the summit, which, in a way, may be characterized as the culmination of the Koizumi-Bush relationship. 5) US asks Japan to suspend Azadegan oil field development; Oil development project stands in the way of international efforts to prevent Iran's nuclear ambitions SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts) March 23, 2006 Yoshihisa Komori, Washington In view of a growing international backlash against Iran's moves to develop nuclear weapons, Bush administration officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security SIPDIS Robert Joseph, had informally requested Japan to stop the development of the Azadegan oil field in Iran, a source familiar with the US government revealed. Even in the US Congress, some are notably moving to make a similar request to Japan. Given that Washington has strongly called on Tokyo to suspend its oil field development in Iran, depending on Japan's response, a serious dispute could arise between Japan and the US. The US has analyzed that given that Iran's nuclear ambitions have now become evident, Japan's Azadegan project, a joint venture between the government and private sector, could become a major obstacle to international efforts to stem Iran's nuclear development. Reportedly, the US cites several reasons why it has made such a request to Japan: 1) Japan's continuation of the Azadegan oil project would greatly boost Iran's fiscal revenue and could help that country to promote its nuclear program; 2) it would bolster Iran's national strength and thereby help to expand the political power of nuclear weapons; 3) it could disturb international solidarity based on the UN or an international coalition to prevent Iran's nuclear development; and 4) if a resolution for imposing sanctions on Iran were adopted at the UN Security Council, an embargo on the sale of Iranian oil and a prohibition of oil-related investments in that country would likely be implemented, and in such a case, Japan's project would violate them. The official stance of the Bush administration can be seen in US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton's public reference in early March to the connection between Iran's nuclear ambitions and Japan's oil project in that country. Bolton was clearly appealing to Japan to suspend its Azadegan project, saying: "We can understand Japan's energy problem, but in view of Japan's longstanding (commitment) to international nuclear nonproliferation, it us far more important for Japan to work TOKYO 00001495 005 OF 013 together to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons." In February 2004, Japan's Inpex Corp. played a key role in concluding an oil field development contract with Iran and invested 2 billion dollars. At the time, the US government raised objections to Japan's move, but Japan insisted that if it cancelled, a French company would step in. Reportedly, Japan obtained a certain degree of understanding from the Bush administration. This time, too, some in Japan argue that if Japan withdraws, then China will move in. But Brookings Institution's Senior Fellow Ivo Daalder argues: "China does not have highly advanced technologies needed to develop the Azadegan oil." 6) Azadegan oil project: METI sees hope in diplomatic efforts, no change in its policy of independent development SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) March 23, 2006 Japan depends on Middle Eastern nations for about 90% of its oil supplies, so it is a major challenge for Japan to secure oil fields it has independently developed. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) played a leading role in promoting negotiations with Iran on the Azadegan oil field and succeeded in reaching an agreement despite American objections. But international criticism of Iran's nuclear program is intensifying. Japan finds itself forced to make a difficult decision, facing a dilemma about how to firmly maintain the Japan- US alliance and how to look for ways to work together with the rest of the world, in addition to how to establish energy security through independent oil development. Iran ranks third among oil exporters to Japan. Japan has maintained friendly relations with Iran even after the United States broke diplomatic ties with that country. But the US is voicing concerns about Iran's nuclear weapons program, and it is becoming more likely that the international community will move to impose economic sanctions on Iran. In February, METI Minister Toshihiro Nikai expressed his continued enthusiasm for developing the Azadegan oil field at a press conference, saying, "Naturally, we will continue the development." Meanwhile, a senior METI official met with Iranian Ambassador to Japan Talaei and urged Iran to stop its nuclear program. But the ambassador insisted, "Our development is for peaceful purposes." The talks went nowhere. METI remains enthusiastic, with one official saying, "There is no change in our policy," but when it comes to economic sanctions, METI's position is that of an observer that will simply watch how debate unfolds in the United Nations Security Council. So, METI cannot take any effective action. 7) Foreign Minister Aso concerned about US-India nuclear cooperation NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 Appearing in the House of Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense TOKYO 00001495 006 OF 013 Committee yesterday, Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed concern about the agreement between the United States and India, which is not a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT),on nuclear-power cooperation for civilian use. He said: "I am most concerned about the (NPT regime) being turned into an empty shell." The Foreign Minister revealed that during the recent Japan-US strategic dialogue with Secretary of State Rice, "Though we're being asked to give our approval, it is not that simple to do." 8) MOFA decides to put off cabinet decision on yen loans to China for fiscal 2005, reflecting worsening relations MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) decided yesterday to put off a cabinet decision on the nation's yen loans to China for fiscal 2005. The ministry usually makes a decision at the end of a fiscal year. This year, though, the ministry has judged it difficult to obtain agreement from the ruling parties on a plan for official development assistance (ODA) disbursements for China, reflecting strained relations between Japan and China over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine and gas field development in the East China Sea. MOFA will explain the decision in a meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party's councils related to foreign affairs this morning. Japan started offering ODA to China in fiscal 1980 in lieu of war reparations. The amount of yen loans, which account for most of the ODA funds for China, reached 214.4 billion yen in fiscal ¶2000. Reflecting China's remarkable economic growth, Japan has sharply decreased yen loans to China in recent years. The Japanese and Chinese governments agreed in March of last year that Japan would end new yen loans by the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Both sides exchanged notes on March 29 of last year specifying that Japan would provide 85.9 billion yen for nine projects in fiscal 2004. This has already been approved at a cabinet meeting. MOFA was scheduled to make a cabinet decision on a yen-loan plan for China late this month, but Liberal Democratic Party members have fiercely reacted to China's proposal during bilateral talks in Beijing on March 7 for joint development of gas fields in waters near the Senkaku Islands. MOFA has decided to postpone a decision on yen loans to China for the time being and carefully watch China's response in gas field talks. 9) Diplomatic Blue Book for first time refers to "non- transparency" of China's military buildup ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 The Foreign Ministry unveiled the contents of its 2006 Diplomatic Blue Book yesterday. This year's version noted: "There are still nontransparent aspects of China's increased military spending and modernization of its military power." The Defense Agency has referred to a lack of transparency of China's defense spending in its annual defense white paper, but this is the first time for the Foreign Ministry to have pointed out this problem. TOKYO 00001495 007 OF 013 The blue book contains this comment of China's reaction to Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine: "In an effort to prevent differences in our views in specific areas from blocking the development of the overall relationship between Japan and China, we should try to resolve the problem through serious dialogue." On China's economic development, the blue note welcomed it as "providing a 'good opportunity' for the future of Japan." The book also touched on gas field development in the East China Sea: "Keeping the possibility of joint development in mind, we will aim at reaching agreement through dialogue." 10) Former Mitsubishi International Co. President Sakurai picked as consul general in New York ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) March 23, 2006 The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that Motoatsu Sakurai, former president of Mitsubishi International Corp., would be appointed as consul general in New York as of March 23. Sakurai is the first private-sector person to be named as consul general although some have been appointed as ambassadors. The appointment is part of reform of the Foreign Ministry. The ministry explained that Sakurai is an expert in economic and financial areas and is well versed in Japan-US affairs and the international situation. Sakurai began his career at Mitsubishi Corp. in 1968 after graduating from the University of Tokyo. He was assigned to Mitsubishi International Co. (headquartered in New York) from 1984 to 1996. He lived in the United States for a long time. From 2003 to March 20, 2006, he served as present of Mitsubishi International Co. 11) Japan will make independent decision on SDF troops' withdrawal from Iraq SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) March 23, 2006 US President Bush has given his outlook that it will be difficult to decide on the withdrawal of all US troops stationed in Iraq while he is in office. Referring to this statement, Prime Minister Koizumi last evening stated: "Japan will consider the matter from its own position. President Bush meant that the US would steadily fulfill its responsibility from its own position, as long as the Iraqi people and their government say they need US troops." He made this statement in reply to a question asked by a reporter at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 12) USFJ realignment: No way out found NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 Japan and the United States will resume another round of intergovernmental consultations today in Tokyo on a number of pending issues regarding the realignment of US forces in Japan, with their senior officials for foreign affairs and defense attending. The Tokyo round, however, would inevitably face rough going over how to share the cost of moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Meanwhile, the government has now started coordination with the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, over the TOKYO 00001495 008 OF 013 issue of relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its current location in the Okinawa prefectural city of Ginowan to a coastal area across the cape of Henoko on the premises of Camp Schwab in Nago. However, Tokyo and Nago are squaring off with each other over the city's request to modify the government's coastal relocation plan. In the meantime, the Japanese and US governments are slated to reach a final agreement late this month on specific realignment plans. With the time limit approaching, Tokyo remains unable to find a way out of its standoff with Washington and with Okinawa's base-hosting municipalities. "US warplanes will fly over residential areas-that's the problem," Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro said in a meeting with government officials over the Futenma relocation issue. "That's why we can't accept the government plan," the mayor added. Encountering the mayor's rejection, Defense Agency Deputy Administrative Director General Takemasa Moriya laid emphasis on security, environmental, and various other aspects. "The coastal plan came out of the agreement reached between Japan and the United States," Moriya explained. "This plan stands on a balance of everything," he said. The meeting took place yesterday at the Defense Agency. However, the agency and local authorities from the Nago City municipal government failed to reach an agreement over the Futenma relocation site, following their meeting held the day before yesterday. Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga used to rule out any modifications to the coastal plan. On March 21, however, Nukaga suddenly changed course to imply his intention of retouching the coastal plan. That's because Nukaga wanted Nago officials to sit down at the table for talks. The government is sticking to 'minor changes' to the coastal plan. "From the start, there's no change in the government's master plan," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said yesterday evening. "I don't say we'll never ever change even one centimeter (to move the relocation site),but this is everything," Koizumi stressed. However, Shimabukuro, calling for 'substantial changes' to the plan, was tough in yesterday's meeting, too. The mayor asked the Defense Agency to modify the coastal plan and insisted on moving down the planned construction site to an offshore area several hundred meters away from the coast of Camp Schwab. The mayor's tough stand was backed by ruling Liberal Democratic Party leaders seeking to concur with Okinawa's base-hosting municipalities on specific realignment issues. Taku Yamasaki, chair of the LDP's security affairs panel, called on Koizumi yesterday at his office. Yamasaki there asked Koizumi to meet with Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine to talk about the Futenma issue. "I want him to meet with the director general of the Defense Agency," Koizumi told Yamasaki. The Defense Agency, however, is alert to the LDP's moves. Both Koizumi and the Defense Agency have a question about Nago's counterproposal. "Nago City's counterproposal could become another case of the Nago offshore heliport plan," one of the agency's officials noted. The government had initially planned to build a sea-based heliport in TOKYO 00001495 009 OF 013 waters off the coast of Henoko in Nago. Eventually, however, the offshore heliport plan encountered opposition from environmentalist and other local groups. The key for the government to modify the coastal plan is feasibility. Furthermore, Japan and the United States have also seen little progress in their intergovernmental coordination. The US government, estimating the total cost of Marine relocation from Okinawa to Guam at 10 billion dollars or 1.18 trillion yen, has asked the Japanese government to pay 75% or approximately 880 billion yen. On the other hand, the Japanese government estimates the total cost at 940 billion yen. Tokyo plans to pay about 40% or approximately 380 billion yen. For the rest, Japan loans money to the US government. As seen from these figures, the two governments remain wide apart in their respective assertions. Another realignment issue is the planned redeployment of an air tanker fleet from Futenma airfield to another base. The Japanese government has offered Kanoya base in Kagoshima Prefecture as incorporated in the interim report, while the US government has been sticking to Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The two governments are still facing off with each other over their respective proposals. In addition, there is also an idea being floated from within the government to wrap up the talks just for the sake of a final agreement between the two countries and continue to consult on pending issues. The United States, however, is thinking much of its local hosts' consent. Washington is therefore unlikely to accept such an idea. There is also no denying that the two governments might reschedule their final settlement for a later date. 13) Futenma relocation: Nago's response is key; Koizumi says government will not make compromise other than minor changes to coastal plan MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 The government remained uncompromising regarding a Camp Schwab coastal plan, while Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture called for making major changes to adopt an offshore plan. In their talks March 21-22 on the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, Defense Agency officials led by Director General Fukushiro Nukaga exchanged views with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro. They also confirmed their intention to energetically continue talks until the end of this month when the Japanese and US government would produce a final report on the realignment of US forces in Japan. In the talks that officially started with Nago, the government expressed its willingness to make "minor changes" to the coastal plan. The focus has now shifted to Nago's response. In explaining his opposition to the coastal plan, Shimabukuro told Defense Agency officials: "US aircraft would have to fly over some houses. That worries me the most." In response, a Defense Agency official indicated that the Nago-proposed offshore plan would destroy the marine habitat for dugongs, a protected species. The Defense Agency rejected Nago's call for major changes, saying, "The coastal plan is the best possible option, giving consideration both to the living environment for residents TOKYO 00001495 010 OF 013 and the natural environment." Although the two sides seem wide apart on the surface, the Defense Agency is paying attention to the flight route, which Nago pointed out as a problem associated with the coastal plan. The agency is envisaging a plan to slightly change the position and direction of the runway so that US aircraft will not fly over houses. But the agency did not present specific changes in the March 21-22 talks. "One minor change from our side would elicit a demand for additional changes from Nago," an agency official explained. The Defense Agency's strategy is to urge Nago to come up with a slightly modified plan in a bid to find a settlement line. Shimabukuro, however, reiterated his previous position of accepting only variations to the offshore plan, while indicating that he would take the government's plan to make minor changes to Okinawa to consult with local residents and the city assembly. Although some local residents are agreeable to the government's policy to make minor changes, Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine is adamantly opposed to the coastal plan. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi played up the government's plan not to make any compromise other than minor changes by stating to reporters yesterday: "There will be no change in the government's basic view, but that doesn't mean we will not change the plan by even 1 centimeter." 14) Futenma relocation: Tug-of-war underway between government and Nago; Government aims to settle issue before end of month by making minor changes YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 Talks yesterday between the central government and Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, over the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station ended without reaching an agreement. Although the government aims to win Nago's consent before the end of this week on making "minor changes" to the government plan, some think such would be difficult. The government wants to settle the issue before the end of this month in tandem with a final report on the realignment of US forces in Japan. Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga held talks with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro yesterday morning at his agency. After the meeting, Nukaga praised the mayor, saying: "We exchanged views candidly. He is a good fighter." Following meetings the previous night, Defense Facilities Administration Agency Director General Iwao Nakahara, Defense Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya, and defense chief Nukaga separately met with Shimabukuro yesterday morning. Shimabukuro insisted: "The government plan would force US military aircraft to fly over some houses. The plan would pose problems in terms of the safety of residents and the noise." The Defense Agency side, based on the Henoko plan that has stalled due to protest by environmental groups, rebutted: "If the runway was moved more than 450 meters further offshore in line with Nago's demand, the marine forest used by the dugongs would be damaged. Above all, Moriya, who is most dismissive of making any TOKYO 00001495 011 OF 013 changes to the government plan, flatly dismissed Nago's call for major changes, saying, "We cannot accommodate your request." Reportedly the two sides also traded verbal jabs. Neither side presented any new revised plan. A Defense Agency official expressed hopes for future sessions, saying: "Nago no longer refuses holding talks with the central government. The matter has moved forward." The government's willingness to make minor changes has drawn a variety of reactions from the Nago municipal assembly. The vice speaker lives in the Henoko district, the relocation site for Futenma Air Station. He categorically said, "It would be meaningless to continue talks unless they are conducted in line with a revision plan presented by Nago." Although the government is expected to present Nago with specific minor changes to the plan, winning Nago's consent will not be easy. "In the end, the government may have to ram through its plan," a Defense Agency official said. 15) Minshuto unable to find way to break impasse over fake e-mail fiasco; Nagata refuses to resign MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) March 23, 2006 In his explanation before the House of Representatives' Committee on Discipline yesterday, Lower House lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata apologized for having introduced a fake e-mail as evidence during a Diet session. On the question of whether or not he will resign, however, Nagata would only say: "I will make a decision based on the committee's consensus." The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) has suspended Nagata's membership. Amid the e-mail issue dragging on with no prospects still in sight for its settlement, calls are likely to grow for Nagata to resign his Diet seat. Speaking to reporters after Nagata's explanation before the committee, Minshuto Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said he expected that Nagata would resign voluntarily. Hatoyama said: "(Nagata) understands that there are various views inside and outside the party. He should make a decision based on his own judgment." But a senior party member who is in contact with Nagata said: "He has no intention of resigning." Minshuto is worried about the ruling camp's heightened demands. It first demanded "Nagata's explanation" at the Committee on Discipline, "questioning" next, and then "a summon of his informant as a sworn witness to the Diet." The opposition party wants to avoid the last case, because the party remains unable to contact the informant, and it "cannot predict what would crop up," according to a senior party member. Within Minshuto, though, views have not been unified. On the proposed summoning of the informant as a witness to the Diet, Discipline Committee Chairman Tetsundo Iwakuni (Minshuto) indicated a willingness to accept the proposal, saying: "The view dominant in the committee board is that the committee should reach a conclusion after the informant is questioned." Should TOKYO 00001495 012 OF 013 Nagata stay on, the party executive might come under heavier fire. In the ruling bloc, Discipline Committee board member Yoshinobu Shimamura of the Liberal Democratic Party said that the explanation by Nagata was insufficient. Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe called for a more detailed explanation, saying: "The people are expecting more details, including the purpose and motives behind his having brought up the e-mail issue during the Diet session." 16) LDP, New Komeito may introduce national referendum legislation independently of DPJ SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) March 23, 2006 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Executive Council Chairman Akio Kyuma yesterday gave a speech in Niigata City. Referring to the slow process in the coordination of views between the ruling parties and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto) over the specifics of a national referendum on constitutional revisions, he noted: "There is a move for the LDP and the New Komeito to introduce a bill on their own. I think the bill will be introduced during the current Diet session." He thus revealed the possibility of the ruling parties submitting the bill independently of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto). Under the ruling party-sponsored bill, those aged above 20 will be eligible for voting, while the DPJ has proposed that those aged above 18 should be allowed to vote. It is viewed that Kyuma made that statement with the aim of winning concessions from the DPJ, by laying a restraint on it. 17) Top leaders of JCP, SDP finally hold talks ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) March 23, 2006 Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Central Committee Chairperson Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairperson Mizuho Fukushima met last night at a Tokyo restaurant. The two party leaders, who have called for preventing constitutional reform, agreed to oppose a national referendum bill although other parties are trying to present the bill to the Diet. They also confirmed that their parties would strengthen joint efforts. The meeting was held at the request of Shii. In the meeting, Shii said, "I was encouraged by party head Fukushima's remark that the two parties can cooperate to prevent constitutional reform." Fukushima then responded, saying, "I'm glad that we can exchange views with the JCP as a key coalition partner." It was the first time for the top leaders of the JCP and SDP to hold talks since then Japan Socialist Party Chairman Kazuo Asukata and then JCP Chairman Kenji Miyamoto met in June 1978. However, a senior SDP member commented, "We should not obstruct moves to expand activities outside the Diet." "The meeting is part of our efforts to exchange views with various persons," said Fukushima. The JCP side commented: "The meeting this time was informal." 18) METI simulation predicts annual 2.2% real GDP growth TOKYO 00001495 013 OF 013 ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) March 23, 2006 In a press conference after the cabinet meeting yesterday, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Nikai said that the ministry's simulation has predicted real 2.2% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) annually between fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2015 if a new economic growth strategy - now being worked out by METI - is implemented. Under the METI scenario, the nation's potential economic growth would be buoyed up by a revitalized services sector, the utilization of IT, and technological renovation. METI plans to present the scenario in a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on March 29. On the nation's estimated economic growth, heated discussion is going on in the government and the ruling parties has now been joined by METI. The Reform and Prospects - compiled by the Cabinet Office in January - predicted that the country could post a real 1.7% growth and nominal 3.2% increase in GDP for fiscal 2011. METI estimates nominal growth rate in fiscal 2015 at 3.6%. SCHIEFFER