JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/17/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/17/09 Index: 1) TOP HEADLINES 2) EDITORIALS 3) PM SCHEDULE Diplomatic agenda: 4) Prime Minister Aso in meeting with Pakistan's President Zardari before donors' conference promises to provide $1 billion in assistance [Yomiuri] 5) Aso and Zardari agree to step up talks on anti-terrorism measures [Mainichi] 6) Iran's Foreign Minister Mottaki tells Foreign Minister Nakasone that he "respects" the Barack administration's conciliatory statement [Mainichi] 7) In Yomiuri interview, Foreign Minister Mottaki indicates that Iran's hard-line stance toward the U.S. could change [Yomiuri] 8) Foreign Minister Nakasone, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu agree to push for early resumption of Six-Party Talks [Nikkei] 9) In Nikkei interview, Foreign Minister Yang says China will try to persuade North Korea to return to Six-Party Talks [Nikkei] 10) Nonpartisan group of Diet members visit U.S. Embassy to press for talks with North Korea [Nikkei] 11) Former Vice Foreign Minister Yachi has unique proposal for resolving the territorial issue with Russia: Push for the return of 3.5 of the 4 islands [Mainichi] Defense and security affairs: 12) Anti-piracy measures: Government will defer building more patrol ships for Japan Coast Guard, leaving anti-piracy role in hands of Maritime Self-Defense Force [Tokyo Shimbun] 13) During February meeting with Secretary Clinton, Defense Minister Hamada proposed issuing new security declaration [Tokyo Shimbun] 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura: Japan looking into introducing an early-warning system [Yomiuri] 15) Conference of U.S., Japanese experts held in Washington consider cooperation on marine issues [Yomiuri] Political agenda: 16) New Komeito secretly asked Prime Minister Aso to hold off Lower House election until August or later [Sankei] 17) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to return to confrontational stand in the Diet, attacking the supplementary budget [Tokyo Shimbun] 18) DPJ President Ozawa, undaunted by recent scandal, will return to stumping the nation on April 20 in preparation for the next general election [Mainichi] Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Postgraduate law faculties to reduce number of students next fiscal year, aiming to improve quality of education, students Mainichi: Welfare Ministry eyes unified 20% of medical fees shouldered by patients between 65 and 74 Yomiuri: Kanji body chief and others suspected of earning profits through TOKYO 00000881 002 OF 012 improper business deals Nikkei: Chinese foreign minister expresses willingness to persuade North Korea to resume six-part talks, hopes for U.S.-North Korea talks Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: Former Best Denki executive and others arrested over illegal use of discount postal service Akahata: No prospects in sight for U.S. to secure funds for infrastructure construction in plan of building new military base on Guam, according to report by U.S. Government Accountability Office 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Futenma relocation plan will not move forward only with agreement (2) Shukan Shincho must give more detailed explanation about false articles Mainichi: (1) Establishment of a consumer agency expected to have bureaucrats look at consumers, not producers (2) Resignation of Kanji body chief: Thorough verification of management necessary to regain public confidence Yomiuri: (1) Full inspection by third party needed on Shukan Shincho's false report (2) Judgment of acquittal in groping case: It is hard to prove innocence Nikkei: (1) Can China stop deceleration of economic growth with domestic-expansion measures? Sankei: (1) Shukan Shincho must reveal first who should take responsibility for false accounts (2) Guilty ruling to psychiatrist over records leak: Reporters must keep new sources secret Tokyo Shimbun: (1) False articles by Shukan Shincho tantamount to suicide act by reporters (2) Sharp decline in Chinese economic growth: Take measures to improve private citizens' livelihood Akahata: (1) Clarify suspicion on sale of Kanpo no Yado inns 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 16 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 07:41 TOKYO 00000881 003 OF 012 Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto at the Kantei. 08:37 Attended an IOC evaluation committee welcome reception at the Hotel Okura. 09:38 Arrived at the Diet building. 10:08 Met Consumer Affairs Minister Noda. 10:14 Attended a Lower House Consumers Affairs Special Committee meeting. 12:30 Attended a party to celebrate the completion of the Keidanren Hall in Otemachi. 12:50 Arrived at his official residence. 13:38 Attended the spring garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Garden. 15:50 Met at the Kantei Finance Minister Yosano, Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Sugimoto, Deputy Vice Minister Katsu, Budget Bureau Director General Tango, and Tax Bureau Director General Kato, joined by Local Finance Bureaus Director General Sasaki. 17:45 Held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki. 18:42 Held talks with President Zardari of Pakistan. 19:30 Held a joint press conference, followed by a dinner party. 21:03 Chatted with JICA President Ogata. 21:09 Arrived at ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo. 22:49 Returned to his official residence. 4) Prime minister in meeting with Pakistani president announces 1 billion dollars in financial assistance YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 Prime Minister Aso at a meeting with Pakistani President Zardari on April 16 conveyed Japan's policy of extending to his nation up to 1 billion dollars or roughly 100 billion yen in financial assistance to be spent for education and measures to fight poverty. Aso also announced Japan's policy of helping Pakistan fight TOKYO 00000881 004 OF 012 terrorism. Both leaders confirmed their stance of cooperating for the stabilization of the region bordering Afghanistan, where Islamic extremists are based. The prime minister at a joint press conference held after the meeting said, "Economic development and measures against terrorism are keys to the development of Pakistan." The president responded, "Japan is Pakistan's vital partner." Zardari is visiting Japan to attend an international donors conference on Pakistan to be held in Tokyo on the 17th. Determining that the stabilization of Pakistan is essential to the stabilization of Afghanistan, its neighbor, where the fight against terrorism is continuing, the Japanese government will co-host the donors conference with the World Bank. The conference will bring together 29 countries, including the U.S., China and the European Union (EU),and 14 international bodies. Financial assistance participating countries and organizations will commit will likely total 4 billion dollars or roughly 400 billion yen. 5) Aso, Zardari agree to accelerate antiterrorism talks MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) April 17, 2009 Naoyuki Inukai Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari at his office last night. In the meeting, Aso told Zardari that during a Pakistan Donors Conference to be held in Tokyo today, he would announce a plan to provide Pakistan with up to 1 billion dollars over two years in economic aid in order to bring stability to its border with Afghanistan and other areas where terrorist groups are based. Aso said: "The stability of Afghanistan is decisively crucial for the stability of Pakistan." The two leaders agreed to accelerate bilateral cooperation for stability of border areas and talks on antiterrorism assistance. President Zardari is visiting Japan for the Pakistan Donors Conference. In the meeting, Prime Minister Aso said: "In the donors' conference, it is important for the Pakistani government to announce its strong resolve to implement economic reform and antiterrorism measures." President Zardari said: "We are making serious efforts to eradicate terrorism." Touching on President Barack Obama's speech calling for a nuclear-free world, Prime Minister Aso expressed his "strong hope" for the ratification of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT),while vowing to provide support for enhancing controls on nuclear exports. In response, President Zardari said: "We are ready to consider all proposals for denuclearization." 6) Mottaki tells Aso: "We have listened to U.S. government's remarks with respect" MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) April 17, 2009 Shinichiro Nishida TOKYO 00000881 005 OF 012 Prime Minister Taro Aso met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki last evening for about 20 minutes in his office. Mottaki is visiting Japan for the Pakistan Donors Conference. Prime Minister Aso brought up the fact that the Obama administration is searching for ways to have a dialogue with Iran, saying: "Iran should also proactively address the issue." In response, Foreign Minister Mottaki took a positive stance about making contact with the U.S. administration, saying, "We have listened to the Obama administration's recent remarks with a feeling of respect." Prime Minister Aso also indicated that in order for Iran to win international trust, it is important to play an active role in supporting Afghanistan and Pakistan. At the same time, referring to Iran's nuclear program, the prime minister said: "By the same token, it is most important to restore international trust." 7) Interview with Iranian foreign minister: There may be change in Iran's hard-line stance to U.S. YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchefr Mokaki on April 16 gave an exclusive interview to the Yomiuri Shimbun at the Iranian ambassador's residence in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Referring to the Obama administration's indication that it is prepared to hold direct talks with Iran on the nuclear development issue, Motaki indicated high hopes for improving bilateral relations. He noted: "Iran is considering the U.S. administration's announcement properly and with respect. If the Obama administration turns its word 'change' into reality, there could be change on our side, as well." President Obama has indicated his desire to commence talks with Iran on the nuclear issue, without attaching any preconditions. Motaki's statement hints at the possibility of Iran changing its usual hard-line stance, if Obama shifts away from the policy of the former Bush administration, which demanded Iran suspend its uranium enrichment activities, and puts his words into action. Motaki also gave high marks to President Obama's policy of seeking an elimination of all nuclear weapons, noting, "It is a wonderful idea." He, however, indicated a stance of firmly maintaining his own country's basic policy of continuing uranium enrichment activities, saying, "Every country is entitled to use nuclear energy." Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad on the 15th announced that he would make a new proposal for settling the nuclear issue to talks with the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. The foreign minister added, "The envisaged proposal will be a revised version of the previous proposal made in May last year." As the reason for the nation looking into a fresh proposal, Motaki said, "It is to respond to a new situation in the world." He thus acknowledged that the new proposal is in response to the inauguration of the Obama administration. Motaki is visiting Japan to take part in a Pakistan donors conference to be held in Tokyo on the 17th. 8) Japan, South Korea to aim for early resumption of Six-Party Talks: Collaboration vowed at foreign ministerial NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) TOKYO 00000881 006 OF 012 April 17, 2009 Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on the evening of April 16 met with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan, who is in Japan to attend a Pakistan Donors Conference, for about an hour at the Foreign Ministry. In response to North Korea's declaration to opt out of the Six-Party Talks, following its launch of a ballistic missile Taepodong 2 under a cover of a satellite, both foreign ministers confirmed their stance that Japan, the U.S. and South Korea will cooperate for early resumption of the Six-Party Talks. This is the first time for the two foreign ministers to hold talks since the adoption of the UN Security Council president's statement condemning the missile launch by the North. During the meeting, Nakasone and Yu praised the president's statement highly. They also agreed to cooperate for the strict implementation of sanctions against the DPRK, based on the UNSC resolution adopted following a nuclear test conducted in 2006. They confirmed their understanding that the role of China, the chair of the Six-Party Talks, will become important. Concerning the nuclear abandonment process, they shared the view that an agreement on a specific framework for verifying the North's nuclear declaration should be reached at an early date. Regarding North Korea escalating its hard-line stance after the adoption of the UNSC president's statement, both foreign ministers shared the stance that it is important to respond to North Korea in a cool-headed manner. Touching on the abduction issue, Yu said, "South Korea would like to cooperate with Japan in every possible manner." Nakasone invited President Lee Myung-bak to visit Japan soon. Both foreign ministers agreed to speed up coordination between the two countries. 9) Chinese foreign minister in interview expresses willingness to persuade North Korea to resume Six-Party Talks, hopes for U.S.-North Korea talks NIKKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) April 17, 2009 Taku Shinada, Beijing In an interview with Nikkei, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expressed his willingness to try to bring North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks, saying: "I would like to make a positive effort to maintain the negotiation process." North Korea earlier declared it would no longer take part in the Six-Party Talks on its denuclearization. He further said: "I hope that relations between the U.S. and North Korea will improve and move forward," indicating that he would welcome it if the two countries were to make direct contact. Yang also emphasized the need for strengthened cooperation between Japan and China to contain the ongoing economic crisis, adding that Japan and China are likely to hold high-level economic talks shortly. Noting that "the process of the Six-Party Talks will be to the common advantage of all countries concerned," Yang stressed he will make an effort to resume the talks. He stated: TOKYO 00000881 007 OF 012 "China will keep in touch with North Korea. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea. Both sides have carried out a variety of commemorative events. China will continue friendly exchanges with that nation." The Chinese foreign minister said, "China will also hold talks with other countries concerned," stressing his willingness to cooperate with Japan and other countries. In reference to China's approach to the U.S., he said: "Both countries have held talks at various levels. We will continue to make such efforts. Both bilateral and multinational talks will move things forward." He indicated that if the U.S. and North Korea hold direct talks, China would take them favorably. Pyongyang announced it would not participate in the Six-Party Talks, in reaction to a presidential resolution adopted by the UN Security Council condemning North Korea's launch of a long-range ballistic missile Taepodong-2, which it claimed to be a satellite launch. The second-stage process of disabling North Korea's nuclear facilities, as provided for in a document adopted at the Six-Party Talks, has also been stalled. Countries concerns are worried about further delay in North Korea's denuclearization process. They are now paying close attention to a response by China, which chairs the Six-Party Talks and has close connections with North Korea. 10) U.S.-North Korea talks sought by nonpartisan political group NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 Members of the Parliamentarian League for Promoting the Normalization of Relations between Japan and North Korea, a nonpartisan group led by former Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taku Yamasaki, yesterday visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. According to Democratic Party of Japan Upper House member Yoshihiro Kawakami, the league requested that U.S.-North Korea talks be held on restarting the Six-Party Talks. In reply, Political Minister-Counselor Meserve reportedly replied: "We will make efforts first to find a breakthrough in the situation through U.S.-North Korea talks, premised on [maintaining] the framework of the Six-Party Talks." 11) Northern Territories issue: "Japan should accept return of three islands and part of Etorofu," says former Vice-Foreign Minister Yachi MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) April 17, 2009 Interviewed by the Mainichi Shimbun yesterday, former Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister and Government Representative Shotaro Yachi talked about finding a solution to the dispute over Russian-held islets north of Hokkaido. He indicated that Japan should not be fixated on the idea of having all four islands returned as a package. He said: "In my personal view, Japan should accept the return of 3.5 islands (instead of the four islands). I don't want to see the northern territories issue becoming a stumbling block between Japan and Russia." Through their summit in Sakhalin on February 18, Prime Minister Taro TOKYO 00000881 008 OF 012 Aso and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reached an agreement to take "a new, innovative and unconventional approach" to accelerate bilateral territorial talks. Yachi, who has been serving as Prime Minister Aso's foreign-policy "brain" since he was vice-foreign minister, accompanied Aso to the February summit. Yachi's comment is likely to draw much attention ahead of the planned visit to Japan in May by former Russian President and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. who retains a strong influence over the Russian government. In the interview, Yachi said: "Two islands (the Habomai islet group and Shikotan) account for only 7% of the total. Etorofu is a large island. If the total landmass of the four islands were to be equally divided into two, one portion would be the size of three islands plus 20 - 25% of Etorofu." The government takes the standpoint of regaining Japan's sovereignty over all four islands: the Habomai islet group, Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri. After the Japan-Russia summit, Prime Minister Aso told the press corps: "The other side (Russia) is willing to return two islands while this side (Japan) wants all four islands. As a result, no progress is being made. There is no other option but a political decision." Yachi's comment is believed to reflect Prime Minister Aso's wishes. 12) JCG forgoes building new patrols TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) April 17, 2009 The Japan Coast Guard will not make a budget request in the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget for new patrol ships that can be sent out for an antipiracy mission in waters off the eastern African coast of Somalia, JCG Commandant Teiji Iwasaki revealed yesterday. The government has now presented an antipiracy bill to the Diet, stipulating that the JCG is to be primarily tasked with antipiracy measures. However, the JCG is reluctant to send out its patrols on an ocean-going mission. Even if the legislation is enacted into law during the current Diet session, it will be synonymous with a law for at least five years to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces overseas. The JCG gave up sending out its patrol vessels, so the government dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers instead to Somalia waters in March for maritime security operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law. After the antipiracy bill is enacted into law, the MSDF's antipiracy mission will be continued under the newly enacted law. The JCG has now dropped its budget request for new patrols in the extra budget that is for urgent funding. Accordingly, its budget request for building ocean-going patrol ships will be on the wish list of lower-ranking items for a medium- to long-term. Even if the budget request is granted in the FY2010 budget at the earliest, it will take more than four years to build a patrol ship, so the MSDF will be tasked with ocean-going antipiracy activities for the time being. Iwasaki explained why the JCG will not make a budget request in the current fiscal year's supplementary budget for building ocean-going patrol ships. "I judged that it would not be appropriate to build a patrol ship at huge costs to send it to the waters where there are SDF vessels actually," he said. The JCG needs at least three patrol ships for rotational shifts. For now, however, the JCG can only send out the Shikishima, a 6,500-ton patrol ship that came into service in 1992 to escort a TOKYO 00000881 009 OF 012 plutonium-carrying ship. 13) Japan proposed new security declaration to U.S. TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) April 17, 2009 Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, when meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Clinton during her visit to Japan in February, proposed discussing the idea of working out a new joint declaration on bilateral security arrangements. The proposed declaration would give heed to strengthening bilateral cooperation on such global challenges as antiterror efforts and responding to the rise of China, government officials revealed yesterday. The United States withheld its response. The Defense Ministry is seeking to release a new security declaration next year, 50 years after revising the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. According to a government official, the new security declaration is a preparatory step to establishing a general law or a permanent law allowing Japan to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces Law overseas as needed for such missions as international peace cooperation activities. Hamada has plans to coordinate how Japan can cooperate with U.S. forces where the SDF can be dispatched as needed, and he wants to set forth global cooperation between Japan and the United States. In concrete terms, the agenda includes newly emerging threats such as terrorism and piracy. In addition, Hamada will likely propose discussing strategies toward China in anticipation of a crisis across the Taiwan Straits. Hamada, in his meeting with Clinton, proposed a new security declaration, saying: "I want to strengthen cooperation between the SDF and U.S. forces and define their roles to ensure stability in Asia and deal with global challenges." Clinton said, "Our strong alliance is important for peace and stability in Asia." However, she did not respond to the proposal for a new declaration. Clinton is believed to have avoided making a positive statement in consideration of the political situation in Japan that reportedly could see a change of government in the next House of Representatives election. 14) Gov't mulls early warning satellite YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, meeting the press yesterday, indicated that the government would consider introducing early warning satellites for missile launch detection in response to calls from within the Liberal Democratic Party. "Of course, I understand that this is a matter to be considered for the space master plan," Kawamura said, adding: "It's important to think about the use of space from the perspective of Japan's national security." 15) Japan-U.S. symposium starts for cooperation on sea issues YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 17, 2009 TOKYO 00000881 010 OF 012 Satoshi Ogawa, Washington A two-day symposium started in Washington, D.C., on the morning of April 16 (the night of April 16, Japan time) to explore ways for Japan and the United States to cooperate on such maritime issues as piracy and international friction over interests. The symposium is the Third United States-Japan Sea Power Dialogue (cosponsored by the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, the Pacific Forum CSIS; supported by the Yomiuri Shimbun). The symposium is to release a special report of recommendations on April ¶17. Former Prime Minister Abe will deliver a keynote speech that day. In addition to Abe, those participating in the event from Japan include the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) Vice President Seiji Maehara, former Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Government Representative Shotaro Yachi. 16) New Komeito secretly asks Aso to call Lower House election in August or later SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) April 17, 2009 It was learned yesterday that New Komeito Chief Representative Akihiro Ota and Secretary General Kazuo Kitabata had secretly met separately with Prime Minister Taro Aso and that the two leaders of the New Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Aso's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),had asked the prime minister to call the next House of Representatives election in August or later, after the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election. Ota held talks with Aso over lunch at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) for about one hour from a little past noon on April 15. Kitagawa met Aso that evening at a bar in the Hotel Okura. The two secret meetings were not included in the prime minister's schedule for April 15. The two New Komeito leaders said that it would be desirable to dissolve the Lower House and call a general election after a certain period of time had passed after the Tokyo election. They also asked that a consumption tax hike should be excluded from campaign pledges for the Lower House election. Aso, however, was noncommittal in his responses. The secret meeting with Ota started with Aso making casual conversation: "I heard that there are many posters of you mounted in the Tokyo 12th electoral district (Ota's constituency)." When the main topic was reached, their smiles disappeared. Ota asked Aso to avoid having the Lower House and Tokyo elections come too close together. The New Komeito has been resisting having a general election be held before the Tokyo assembly election. Ota and Kitagawa apparently called for holding the snap election between August and Sept. 10, when the terms of Lower House members expire. 17) DPJ to take confrontational stance over fiscal 2009 extra budget TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 17, 2009 There is a rumor in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that the House of Representatives might be dissolved in May for a general election in June. Showing its willingness to fight, the main TOKYO 00000881 011 OF 012 opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is now challenging Prime Minister Taro Aso. The party has made it clear it will take a confrontational stance against the government and ruling parties in deliberations on a supplementary budget for fiscal 2009, which the government is expected to submit on April 27 to the Diet. The aim is to get the party ready to fight in the general election, after it was shaken by the recent arrest and indictment of President Ichiro Ozawa's state-funded secretary for violating the Political Funds Control Law over donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan stressed at a press meeting yesterday: "Many lawmakers in the ruling camp are now talking about the option of a May Lower House dissolution and June general election. I think some LDP members want to let (the prime minister) dissolve the Lower House for a snap election. If that is the case, we will mount a challenge." Kan also indicated that his party would speed up drafting a manifesto (set of campaign pledges) for the Lower House election so that it would be ready to fight in the election that would come after Lower House dissolution in May. Meanwhile, DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka met on April 9 with his LDP counterpart Tadamori Oshima. Yamaoka sounded out Oshima on dissolution through talks with an eye on the idea of dissolving the Lower House on May 15 and holding the snap election on June 7. Anticipating that Aso would not accept the idea of dissolving the Lower House through talks, the DPJ appears to be trying to shake up the ruling coalition by taking a stance of being unafraid of an early Lower House dissolution. With the party in turmoil following the fundraising scandal involving its head, Ozawa, the DPJ is of course concerned about Lower House dissolution in May. However, in consideration of a surge in the support rate for the Aso administration, the main opposition party appears to have determined to respond to an early dissolution. Given the situation, the DPJ has decided a policy of carrying out thorough deliberations in order to impress the public differences in its economic stimulus package and the government's, forgoing the planned submission of its proposals to revise the government-drafted supplementary budget for fiscal 2009. 18) DPJ's Ozawa to resume nationwide stumping tour on April 20 MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) April 17, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa yesterday delivered a speech at a meeting in Tokyo of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo). Referring In it to the timing of dissolution of the House of Representatives, he said: "There are only two options: if an extra budget is submitted, the Lower House may be dissolved in early June (after the passage of the budget); or the Lower House may be dissolved in early August after the Group of Eight (G8) summit." Ozawa then stressed his determination to win the Lower House TOKYO 00000881 012 OF 012 election, saying: "I can't go to my grave without first realizing a change in government. I would like to achieve this great goal by taking into consideration all necessary measures." He plans to resume his nationwide stumping tour on April 20 from Fukuoka Prefecture. He visited Rengo, the largest support group for the DPJ, for the first time since his state-funded secretary was arrested and indicted for violating the Political Funds Control Law over donations to his fund management organizations. He attended the Rengo session to explain his party's emergency economic stimulus measures. He apologized for the fundraising scandal, saying: "I am sorry for making a fuss and worrying you. My recognition is that he did not violate the law, but it's all my fault." Rengo Chairman Tsuyoshi Takagi pointed out: "The public has severely criticized you in the polls carried by the media. It is difficult to go into the election under such circumstances." Ozawa then said: "It will be the last battle [for me]. Thinking that taking the reins of government is the biggest goal for my political career, I would like to make every decision." He indicated in his remarks that whether the DPJ can take political power will be the basis for his decision to resign his party post. ZUMWALT