July 09, 1999
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| July 09, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Japan Obuchi asks New Komeito to join cabinet TOKYO - Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi formally asked the New Komeito party to join his cabinet and become part of the ruling coalition. ''We need a more solid government to implement policies as soon as possible,'' said Obuchi, concurrently president of the Liberal Democratic Party, alluding to the LDP-Liberal Party coalition's lack of a simple majority in the upper house. ''I am taking the request seriously,'' said New Komeito chief Takenori Kanzaki, adding that his party will reply after its July 24 convention. Obuchi suggested coordinating policy among the three parties in an as-yet-unformed consultative body in August, when budget requests for next fiscal year will be drafted. Kanzaki indicated it will be possible to begin consultations on a policy agreement before the convention. ''We can clarify policy areas on which such an agreement should focus even before then,'' he said. Earlier that day, Liberal Party President Ichiro Ozawa agreed to Obuchi's request to start three-party consultations on a possible coalition. But for this to happen, the parties will have to agree on basic policies, Ozawa said. (Asia Pulse/Nikkei) | |||||||||
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