|
Japan has conveyed to the United States its rejection to comply with a US request to close the Iraqi Embassy in Tokyo, Japanese senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Wednesday.
"We concluded it inappropriate now to close the embassy, and we notified the US government of our decision yesterday," said Toshimitsu Motegi, who was quoted by Kyodo News on Wednesday.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda also noted that it is important to maintain diplomatic channels with Iraq.
The United States has made the request to Japan while the US Department of State called on countries around the world to expel Iraqi diplomats.
Top Japanese government officials have repeatedly said Japan will make its own decision on whether to expel Iraqi diplomats and close the embassy.
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)
|
