Koizumi names Kawaguchi as foreign minister

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on February 1 appointed Kawaguchi Yoriko as the new foreign minister in place of dismissed Tanaka Makiko after failing to persuade Ogata Sadako, Japanese government representative in charge of Afghan assistance, to take the post.

In the press conference Kawaguchi said, "The Japan-U.S. relation is of the supreme importance in Japan's foreign policy. I want to work to further reinforce this relation."

As regards Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine, the new foreign minister said, "My understanding is that he made it bearing the significance of peace. I want to respect him for his thinking."

Oki Hiroshi, Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, took the post of the Environment Minister. Oki, as an incumbent Environment Agency head, failed to secure his fourth term as House of Councilors member four years ago.

In his election campaign, Oki called for promoting the 2005 Aichi Exposition which will cause a mass environmental destruction along with a new international airport in Aichi Prefecture. (end)