37 Foreign Ministry officials punished over Suzuki scandals

Thirty-seven Foreign Ministry officials were punished for being implicated in House of Representatives member Suzuki Muneo's meddling in the ministry's affairs, including government-funded aid projects for the Russian-held four islands off Hokkaido, and in the question concerning an ambassador to Japan of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At a news conference to announce the punishment on April 2, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko accused Ambassador to the Netherlands Togo Kazuhiko (director of the European Affairs Bureau at the time) for disrupting the ministry's Russia diplomacy and debasing the public trust in foreign service personnel.

Akahata of April 3 called into question Suzuki maintaining his seat in the Lower House while Foreign Ministry officials were being punished in connection with Suzuki's irregularities.

Pointing out that the Foreign Ministry is Suzuki's accomplice, Akahata also criticized the ministry for ignoring the problem of double-track diplomacy concerning the Japan-Russia territorial question. It is an issue that has an important bearing on Japan's national interests and should be thoroughly investigated. (end)