JCP chair urges prime minister to push U.S. to agree to resumption of U.N. weapons inspections on Iraq

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on April 23 urged Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro to demand the resumption of U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq.

During the eight-minute one-on-one debate in the Diet with Prime Minister Koizumi, Shii reminded the prime minister that the main reason for the U.S.-British war on Iraq was Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and that Prime Minister Koizumi's stated reason for his support for the war was that disarming Iraq was necessary.

"But it is a hard fact that weapons of mass destruction have not been discovered yet in Iraq," Shii pointed out.

Koizumi said that he was in favor of sending in the UN inspectors again to Iraq if conditions permit.

Pointing out that the United States says it is against the idea of U.N. inspectors resuming its activities in Iraq, Shii said to the prime minister, "Isn't it necessary for you to tell the United States that weapons inspections are necessary?"

Prime Minister Koizumi avoided replying to that question.

Shii criticized Koizumi for being reluctant to express criticism of the United States for failing to sincerely deal with the issue of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Later in the day, Shii told the press that it is important that the prime minister stated, "I am in favor of the resumption of U.N. weapons," even though his support is on condition that peace and order are restored.

In dealing with Iraq's reconstruction, the Japanese government should not justify the lawless war committed by the U.S.-British forces, but should adhere to the position that Iraq reconstruction efforts need to be led by the United Nations, Shii added. (end)