Japan holds annual rally on Russian-held islands
February 6, 2006An annual rally to renew Japan's call on Russia to return the islands it seized off Hokkaido at the end of World War II was held Tuesday in Tokyo with the attendance of government officials, lawmakers and former islanders. The event came as Russia has hardened its stance on the long-standing territorial dispute, which prevents Tokyo and Moscow from signing a peace treaty.
Nepal rebel leader vows to reciprocate any gov't peace initiative
February 6, 2006Nepal's top Maoist insurgent leader has said the rebels would reciprocate if the government were to take the initiative toward dialogue, according to remarks published Tuesday in two local newspapers. ''We will reciprocate positively if the (government's) cease-fire seems to be leading to meaningful dialogue,'' Prachanda, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said in an interview with editors of The Kathmandu Post and the vernacular daily Kantipur.
NZ premier chides papers over cartoon but defends press freedom
February 6, 2006New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said Tuesday that two local newspapers had an ''absolute'' right to publish cartoons depicting Islam's Prophet Mohammed that have sparked massive protests in the Muslim world, but their decision to do so was ''ill-judged'' and put New Zealanders overseas at risk. Clark was quoted by the New Zealand Press Association as saying in an interview on TV One, ''We always defend the right to publish. That is absolute in a country like ours.''
Japan expresses concern over crisis sparked by Mohammad cartoons
February 6, 2006Japan on Tuesday showed concern over the recent violence sparked by Muslim outrage over controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad and urged for an end to it. ''Japan expresses concern about the difficult situation over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in newspapers and magazines published in Denmark and other Western European countries,'' Yoshinori Katori, the ministry's press secretary, said in a statement.
Japan, N. Korea fail to agree on economic aid format
February 6, 2006Japan and North Korea failed Monday to agree over an economic cooperation formula presented by Tokyo as a method to make up for its 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula, the countries' chief negotiators on diplomatic normalization said after their talks in Beijing. ''We cannot accept (a situation which involves) only that method,'' Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador to normalization talks with Japan, told reporters.
Japan spokesman urges N. Korea's political decision on abductions
February 6, 2006Japan's top government spokesman on Monday urged North Korea to change its stance on the dispute over its agents' abductions of Japanese citizens and called for a ''political decision'' by Pyongyang after the two countries failed to make progress on the issue in Sunday's talks. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Japan has to see ''some progress'' on its demands over the matter in order to be satisfied with the talks on the abduction issue, which Tokyo has put top priority on in the ongoing three-track talks with the North in Beijing.
Japan, N. Korea discuss normalization of ties on 3rd day of talks
February 6, 2006Japan and North Korea on Monday discussed the key specifics that need to be worked out to normalize their diplomatic relations, as the two countries continued talks for the third straight day in Beijing. A bilateral panel tasked with the issue met at a hotel for negotiations that are expected to include issues such as economic benefits that North Korea would receive if and when the two countries normalize their relations.
N. Korea raps Japan for attitude over past in Beijing talks
February 6, 2006North Korea on Monday complained to Japan that it has yet to make good on its promise to atone for its 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula, as the two countries met for the third day of talks aimed at solving problems preventing them from normalizing relations. ''Japan said that its idea is to resolve issues from the past without fail,'' Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador to normalization talks with Japan, told reporters after the morning's session held at a Beijing hotel.
Cambodian opposition lawmaker released from jail
February 6, 2006Cambodian opposition lawmaker Cheam Channy was freed from prison on Monday, one day after he and his party's leader Sam Rainsy were pardoned by King Norodom Sihamoni at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Cheam Channy, speaking to reporters upon emerging from prison, thanked the king and Hun Sen for intervening to secure his release after one year and three days of imprisonment.