Japan PM seeks closer ties, good friend in Bush

Washington, Apr 27: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in Washington for a summit devoted to reinforcing the bilateral alliance and building a friendship with US President George W Bush.

The two-day visit -- Abe's first to Washington as premier -- may, however, be overshadowed by concerns over his remarks last month denying there was proof Japan's government or military had forced women to work in military brothels during World War II.

Bush is unlikely to raise the topic during Abe's stay, which includes a visit to his Camp David retreat, but Abe made efforts to dampen the furor, telling congressional leaders in an hour-long meeting he sympathized with the suffering of the former ''comfort women,'' as they are known in Japan.

''It could be thought that my remarks and real intentions were not correctly conveyed, but as both an individual and as prime minister I sympathize with those women who were forced to taste life's bitterness,'' he was quoted as saying in a statement about the meeting, in which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took part.

''Along with this, I am full of a feeling of apology toward the fact that they were placed in such a painful situation.'' Abe has repeatedly said he stands by a 1993 apology that acknowledged official involvement.

US lawmakers have introduced a resolution demanding an unambiguous apology, though a vote is not expected until May, and the perception that Abe is trying to whitewash the wartime past could linger.

Around 50 mostly Korean activists gathered at Lafayette Park near the White House in a protest organized by Amnesty International. The bulk of the estimated 200,000 comfort women were from Korea.

''What I want from the prime minister is sincerity, a recognition of the actual situation and a formal apology and legal compensation,'' said former comfort woman Lee Yong-soo, who testified before Congress in February.

Upbeat Mood:

Still, the mood at the meetings between Bush and Abe is expected to be upbeat.

''The Japan-US security alliance is the backbone of our bilateral relations,'' Abe told reporters before leaving. ''I would like to create a relationship with President Bush in which we can talk about anything frankly.'' Both leaders have met before, but have not had time to build close bonds like those that developed between Bush and Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.

On the agenda will be North Korea's missile and nuclear tests last year, as well as Pyongyang's failure to implement a February deal to shut down its nuclear reactor by April 14.

Some in Japan worry about an apparent softening of Washington's stance toward North Korea, but Abe -- who owes much of his popularity to a tough stance toward North Korea --has made clear Tokyo will not give aid until it sees progress in a feud over Japanese citizens abducted decades ago.

Abe, who has made rewriting Japan's pacifist constitution a key goal, is also likely to showcase his vision of a more assertive Japanese role in global security.

Reuters>