Kyodo World Service, September 12th, 2007
The Cambodian government said Wednesday that Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe's resignation will not hurt good relations between
Cambodia and Japan.
''The relationship between Cambodia and Japan will not be
changed, and nothing is worried about because it is an internal issue
of Japan,'' said Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and minister
of information.
Abe announced his intention Wednesday to resign to take
responsibility for causing political confusion, saying he finds it
difficult to regain public trust and to get an extension of Japan's
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean under his leadership.
Abe, who took office only a year ago, said it is better for him
to step down and have a new prime minister.
Abe's decision to resign comes after indicating over the weekend
he was ready to step down if he failed to get the Diet to extend the
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission to support U.S.-led
war efforts operations in and near Afghanistan beyond Nov. 1.
Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy said he sincerely
appreciated Abe decision.
''I sincerely appreciate Shinzo Abe for his courage and
braveness to resign for the interest of his name, his party and his
nation,'' he said.
During a recent visit to Japan, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
had invited Abe to visit Cambodia this year to mark 50th years since
the visit by Abe's grandfather Nobusuke Kishi, then prime minister,
to the country.
''An invitation was raised verbally by Prime Minister Hun Sen
during his visit to Japan in June this year. And in response, Abe
said he would examine and consider an appropriate timing for making a
visit to Cambodia,'' said Sry Thammrong, an adviser to Hun Sen who
accompanied the premier to Japan.
