Japan retracts criticism of UN chief's remarks

Japan has retracted its criticism of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's remarks, which it earlier claimed as lacking neutrality and an understanding of Japan's position regarding issues of its militaristic history and current strained ties with its neighbors, its top government spokesperson said Thursday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that Japan now understands the UN chief's true sentiments following an enquiry made to the United Nations by Japan's Senior Vice Foreign Minister Masaji Matsuyama. "The UN Secretary General's true intent has become clear," Suga told a press conference Thursday, adding that Matsuyama had met the UN chief in the Netherlands and was informed that the intended message had originally been misunderstood by Japan. Suga said that Ban told Matsuyama that his comments were not entirely directed at Japan and were in no way biased. Ban said that the misunderstanding on Japan's part was regrettable, as was the fact the story had become headline news, government officials here added. Japan reacted angrily to comments made by Ban on Monday at a press conference during a trip to Seoul, which Japanese officials interpreted as blaming Japan for the current strained relations with China and South Korea. Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, said that he found it very regrettable that the tension among the three northeast Asian countries continues due to issues of history and other political reasons, and was apparently referring not only to Japan' s misperception of history, but also to ongoing territorial disputes between Japan and China as well as Japan and South Korea. Officials here said that Ban also told Matsuyama that he wanted to emphasize Japan, China and South Korea resolving historical and geopolitical issues through a "strong will of leaders" and encouraged more dialogue between the nations in order to achieve a "harmonious relationship" for the good of peace and economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.