News Tanaka told to 'think' before speaking

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Former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa was scheduled to give a speech at the Nov. 10-16 session of the United Nations General Assembly. Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Toshiyuki Takano was set to represent Japan on Nov. 11 at the Group of Eight foreign ministerial meeting.

The decision means Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who had repeatedly sought to attend the two conferences in New York, will have to give up her quest to be the country's top official in charge of diplomacy.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters Nov. 7 that he has cautioned Tanaka to think before she speaks

Koizumi was referring to Tanaka's calls for Koizumi to show leadership by allowing her to attend the U.N. General Assembly

"It turns out former Prime Minister Miyazawa will go on behalf of the prime minister. I guess that's a good decision," Tanaka told reporters after hearing the news.

Tanaka still emphasized the importance of making the trip herself. Tanaka stated that some of her counterparts expressed their wish for the foreign ministers to "get together," and urged her to continue her efforts to attend the summit.

小泉首相、田中外相を叱責

小泉純一郎首相は7日、考えてから話すよう田中真紀子外相に注意したことを、記者団に明らかにした。

Shukan ST: Nov. 16, 2001

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