Kan plans to attend Hiroshima, Nagasaki A-bomb memorials in Aug.
Jul. 8, 2011
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Thursday he plans to attend memorial ceremonies marking the anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki early next month.
''I would like to attend at any cost,'' Kan said at an upper house budget committee session, referring to the Aug. 6 and 9 memorials held by the two Japanese cities A-bombed during World War II.
The embattled premier, who is facing mounting calls from the opposition camp and even from within his ruling party to resign immediately, also suggested at the same parliament session that he does not rule out the possibility of dissolving the lower house for a general election.
''I am currently doing my best under the powers bestowed upon me by the Constitution, and I want to make this clear to the public,'' said the premier who last month announced his intention to step down but did not give a clear date for doing so.
Kan has said he is ready to step down if three conditions, including the parliamentary passage of the second extra budget for fiscal 2011, are met during the current Diet session through the end of August.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 7, 2011)
''I would like to attend at any cost,'' Kan said at an upper house budget committee session, referring to the Aug. 6 and 9 memorials held by the two Japanese cities A-bombed during World War II.
The embattled premier, who is facing mounting calls from the opposition camp and even from within his ruling party to resign immediately, also suggested at the same parliament session that he does not rule out the possibility of dissolving the lower house for a general election.
''I am currently doing my best under the powers bestowed upon me by the Constitution, and I want to make this clear to the public,'' said the premier who last month announced his intention to step down but did not give a clear date for doing so.
Kan has said he is ready to step down if three conditions, including the parliamentary passage of the second extra budget for fiscal 2011, are met during the current Diet session through the end of August.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on July 7, 2011)
