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Japanese PM Tells EU Not to Lift China Arms Ban
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=D3BCF1:2AB91D3

Mr. Koizumi makes his case Monday at a Japanese - EU summit in
Luxembourg, which holds the trading bloc's revolving presidency







Junichiro Koizumi Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has urged
the European Union not to lift a 16-year arms embargo against China.

Mr. Koizumi made his case Monday at a Japanese - EU summit in
Luxembourg, which holds the trading bloc's revolving presidency.

Prime Minister Koizumi told reporters he expressed Japan's concern
over lifting the ban, and believes his concerns were well understood.

EU president, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, indicated
that if the EU goes ahead with plans to lift the embargo, no arms
exports would be increased that would threaten security in Asia.

The embargo, which the United States also wants to see remain in
effect, was put in place in 1989 in response to Beijing's deadly
crackdown on unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.

The European Union is expected to lift the arms embargo by the end of
June.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP, Reuters.


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