08:57, December 13, 2007Japan and the United States agreed on Wednesday to cut a little of Japan's financial support as host-nation for U.S. military bases.
According to Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Japan will reduce 400 million yen (about 3.60 million U.S. dollars) in the utilities fees to 24.9 billion yen (about 224.32 million U.S. dollars) in fiscal 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The amount of the host-nation support in 2008 will be maintained at the current level, Japanese officials said.
The new three-year agreement was reached by Komura and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer after Japan's effort to seek larger cut of the costs failed, Kyodo News said, adding that Japan accepted the plan out of diplomatic consideration.
According to Japanese media, while Schieffer openly expressed his happiness over the agreement, Komura indicated that the suspension of Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for the U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan help build pressure on Japan during the negotiation over the host-nation support.
Source: Xinhua/agencies
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