Rudd: Whale talks very, very difficult

BY AKIHITO SUGII AND YUZURU TAKANO

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

CANBERRA--The feud between Japan and Australia over whaling can be resolved through diplomacy, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, but he reiterated Canberra's criticism against Japan's research whaling.

Kevin Rudd(AKIHITO SUGII)

"I'm optimistic that we can resolve these matters diplomatically," Rudd said Tuesday in an interview with Yoichi Funabashi, editor in chief of The Asahi Shimbun. "I am fully appreciative of the fact that it would be very, very difficult."

Rudd pledged to oppose whaling during his campaign in November last year that led his Labor Party to win control of the government for the first time in 11 years.

The Australian government under Rudd has dispatched a customs ship to conduct surveillance of Japanese whaling vessels and other steps to strengthen restrictions on whaling.

Rudd reiterated the Australian government's position that has been critical of what Japan has described as scientific whaling.

"The reason we have undertaken the actions we have is to establish in our own mind the facts of what's transpiring down there, vis-a-vis scientific or commercial whaling," Rudd said.

Despite the differences over whaling, Rudd stressed the importance of bilateral relations with Japan for Australia, especially in the area of national security.

"The relationship with Japan is an absolutely core relationship for the Australian government," Rudd said.

Rudd indicated his government would maintain the same course in the cooperative relationship on national security between Australia, Japan and the United States established by his predecessor, John Howard.

"We have reaffirmed the importance of our trilateral discussions between ourselves, the United States and the government of Japan," Rudd said.

At the same time, Rudd took a more pessimistic view toward a proposal made by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to create a four-party cooperative relationship that would include India.

Rudd will visit the United States, Europe and China from Thursday on his first major trip abroad since becoming prime minister.

When asked about concerns that Rudd's government was skipping Japan, the prime minister indicated that the fundamental relationship would not be affected because he described the relationship between Australia and Japan as "good, strong, mature, robust."

Rudd also expressed expectations that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda would demonstrate leadership during the Group of Eight summit to be held in July at Lake Toyako, Hokkaido. Rudd has been invited to represent Australia at that summit as an observer.

"It depends on how Prime Minister Fukuda wishes to conduct the summit, and I understand that obviously climate change will figure prominently at the summit," Rudd said.

Rudd also indicated that he would bring up the issue of clashes in Tibet during his talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on his trip to Beijing.

"I will raise the human rights concerns with the Chinese government," Rudd said.

The interview Tuesday was Rudd's first with a Japanese media organization since he became prime minister.(IHT/Asahi: March 27,2008)