Premier Names New Foreign Minister
Yoriko Kawaguchi was named Japan’s new foreign minister, replacing Makiko Tanaka, who was forced to resign earlier this week.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda announced that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had chosen Kawaguchi, who headed the Environment Ministry.
“As environment minister, she has proved her expertise and ability as a negotiator in the global warming talks,” Fukuda said.
Though popular with voters, Tanaka, the first female foreign minister, was pushed out by Koizumi because of her feuding with bureaucrats and lawmakers.
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