May 31st 2002
Defense Agency chief Gen Nakatani left Narita airport Friday evening for Singapore to attend a security meeting of defense experts from the Asia-Pacific region Sunday, government officials said.
Besides taking part in the meeting, organized by the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, Nakatani will also pay a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and hold talks with defense officials from some other countries, the officials said.
At a morning news conference, Nakatani sought understanding for making an overseas trip when internal investigation has not been completed on recent allegations that a Defense Agency lieutenant commander compiled detailed background information of private citizens who legally sought the agency's information under the information-disclosure law.
'I would like to ask for your understanding since I have instructed Senior Vice Minister of Defense Kyogon Hagiyama to look into the case carefully,' he said.
Nakatani is scheduled to return to Japan on Monday.
