TOKYO, September 29, SPA -- Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso gave hisfirst policy speech to parliament on Monday, stressing thecountry's responsibility to help fight the global war onterror and to fuel recovery in the domestic economy. Aso, who took office last Wednesday, said it was «not anoption» for the country's military, known as theSelf-Defense Forces, to end activities abroad in support ofthe U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, a stance thatJapan's opposition has questioned. In January, the government passed a bill to continue anaval mission in which Japanese ships refuel vessels onanti-terror patrols in Afghanistan, but bans direct help byJapanese forces in the region. Aso emphasized Tokyo must deepen the Japan-U.S. partnership and build on that to foster stability in Asiawith close neighbors such as China, South Korea and Russia. Aso said he would seek to resolve outstanding issues withNorth Korea, including concerns over that country's missiletests and nuclear weapons program, as well as resolving thelong-standing issue of the kidnapping of Japanese citizensdecades ago. On the economy, Aso said it was crucial to build businessconfidence and implement government policies that led toeconomic growth. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/594084