"We have yet to reach a stage in which we should make a decision on it," Kawaguchi said at a local television program, adding that the international community is divided on how to disarm Iraq.

But the division itself only serves the interests of Iraq which can make use of the division to buy time for avoiding the war, she said.

Last Tuesday in New York, Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations, Koichi Haraguchi urged the UN Security Council to adopt anew resolution on Iraq, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

Haraguchi also expressed doubt on the effectiveness of stepped-up inspections as urged by many other nations for the weapons of mass destruction Iraq allegedly possesses.

"Even if the inspections were to be continued and strengthened, they will hardly lead to the elimination of its weapons of mass destruction unless Iraq fundamentally changes its attitude of cooperating only passively," he said.

But the prevailing view in the world is that more time should be given to the UN weapons inspectors and all peaceful means to resolve the issue should be explored, Kyodo said commenting on Haraguchi's statement.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi denied Haraguchi's words that Japan's call for a new resolution would mean its immediate support for an attack on Iraq.

We'd rather support for a new UN Security Council resolution to promote a unified international stance in dealing with Iraq, not to give its immediate support to a possible US-led attack, Koizumi said.

"Our stance is it is desirable for the international community to have a new resolution urging Iraq in a united manner to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors," Koizumi said.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Japan wants other UN members to seek the best way to realize the goal of disarming Iraq.

Domestically, the Japanese government faced calls from various circles that it and the international community should not give up efforts to avoid war.

During today's TV program, Kawaguchi also suggested that the draft resolution the United States plans to submit to the UN Security Council this week be one that makes the use of force against Iraq implicit, rather than explicit.

"Japan's stance is that the resolution should be one with which countries can impose disarmament on Iraq as the will of the international community," she said.

Her remarks suggest that Japan prefers a resolution that can command broad support from UN Security Council members, including veto-wielding France, which is stepping up its opposition to the possible US-led attack on Iraq.

Kawaguchi also mentioned that Japan does not plan to bankroll the war costs if the United States and its allies launch an attack on Iraq. "Our country's financial standing is very different from that during the 1991 Gulf War," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)