Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2004

Prime Minister Meets with the Chairpersons of Prefectural Assemblies Thursday, July 29, 2004 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi invited and held a meeting with the chairpersons of prefectural assemblies at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi made a statement on the reform packages of three issues concerning the central and the local governments saying, "Any kind of reform has its pros and cons and it is difficult to manage them. I wish to advance this reform towards decentralization through your cooperation." Following this statement, Mr. Nobumasa Ueda, the Chairperson of the Toyama Prefectural Assembly and the Head of the National Association of Chairpersons of Prefectural Assemblies made a request saying, "I hope that the voices of the regions are respected and transfer of tax sources is steadily realized."