Mondale Offers Apology

    As the debate over the Status of Forces Agreement(SOFA) 
gathers momentum, the US-Japan Joint Committee has set up a 
new body to consider procedures concerning criminal cases
under the agreement
    Specialists form the Foreign and Justice Ministries are 
likely to make up the membership. The decision to  form the 
group came after a meeting between Foreign Minister Yohei 
Kono and US Ambassador Walter Mondale.
    SOFA allows the US military authorities to hold three 
US servicemen accused of the September 4 rape of a 12-year-
old Okinawan girl and sought by the Okinawan police.
    The Okinawa Prefectural Government as well as local 
assemblies and civil right groups have been making 
impassioned demands for the revision of the agreement.
    Prior to the joint committees decision but after a 
meeting with Ambassador Mondale, Kono had been rejecting
the likelihood of amending the agreement. However, 
widespread discontent within the ruling government 
coalition had pushed a reluctant cabinet to shift  its 
ground.
    President Bill Clinton expressed his deepest regret at 
the rape on a radio program on the 21st and made clear 
that he is ready to look positively at a revision of SOFA. 
It is expected to be one of the major issues when the US 
Secretary of State and Japanese Foreign Minister meet on 
the 26th in New York.
                    (Sep.19, 20, 21, 22 eds)