
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 3, 1990                   TAG: 9003032912
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.                                 LENGTH: Medium

BUSH, KAIFU DISCUSS U.S. TROOP CUTS

President Bush, opening a two-day desert summit, assured Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu on Friday that a cutback of U.S. troops in Asia will not undermine stability or security there, an official said.

The two leaders avoided discussing Japan's huge trade surplus and the growing trade tensions between the world's largest economic powers, leaving those subjects for today.

Despite the economic conflicts, Bush emphasized the positive in his opening remarks.

The very fact that Kaifu responded to his invitation for the hastily arranged meeting was an "important display of your feelings about our relationship," Bush said.

The two leaders met for an hour before gathering again for dinner at the heavily guarded estate of millionaire publisher Walter Annenberg.

Emerging from a one-on-one meeting, Bush said, "We had a very good discussion."

There was no sign of friction, although White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said Bush would warn the prime minister that Congress was in a "very tough mood" in insisting that Japan lower barriers to U.S. goods and services.

In a statement afterward, Fitzwater said the opening session was devoted to security issues.

The United States is considering reducing its 120,000 troops in Asia by about 10 percent. That would mean a reduction of 5,000 troops in Japan.

In addition, Washington is pressing Tokyo for a sizable increase in Japan's $2.4 billion annual support for American troops stationed in the country.

Bush told Kaifu that the changes in the U.S. defense posture "will not affect either deterrence or stability, nor its commitment to its Asian allies," Fitzwater said.

Referring to U.S. hopes that Japan will increase defense spending, Fitzwater said, "The two leaders discussed the issue of burden-sharing, noting the need for suitable arrangements for balanced cost-sharing."

Fitzwater said Kaifu "stressed the importance to coordinate our policies and tackle the issues from the standpoint of mutual cooperation."

The president will stress the importance of opening Japan's markets and emphasize the possibility of U.S. sanctions if action isn't forthcoming to cool tensions between the world's largest economic powers, Fitzwater said.

by CNB