TOKYO, May 26 -- Prime Minister and His Cabinet issued the following highlight:
(On the reaction of Prime Minister Ishiba to this morning's formal announcement regarding the release of stockpiled rice through discretionary contracts and the reason behind this urgent announcement, which was made less than a week after the change of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
Last week, on May 21, I instructed the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to consider selling stockpiled rice through the use of discretionary contracts. Today, it was announced that 300,000 tons of such rice will be sold under the system, which I find is a very speedy response. I understand that this was the Minister's decision to respond as quick...