51.   A Japanese foreign ministry official declined to confirm the report.

52.   A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman hinted that a visit to Tokyo by Chirac next year appeared out of the question now.

53.   A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said Perry will meet with Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and Eto.

54.   A spokesman for the Japanese foreign ministry in Tokyo said he was unable to confirm the report.

55.   Amidst intense lobbying by China, the Japanese foreign ministry gave a visa to the Dalai Lama on condition that he refrain from discussing political questions.

56.   An official in Japanese foreign ministry headquarters in Lima, however, said no substantial progress had been made in the talks.

57.   Also on Thursday, a senior Japanese foreign ministry official expressed concern that the defection could seriously affect proposed Korean peace talks.

58.   An Iraqi envoy will visit Japan next week to plead for the lifting of UN economic sanctions on his country, the Japanese foreign ministry said Friday.

59.   Both the Japanese foreign ministry and the United States embassy here refused to comment on the report.

60.   Both the Japanese foreign ministry and the United States embassy here declined to comment on the report.