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Japanâ€™s Prime Minister declines his pay till nuclear crisis over

10 May 2011 16:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Japanâ€™s Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Tuesday he will not accept his wages as premier until the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant is over, although he will take his lawmaker’s salary, APA reports with reference to AFP.
â€œAlong with the plant operator, TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), the government bears a great responsibility for the nuclear accident as it has pursued a nuclear energy policyâ€, the centre-left leader said.
â€œAs the one in charge of this policy, I wish to offer my apologies to the peopleâ€, he told a press conference.
â€œIn view of this position, I have decided to give up my annual allowance as prime minister from June, until we can see the prospect of a solution to the nuclear accidentâ€, said Kan. The Prime Ministerâ€™s monthly salary is 1.6 million yens ($20 000), but as a lawmaker he takes 800 000 yens ($ 10 000).