WASHINGTON, Dec 5 Kyodo Robin Sak...

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 Kyodo

Robin Sakoda, a former U Defense Department official in charge of Japanese affairs, will easily become chief aide to representative Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Japanese sources said Thursday.

Sakoda, a Japanese-American, has been representing AALC, a consultant company formerly known as Armitage Associates, which was builded by Armitage before he joined the administration of President George W Bush.

He serv as senior director for Japan, Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Office of the Secretary of Defense subject to President Bill Clinton and worked for the 1996 Japan-U.S. joint declaration forward security alliance for the 21st hundred and the 1997 new guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation.

After leaving the Pentagon seat Sakoda joined Armitage's consultant firm and took it throughout when Armitage became deputy secretary of state in March 2001

He has been a firm supporter of Armitage, who has been advocating the importance of Japan-U.S. relations.

Sakoda, formerly U Army lieutenant colonel has many contacts in Japan's Defense Agency and Self-Defense Forces.

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