The Japan Association of National Universities said Monday special laws should be established that set various conditions if national universities are to be converted into independent public corporations as proposed by the government.

In an interim report made by the association's first standing committee, the JANU reiterated its opposition to the idea of turning national universities into public corporations as part of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's administrative reform plan.

"It is absolutely clear that the financial and organizational standing of national universities will be weakened if public corporations simply try to seek efficiency," the report says.

Shigehiko Hasumi, president of the association and the University of Tokyo, told a press conference Monday that none of the presidents of national universities support the government's proposal.

However, "it may be possible" for the plan to be realized, he said, hinting that it is becoming increasingly difficult to resist the government's proposal. Under the administrative reform plan, the number of civil servants will be reduced by 25 percent by fiscal 2010.

Monday's report suggests turning one university into one public corporation rather than turning several universities into one company. It also suggests preserving universities' autonomy in setting medium- to long-term management plans.

Autonomy also will continue by having the universities choose their own president, the report says.