Despite delays, U.S. President Bill Clinton is expected to arrive today in time for the beginning of the Group of Eight summit in Okinawa, and will bring to the table such issues as debt relief and bridging the digital divide, U.S. government sources said.
Clinton left Washington for Japan on Thursday and is expected to arrive in Okinawa this morning, in time for the first day of the G8 summit. He will begin the day with a visit to "Heiwa no Ishiji" (Cornerstone of Peace) Park, and is then scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the main sessions of the G8 summit begin.
On Thursday, White House and State Department officials in Washington told The Japan Times over the telephone that the president intended to stick to a previously agreed upon agenda that includes a wide range of multilateral issues with the G8 nations and bilateral meetings with Russia and Japan.