The government officially decided Friday to prepare to ratify an international treaty that prevents cross-border parental child abductions.
The decision came just in time for Prime Minister Naoto Kan to announce it at next week's Group of Eight summit meeting in France.
But since there is strong opposition to the pact in both the ruling and opposition camps, as well as from the public, it remains unclear how soon the Diet can actually agree to conclude the treaty and enact related domestic laws.