THE WOODS ARE LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP: Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (left) with his New Zealand counterpart Jim Bolger in Wellington on Wednesday. WELLINGTON, April 30: Japan'S Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Wednesday won New Zealand's backing for a permanent United Nation (UN) Security Council seat. Hashimoto was reassured of support by his New Zealand counterpart Jim Bolger during his one-day visit here. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, due in Wellington next Wednesday, can expect New Zealand to turn down any similar request for support. Officials said New Zealand has declined to support Germany's bid, believing there is already more than enough European representation. Of the five current permanent Security Council members Britain, France and Russia are all part of the European bloc. For his part, Hashimoto reaffirmed his support for New Zealand and Australia of seats at future Asian summits, countering efforts by Malaysia to shut them out.
