PLATFORM : Apprehension Over Trading Blocs By Ryohei Murata, \o7 In a speech prepared for delivery Monday before the Japan America Society of Southern California, RYOHEI MURATA, Japan's ambassador to the United States, highlighted three points concerning the ways in which the Japan-U.S. relationship affects the Asia-Pacific region as a whole: Japan-U.S. security arrangements will continue to be of critical importance despite the end of the Cold War; for the stability and prosperity of the region, cooperation between Japan and the United States are essential, and, lastly, regional economic cooperation will continue to develop in ways that strengthen openness in this region. The following is adapted mainly from his comments on the last point\f7