(* This is a provisional translation by "WIP ジャパン" for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Aso

Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 9.50a.m.
Place: in front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

U.S. Vice President Cheney's visit to Japan
Six-Party Talks

1. U.S. Vice President Cheney's visit to Japan

Minister:
From February 20th to 22nd, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will pay an Official Working Visit to Japan. During his stay, he will be received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Six-Party Talks

Question:
Is the date for the reopening of the Six-Party Talks to be announced today?

Minister:
Both Japan and the United States have indicated their preference for the 8th, but as the chair nation, China, has not yet made an announcement, I imagine that it is engaged in final preparations with North Korea.

Question:
Yesterday, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yachi spoke regarding the establishment of working groups at the next Six-Party Talks. How difficult would it be to hold Japan-North Korea consultations that included the abductions issue without the establishment of working groups?

Minister:
I think the question is of being able to set up a Japan-North Korea working group as one of the working groups. We understand that there will be five working groups that include a Japan-North Korea working group, and I know that the United States is aiming this line.

Question:
Would direct consultations without the establishment of such a working group be too difficult?

Minister:
I think that direct Japan-North Korea consultations would be difficult. It is more realistic to hold talks through one of the five working groups. Also, I doubt whether Russia and the others know enough about the abduction issue.

Question:
Talks between the U.S. and North Korea are starting in Beijing concerning the financial issues. Some opinions see the United States proposing a possible partial lifting of financial sanctions. If that were to happen, from North Korea's perspective it could be said that the launching of a missile and the nuclear testing had somehow paid off. What is your view of this?

Minister:
That is, I believe, a journalistic way of looking at things. At the very least, the talks being held are about finance. The missile issue is a Six-Party Talks issue and is therefore completely separate. Instead of recklessly lumping them all together, North Korea should discuss the financial issue with the United States. They are simply going on at the same time, and we are not conscious of their having any relationship with each other.

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