(* 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: Friday, February 2, 2007, 8.45a.m.
Place: in front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

Six-Party Talks
Domestic Politics
Japan-U.S. Relations (the statement by the Minister of Defense, Fumio Kyuma)

1. Six-Party Talks

Question:
In the light of the U.S.-North Korea financial negotiations, how do you see the prospects for next week's Six-Party Talks?

Minister:
As I often say, however high one's expectations may be, the very final result is impossible to predict. While the last Six-Party Talks got off to a hopeful start, in essence they turned out nothing like as had been hoped for. In that sense, it is not very clever to be taken in by the same person repeatedly so when it comes to expectations, I will refrain from saying anything until I have seen the results.

2. Domestic Politics

(See Japanese version)

3. Japan-U.S. relations (the statement by the Minister of Defense, Fumio Kyuma)

Question:
The United States seems to regard Minister of Defense Kyuma with mistrust regarding statements he made about U.S. policies in Iraq and the Okinawa bases issue. What are your thoughts in regard to this?

Minister:
Your newspaper may well have expressed it as mistrust, but just who came out and expressed, point blank, any mistrust? Did you hear anyone say that?

Question:
Yes, I did.

Minister:
Who was that?

Question:
I can't say who.

Minister:
I see.

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