(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs MACHIMURA Nobutaka

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2007, 10:43 a.m
Place: Front Entrance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution on Extension of the Mandate of the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF)
Participation in the United Nations General Assembly
North Korean Issues
Presidential Election in Liberal Democratic Party

1. Adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution on Extension of the Mandate of the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF)

Minister:
I am going to brief you on a Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. More detailed information will be distributed soon but this morning, 19 September p.m. New York time, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1776 on Extension of the Mandate of the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Forces was adopted. This resolution includes assistance for the maritime prevention activities which Japan is also conducting. It expresses again the proactive support in the form of a United Nations Security Council Resolution for such kinds of international efforts, as well as clearly expresses the need for continuity of such efforts. Japan welcomes the adoption of this resolution. This Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs refers that Japan judge once again that there is a need for continuity of such activities as a responsible member of the international community.

Question:
There are two points that I would like to ask about the adoption of this resolution. My first question relates to the fact that Russia chose to abstain in the vote to adopt this resolution after stating its view that the resolution reflected the domestic situation prevailing in Japan. Furthermore, although Germany and China supported the resolution they did level criticism to the effect that such a resolution creates an undesirable precedent. What are your thoughts on these points?

Minister:
I am not aware of the details of such criticism, but in any event it is a fact that Russia abstained. It is an important fact that this resolution was adopted with an overwhelming majority of 14 in favor, zero opposed and one abstention. In this regard, many statements have been made but I do not feel that it in any way diminishes the overall significance of the resolution.

Question:
Referring to the allegations that there is a reflection of Japan's domestic situation, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) stated that even if such language was to be incorporated in the preamble of the resolution, the DPJ would not change the stance of opposing it. As such, what do you think is the influence that this resolution will have on the extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law?

Minister:
If the members of the DPJ are saying that they will not necessarily align themselves with such a large expression of the intent of the international community, then I think that they need to become a little more sensitive to the efforts and opinions expressed by the international community. In any event, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as well as the Government, will continue to make efforts to gain the understanding of all those involved for this matter.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Participation in the United Nations General Assembly

Question:
Regarding the United Nations General Assembly, I have heard that you yourself will be attending the United Nations meetings related to Iraq and Afghanistan on 22 September and 23 September, and that former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will attend the United Nations High-Level Event on Climate Change. We are approaching those dates and so I would like to ask you whether or not a firm decision has been taken in that regard.

Minister:
As of right now, approval has not yet been granted in the Committee on Rules and Administration and in the Diet Affairs Committee of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives. As such, I can tell you only that once approval has been gained in the Diet, we intend to move ahead in that direction.

Question:
Given that the resolution has also passed I would assume that various bilateral and other meetings would also be arranged. When you go to New York what aspects of the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) do you intend to confirm?

Minister:
No matter how you look at it, the resolution was adopted and for that reason I think that is enough. Confirmation in this regard has also been made at many similar meetings and conferences, but I believe that it is important for a re-confirmation of this matter to take place at the United Nations, whether that be on a multilateral or a bilateral basis. I do not know at this point in time, whether we will be able to arrange an appointment, but if possible I would like to meet with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan so that I could hear their correct views and ask them about their recent interpretations. Moreover, I would like to meet with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as the representative of the United Nations, and therefore have another opportunity to hear from him where the opinion of the international community is located and thereby reaffirm my understanding of that view.

Question:
Some media reports have stated that Prime Minister Abe asked the President George W. Bush for his cooperation for this resolution when they met at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Can you confirm that?

Minister:
I did not sit in on the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Bush, and therefore I did not directly hear what kind of discussions took place. I can tell you that I did have discussion to that effect in my meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Question:
In speaking about the United Nations Resolution, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano stated that the Prime Minister did not urge the President to do anything, but that he did explain the prevailing domestic political situation in Japan. It would appear that rather than simply an expression of the evaluation of the international community, this is a reflection of the domestic political circumstances in Japan. What are you thoughts on that?

Minister:
Even though I am the Foreign Minister, I do not know exactly the verbatim explanation that was given by our Representative Office to the United Nations. However, I am sure that they provided various explanations and it would not be surprising if they had provided an explanation on the current domestic situation in Japan. In other words, unfortunately right now Japan is not serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and therefore, although we do provide an explanation of the current situation in Japan to the members of the Security Council, in the end it is that group of countries serving as Security Council members who decide, and Japan is not a part of that. As far as what discussions take place and how they reach a decision, given that we are not a direct participant it is only natural that various explanations are given as to what Japan's view are.

3. North Korean Issues

Question:
Concerning the Six-Party Talks, according to a statement by US State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey, it appears that North Korea has agreed to hold the talks next week. Is that true?

Minister:
It is a fact that we have received notification but we have still not been able to confirm which country is doing what. In Japan, a new prime minister will be arriving on Tuesday of next week, and therefore I think it will be necessary to consult that new prime minister in order to determine the stance Japan will take vis-á-vis the Six-Party Talks. Of course the various other countries' circumstances must be taken into account but perhaps there is also a need to state that Japan also has its own particular circumstances.

Question:
Regarding the Six-Party Talks, the five other nations besides North Korea seem to be seriously considering the disablement of North Korea's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, and in that regard on 18 September, Diet Member Taku Yamasaki stated that regarding North Korea's nuclear experiment that it conducted in October, that it was good that it had done it because it is better to know whether or not they have nuclear facilities. Given that such a comment was made in a speech by Mr. Yamasaki against the backdrop of efforts being made to decommission its nuclear facilities, what are your thoughts on these statements?

Minister:
From my perspective as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I cannot make any comment on the fact that within our LDP there are various people who have various ideas. However, since I do not know exactly what Mr. Yamasaki stated, I do not really want to comment on it. I have the feeling that the report to the affect that Mr. Yamasaki said that it was a good thing was perhaps mistakenly interpreted. However, I do not know exactly what Mr. Yamasaki said and therefore, I will not comment any further.

Question:
Regarding the schedule for the Six-Party Talks is it correct to assume that your stance is that the most desirable approach for achieving a solution to the issues would be for it to be held immediately following the launch of the new Cabinet in Japan?

Minister:
I believe that it would be best to once again, hold the Six-Party Talks after consultations with the new Prime Minister and with the new Foreign Minister and other people concerned, but I have the feeling that things will get started very quickly before there is sufficient time to engage in those consultations. I believe that the basic position is that Japan will participate after the necessary preparation period has been spent and a consultation period has transpired.

4. Presidential Election in Liberal Democratic Party

(See Japanese version)

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