(* 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 Masahiko Koumura

Date: Friday, February 22, 2008, 8:17 a.m.
Place: In front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

Incidents by US Marines in Okinawa
North Korean Issues
Japan-China Strategic Dialogue
Japan-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement

1. Incidents by US Marines in Okinawa

Minister:
Last week I spoke to you about the situation involving incidents by US Marines in Okinawa and said that sometime during this week, we would be able to compile interim measures in this regard. Although any measures to prevent a recurrence of such matters must be maintained on an on-going basis, the interim measures to be taken we are currently in the final stages of coordination to determine and I expect that an official announcement will be made sometime this afternoon. For now, let me just give you the major points and indicate the direction in which we are focusing our measures.

(1) I would like to announce to you that as of 31 January 2008, there are 44,963 individuals associated with the US Forces stationed in Okinawa and of those, 10,748 currently reside off-base. The US side will provide us with information once a year regarding the number of military personnel residing in each city, town and village. As soon as we receive such information, it will be passed onto the respective local governments. In addition, a decision has been made that the Japanese and US sides will review the criteria and policies on military personnel residing off-base.

(2) In addition, regarding the installation of crime prevention surveillance cameras, in the event that the respective local governments request that such facilities be established, we intend to proactively respond.

(3) While bearing in mind the requests put forward by Okinawa Prefecture and local governments, we will initiate the necessary coordination to allow for mutual exercise of police jurisdiction between Japan and the US so that the local police will be able to gain the cooperation of the US side, and conduct joint patrols.

(4) The liberty card system which restricts US military personnel to go out will be reviewed from various perspectives.

(5) Furthermore, Japan will provide cooperation to reflect the viewpoints of the Okinawan side into the educational programs conducted by US Forces.

Given that in order to prevent any further recurrence of such incidents efforts will be needed on an on-going basis, Japan and the US will undertake consultations in such fora as the Japan-US Joint Committee based on the results of investigations undertaken by the US military task force and on opinions expressed by the local governments. This is a rough overview of the content, but we are still making final adjustments and I do hope that we will be able to make an official announcement whether these final points are fixed at sometime early this afternoon.

Question:
I understand that consideration is underway with a view to taking measures such as making the criteria US military personnel need to meet in order to live off-base more stringent. In order to do so do you believe that there is a need to improve the operations of the Status of US Forces Agreement?

Minister:
Making the criteria more stringent itself is something that will be undertaken by the US. In response to that, the Japanese side will express our views. The US side should take it as its own big issue and make a decision to tell the military personnel, "You cannot live off-base. You can live off-base." Regarding the review on such criteria and policies, the Japanese side makes a request and the US side implements."

Question:
Do you believe that these measures taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents will in fact lead to a decrease in the number of incidents caused by US military personnel?

Minister:
I do believe that these measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents will indeed have a certain effect. Whether or not that will actually result in the prevention of all possible incidents is something that we will have to continue to always strive for going into the future, just as even though the police and other authorities in Japan make every possible effort, there still is some crime in Japan. However, I do believe that these measures will have a certain degree of effect. Will these measures will get rid of all incidents? I think that nobody could really say, "There will be no problems." I would like to say that it is vital for us to make continuous efforts, also in the future, to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

As interim measures, we must first of all do what we can do now and then move ahead with even more thorough measures.

Question:
Will the practice of providing an annual report on the people who are living off-base be turned into a rule?

Minister:
We are currently making the final adjustments with a view to achieving that.

Question:
Will this be affirmed in the format of an agreement reached in the Japan-US Joint Committee?

Minister:
I do not know exactly what form that will take, but at this very moment we are undertaking the final adjustments and I expect that we will make an official announcement sometime this afternoon. It means that those final adjustments have concluded. Whether or not that content will be formalized as an agreed article under the Joint Committee is really a matter of formality, but I can tell you that either way, an agreement will be forthcoming within the next few hours.

Question:
Regarding the underlying concept of these measures, is there an intentional aim to decrease the number of people living off-base or to implement some kind of significant restrictions?

Minister:
We would like the US side to examine that appropriately.

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
Yesterday, Assistant Secretary of the US State Department Christopher Hill, stated in a very straightforward manner that an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks would be difficult. What do you think are the issues that stand in the way of resuming the talks and what do you expect the future schedule will be?

Minister:
North Korea still has not provided a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs, so we will continue to work together in order to have North Korea provide such a declaration. Unless such a declaration is provided, the question remains whether there is much of a point in holding the Six-Party Talks. We intend to advance work on this issue bearing the above in mind, so I heard it is still not decided when the talks will resume.

3. Japan-China Strategic Dialogue

Question:
The Japan-China Strategic Dialogue begin in Beijing today. Regarding the issue of gas fields in the East China Sea, it is expected that the approach to the issue will be clarified to a certain extent before the visit by President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao this spring. What are you expectations regarding the upcoming consultations?

Minister:
This is not an easy issue, but the leaders of the two countries share a strong will to solve this problem since if we succeed in solving it, there will be benefits for both sides, and if we fail to resolve it, then both sides will suffer losses. The question is whether this strong will can help us get through the last remaining difficulties. We intend to advance work on this issue without excessive optimism or pessimism.

4. Japan-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement

Question:
Prime Minister Fukuda will visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) this weekend for his first meeting with President-elect Lee Myung Bak. I realize that this issue involves various interests, but do you think the two sides can reach a consensus on resuming the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations that have stalled for the past three years?

Minister:
I do not know how the immediate progress will be made since both sides have their own idea, but in terms of future directions I hope that things will develop toward reaching a consensus on the above issue. I cannot say how things will proceed at the meeting.

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