(* 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: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 10:59 a.m.
Place: Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Opening Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Selections Awarded Prizes in the Second International MANGA Award
- Joint Mission to Promote Trade and Investment in Africa
North Korean Issues
Japan-China-Republic of Korea Summit Meeting
Refueling Activities in the Indian Ocean
Japan-China Consultations on Gas Fields in the East China Sea
Japan-Russia Relations

1. Opening Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs

Selections Awarded Prizes in the Second International MANGA Award

Minister:
The Second International MANGA Award prizewinners have been selected, and I would like to announce them to you. The Golden Prize of the Second International MANGA Award, the top prize, goes to Lau Wan Kit of Hong Kong for the selection entitled, "Feel 100%." Furthermore, the Silver Prize of the Second International MANGA Award was given to those from China, the Russian Federation and France. The award ceremony will take place at Iikura House on 2 September. I hope that this will lead to a strengthening of ties amongst fans of Manga around the world and Japan, which is the origin and source of Manga. I also hope that this will increase the influence that Manga exerts as a standard bearer of Japanese pop culture.

Joint Mission to Promote Trade and Investment in Africa

Minister:
The private-public Joint Mission to Promote Trade and Investment in Africa is going to be dispatched from the end of August until the latter part of September. This mission was announced by Prime Minister Fukuda at the time of the opening ceremonies for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV). The mission will split into three groups that will make respective visits to the southern, eastern and western regions of Africa. This is a joint mission comprised of representatives from the business world, the political sector and relevant ministries and agencies. I hope that this mission will lead to further advances in accelerating growth in Africa.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
Regarding North Korean issues, can you tell us whether or not you have received any kind of report regarding when the new investigation on the abductees is scheduled to be reopened?

Minister:
So far I have not received any particular report.

Question:
Do you have any feeling as to when that will be or any particular outlook for that?

Minister:
From our side we have been trying to let them start as soon as possible. The investigation needs to be completed by the autumn of this year and therefore it is not possible for it to begin any later than the autumn. Therefore the point is that they should start the investigation as soon as possible.

Question:
Yesterday, in the press conference given by the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was a comment about the relationship between the launching of the Investigative Committee on Abductees in North Korea and the partial lifting of sanctions. What are your comments on that?

Minister:
The policy of the Government of Japan is that as long as it is possible to confirm that an authoritative investigative committee has been launched with the purpose of commencing an investigation in order to resolve the abduction issues by identifying survivors and bringing them back home, and that in fact that investigation has been commenced, then the Government of Japan will conduct a partial lifting of the sanctions.

Question:
At an on-the-record press briefing held by the Minister in Charge of North Korean Abductions of Japanese Nationals Nakayama, who spoke after giving a lecture in Toyama Prefecture, she stated that the sanctions would not be lifted only as a result of the investigation being commenced but that the sanctions would be lifted only after clearly taking a careful look at just how far the content of that investigation went. However, what is the position of the Government on this matter?

Minister:
I have not heard exactly what Minister Nakayama stated in this regard. In fact, Minister in Charge of North Korean Abductions of Japanese Nationals Nakayama said to me that she was going to explain to me later on what she said, and therefore if I do make any comment about this, it will be at a later date.

3. Japan-China-Republic of Korea Summit Meeting

Question:
Regarding the Japan-China-Republic of Korea Summit Meeting, has there been any change to the previous situation in which you had not received a response from the Republic of Korea regarding the itinerary?

Minister:
Regarding the itinerary, as well as the venue, the Government of Japan has not yet made a decision in this regard.

Question:
Can you tell us what you think is the reason why the Republic of Korea side is not being very forthcoming in terms of responding to this matter? Do you think it is a result of the influence of the issue of Takeshima?

Minister:
There just might be an influence of that.

Question:
Has the Republic of Korea explained things in that way?

Minister:
Officially, neither side would not make such an explanation to either side in that regard.

4. Replenishment Activities in the Indian Ocean

Question:
Regarding the replenishment activities in the Indian Ocean, some members of the opposition party have put forth a negative view of the activities based on the current economic situation and because of the high increase in the price of crude oil. What are your thoughts on this?

Minister:
This is not something that is being carried out through Official Development Assistance(ODA). In the event that the Indian Ocean became a hotbed for terrorists and piracy, it is no exaggeration to say that in fact Japan is the country that would receive the biggest disadvantage as a result. In fact, 90 percent of the crude oil that is transported to Japan passes through the Indian Ocean. As such, from the perspective of the international community, it is natural that Japan should be participating in activities to keep the ocean safe, and it is natural that such views have been expressed. Still, in Japan there is the Japanese Constitution and as far as the Constitution is concerned, it is certainly difficult for us to take combat actions in the exact same manner, even though whether or not it is absolutely impossible to engage in maritime prevention activities pursuant to the Constitution is another question. If Japan is not able to participate in maritime prevention activities, then instead, both for the interests of the overall international community and for Japan's own interests, Japan should supply oil and water to the ships of various nations that are undertaking maritime prevention activities. We are asking for the understanding of the international community in this regard. If Japan was to take the completely mistaken attitude that it thinks that it is providing someone some kind of benefit by supplying oil to the vesseles that are undertaking these activities, then I think that it would engender anger on the part of the international community. If Japan is unwilling to even conduct those replenishment activities, but still Japan continues to benefit from a peaceful Indian Ocean and a calm sea area, while all of the international community except for Japan is making efforts in order to ensure that, then certainly Japan's doing nothing at all in that regard will not be deemed acceptable by the international community.

Question:
Yesterday a decision was taken on the period for the Diet session, and I suppose that this point will be one of the focuses of the Diet debates. Can you tell me your thoughts once again on the idea of re-passing this bill based on a two-thirds majority? Is your intention to forcefully go through with this even if it must be readopted in such a manner?

Minister:
I do not think it is appropriate to make statements from the very beginning that this should be readopted or that readopting it is absolutely bad. Rather, I think that efforts must be made to thoroughly gain understanding for this within the ruling parties and then efforts should be made to gain the understanding of the opposition parties, and then strive to gain the understanding of the overall people of Japan. If, in these ways, the situation could be settled without readopting, I think it would be the best scenario.

5. Japan-China Consultations on Gas Fields in the East China Sea

Question:
At the time of the G8 Summit in July, there was a Japan-China Summit Meeting and there were media reports to the effect that Prime Minister Fukuda had stated that he would accept postponing an agreement on development of gas fields in the East China Sea. What is you view of that?

Minister:
There is no factual basis to that. I wonder who came up with such information that has no factual basis and who is talking about such things. This is really a strange matter.

Question:
Almost two months have passed since Japan and China reached an agreement. What is the outlook for this situation?

Minister:
Currently there is no clear outlook but when I visited China during the Olympic Games and met with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi I told him that we should launch negotiations with a view to creating an international agreement on this matter. On that point, there was no immediate positive response from the Foreign Minister but given that the China side as well has come up with an agreement to a certain effect, there is no way for it to deny actually advancing forward with negotiations aiming to create an international promise. Of course, from our part, I intend to call on them to advance this as quickly as possible.

6. Japan-Russia Relations

Question:
Regarding Russia, I suppose that your current outlook is such that you cannot be satisfied with the current situation in Georgia. Can you tell us about whether or not, based on the current situation, there is any change in the position of the Government concerning Japan-Russia relations, such as regarding intergovernmental cooperation with Russia, for example on such matters as the Nuclear Power Treaty? Or, for that matter, is there any consideration that there may be a need to revise the positions held by the Government of Japan on this matter?

Minister:
Basically, we have told the Russian side that we think efforts must be made to promptly achieve a peaceful solution in a manner that maintains the current territorial integrity of Georgia. Furthermore, although it has been confirmed that Russia is beginning to initiate a withdrawal of troops, we are not yet able to confirm that there has been a full withdrawal, and we have informed them that that must be thoroughly completed. Still, there is no reason why we will be freezing any things that are being advanced under the principle of mutual benefits. From our perspective, even though there remains the issue regarding the Northern Territories, therefore we are advancing things under the principle of mutually beneficial relations, at this point in time we are not thinking that because of the Georgian issue we will need to freeze those things that are being advanced in a manner that is mutually beneficial to both parties.

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