(* 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 Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 10:43 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Opening Statement
- International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza
Issue of the Forced Deportation of the Filipino Family
The Meeting between Kim Hyon-Hi and the Iizuka Family

1. Opening Statement

International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza

Minister:
Yesterday, the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza was held in Egypt in which about 84 countries and international organizations participated. Assistance in the amount of about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars in total was newly pledged. From Japan, Mr. Shintaro Ito, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs attended the conference and pledged assistance of about 200 million U.S. dollars for the Palestinians for the time being, including about 60 million U.S. dollars for humanitarian assistance and the early reconstruction of Gaza. Mr. Ito also announced Japan's intentions to contribute to the realization of peace in the Middle East through assistance to the Palestinian people through the concept of the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" and other measures. At the conference, many countries emphasized the importance of a permanent ceasefire, opening of the crossing points into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian reconciliation, and the advancement of the peace process, towards the establishment of a "Palestinian State." The Japanese Government will actively participate in these efforts by the international community.

Question:
Regarding this assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza, currently, the Gaza Strip continues to be under the effective control of Hamas. What is your opinion on dialogue between the Japanese Government and Hamas?

Minister:
Regarding the issue of the Gaza Strip, from last year up until now, we have been holding telephone talks with Foreign Ministers of the various countries concerned, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel and Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Foreign Minister of Egypt, in effort to resolve this issue. The Japanese Government supports the efforts of President Abbas and the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority to establish a "Palestinian State," and is working to realize peace in the Middle East based on the coexistence of the "Palestinian State" and Israel. Hamas does not acknowledge Israel and is resorting to violence. To conduct negotiations with Hamas is to give them some sort of legitimacy, thus undermining the foundation of President Abbas and the efforts towards the establishment of a "Palestinian State." Therefore, at the present, we do not have any intentions of contacting Hamas. As I stated just now, I would like to proceed with assisting the reconstruction of Gaza through international conferences.

Question:
Regarding dialogue with Hamas, the so-called Quartet is demanding three conditions to be met for the cancellation of economic sanctions. In the case that these three conditions are met, does the Japanese Government have any intention of holding dialogue with Hamas?

Minister:
We are putting all of our efforts toward providing economic aid through pledges such as this current one. Other than that, I would like to watch over the movements of Israel and Hamas as well as the efforts of the neighboring related countries.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Issue of the Forced Deportation of the Filipino Family

Question:
I would like to ask a question regarding the Filipino family in which, because the parents stayed in Japan illegally, the family has been ordered to leave the country. The Immigration Bureau has informed the family that they must make a decision by March 9 for all three members of the family to leave the country or for the parents to depart and leave the 13 year old girl in Japan by herself. At the same time, I understand that the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council has conveyed through the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it would like to receive an explanation regarding the girl in question. What are your thoughts on the fact that despite the developments by such an organization as the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Japanese authorities still intend to deport the family members or put them in custody on March 9? There are some people who hold the view that until the inquiries of the Special Rapporteur can be completed, the compulsory deportation process should not be implemented. What are your ideas as the Minister for Foreign Affairs?

Minister:
As you have just stated, this incident involves a duality of factors including both the United Nations Human Rights Council and legal issues pertinent in Japan. As far as the United Nations Human Rights Council is concerned, the Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Migrants and the Right to Education have put forward a request to provide information from Japan and, in response to this, considerations are taking place amongst the related ministries and agencies in order to prepare a response. Regarding the couple in question who entered the country illegally, as you are very well aware, the order for compulsory deportation was issued in 2006 and I understand that the Supreme Court has rejected their request for an appeal, effectively proving the government decisions to be legitimate. In such a circumstance, the general operating principle is to move forward quickly with deportation according to the law. As far as the Immigration Bureau is concerned, if the residence qualifications of these three members of the family cannot be proved, then one option is for them to begin to prepare to return to their home country and initially the deadline for that was set at February 27, but that has been extended. However, in the event that the daughter has put forward a request to carry on her studies under the supervision of an appropriate guardian other than her parents, consideration will be given to offer her a special residence permit, and this has been conveyed to the family members. As such, permission has been given for a temporary halt on the deportation order until March 9. That is the situation as I understand it to be. Regarding this incident, the matter of illegal entry into the country is indeed a matter of illegal entry and I believe the matter will be appropriately handled in accordance with the law. Basically, we are talking about a question of illegal entry into the country and the happiness of a child. I certainly hope that a balance will be carefully considered and that this situation will be handled based on that.

Question:
Will it be possible for an explanation to be made to the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council sometime prior to March 9?

Minister:
Considerations on this matter are currently being made by the concerned ministries and agencies, and in most cases, information is usually provided within a period of 60 days. However, it is desirable for a response to be made within 30 days after the memorandum has been issued. Currently, we are making deliberations with that in mind.

Question:
I believe that it would be possible to not set that deadline of March 9 for compulsory deportation until that response has been issued, but what do you think of that?

Minister:
A response will be given as a response, and efforts are being made to quickly make a report to the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council, but I do not know exactly when that can be made. I believe that the situation will be appropriately settled in accordance with the law.

Question:
Regarding achieving a good, balanced resolution, you have also served as Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and I believe that in practical terms, it would be extremely difficult for the 13 year old girl to remain in Japan by herself and continue with her education even if some guardian other than the parents was available. What are your thoughts on that?

Minister:
Well, given that they are family, I naturally think that the best way would be for them to live together. However, if some other guardian were to be available to take care of the daughter and the daughter wants to stay and study, I think that would be a good thing. At the same time, the law is the law and, as far as that is concerned, I myself do not know exactly how things will work out in that regard. If possible, I would certainly like to see their wishes realized, and I believe that that is the hope of the people of Japan but, at the same time, we also have the law.

3. The Meeting between Kim Hyon-Hi and the Iizuka Family

Question:
According to some media reports, it is speculated that on March 11, a meeting will take place between Kim Hyon-Hi and the Iizuka family. Do you know what the status is, currently, regarding coordination being made toward realizing that meeting?

Minister:
For our part, the Government of Japan has, until now, made efforts in order to realize a meeting between the Iizuka family and Kim Hyon-Hi based on the wishes of the Iizuka family. Furthermore, we have put forward a request to the Government of the Republic of Korea to make efforts to realize such a meeting at an early time, and, currently, adjustments are being made in order to respond by confirming the place and timing for such a meeting to take place. My understanding is that, currently, nothing concrete has been determined, but, in any event, I continue to hope that efforts will be made in order to realize such a meeting at an early time.

Question:
Did this topic come up in the telephone talk that you had yesterday?

Minister:
No, that did not come up.

Question:
In the event that such a meeting was, in fact, realized, it appears that some senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs prefer that such a meeting would take place as quietly as possible. At the same time, Kim Hyon-Hi and the Iizuka family would reportedly prefer that some kind of effort be made to disclose information about that meeting to the public. What do you, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, think should be done regarding making public disclosure to the media in the event that such a meeting is, actually, realized?

Minister:
If a meeting does actually take place, and then if the circumstances of that meeting were disclosed to the public, it is possible that there would be various large influences on resolving the overall issue of abductions and on the people who were abducted, and, while this will depend on what format the meeting takes place in, I do think there is a necessity to be very careful and hold the meeting in a cautious manner.

Question:
Does that mean that, for example, the information may not be disclosed to the media and, in some case, the location where that meeting is to take place may not be announced to the public?

Minister:
Given the fact that it is the Government of the Republic of Korea that keeps contact with Kim Hyon-Hi, the ideas of the Government of the Republic of Korea should be considered. Also, generally speaking, considering the difficulty of the situation and the influence that it could have, I think that once the timing of the meeting has been decided, an ultimate decision will be made on how to handle that situation. That said, considering the potential influence that this can have on resolution of the overall abductions issue, I do think that it must be done with due caution.

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