Press Conference by Press Sec. 24 January 1995

Statement by Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya regarding the Southern Hyogo Earthquake
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We received an official report from the Japanese Embassy in Libya that Colonel Muammar al- Qaddafi, President of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, said: "The earthquake that killed over 5,000 people last week in Japan was God's revenge, because the country uses its economy to serve the devil." Colonel Qaddafi's statement severely hurts the feelings of the victims of the earthquake disaster, and lacks grotesquely in international common sense. We regret very much the statement; we therefore lodge a strong protest against Colonel Qaddafi, both through the Japanese Embassy in Libya and the Libyan Embassy in Tokyo.

Q: Do you have any background figures on your previous aid to Libya?

A: To the best of my knowledge, in accordance with the ODA Charter, I do not think that we are extending any meaningful aid to that country.

Q: Not now, before.

A: You mean to say before the change of the Government? The conduct of State affairs by the leader of Libya is well known to the international community, becoming a pariah, which denies any country to offer any meaningful assistance.

Q: In your estimation, who do you think he was aiming the remark at?

A: We can never read his mind.
Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Robaina Gonzalez of the Republic of Cuba
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Minister for Foreign Affairs Roberto Robaina Gonzalez of the Republic of Cuba will visit Japan from 25 to 28 January, as part of his tour of Asian countries. During his stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Robaina will have talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and others. The visit by Foreign Minister Robaina will provide us with a good opportunity to discuss the question of the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime. We certainly urge the Government of Cuba to accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo of the Republic of South Africa
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo of the Republic of South Africa will visit Japan from 29 January to 2 February as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We attach importance to his visit, since it is an honor to receive this first visit of a foreign minister from the newly born Government of South Africa.
Third Japan-Pakistan Senior Officials Meeting with respect to the question of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: The Third Japan-Pakistan Senior Officials Meeting with respect to the question of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons will be held on 26 January in Islamabad. The Japanese delegation will be headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroshi Fukuda, while the Pakistani delegation will be led by Foreign Secretary Najimuddin A. Shaikh of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The discussion will include: first, Pakistan's accession to the NPT; second, the nuclear development of Pakistan; third, the security situation in the South Asian region; and fourth, the question of non- proliferation of missiles.
Letter regarding the Jewish holocaust
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Finally, let me make a specific reference to the letter addressed to our Ambassador in Washington, D.C. by Mr. Abraham Cooper, who is Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. In this letter, Mr. Cooper stated that the Japanese monthly magazine Marco Polo denied in its article the murderous gassing of Jews at the Auschwitz death camp. In response to this letter, let me offer the view of the Japanese Government. The Japanese Government always maintains the position that it is strongly opposed, not only to anti-Semitism, but also to any discrimination or prejudice based on race or religion. The Government of Japan regards it as very important to help deepen in Japan an accurate understanding of the tragic history of the Jewish holocaust in Europe. We trust that the Japanese people will exercise sound judgment, based on historical perspectives, on whatever they read.

Q: Referring to the letter to the Ambassador in Washington, D.C. -- has the Ambassador replied himself directly to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and if so, is his statement different from yours? Also, in your statement you mentioned Auschwitz, when in fact the feature was a denial of the holocaust itself. I'd point it out that in Germany, such writing can bring prison terms. Do you feel that the Japanese Government ought to look more closely at just what can be said in public in Japan?

A: First of all, I should say that we just received the letter addressed to our Ambassador in Washington, D.C., a copy of which was transmitted to us. Now, immediately, we are reacting to it. It is quite normal that we would respond to a letter which a Japanese Ambassador overseas receives. It is a question of time, I hope. I have taken this opportunity to clarify our position. Now, the second point is quite a difficult question indeed, and of course, like other governments, such as yours, we do protect freedom of speech, and we can't possibly restrict it. But we certainly hope that people do exercise good judgement based on the study of history. This is what I stated in my presentation.

Q: With no action.

A: This is already action.
Japan-Russian Federation relations
Q: Japanese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Koji Watanabe told the Asahi Shimbun today that formal talks between Japan and the Russian Federation on security of fishing around the islands are likely to take place before the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Kozyrev, which, as the Ambassador put it, can be held by late February or early March. Can you confirm that? What is the present situation around the formal fishery talks?

A: Let me emphasize that what you quoted from the Asahi Shimbun is a personal comment on the part of Ambassador to the Russian Federation Koji Watanabe. We understand that our proposed negotiations on the question of fishing around the four islands of the Northern Territories are now being studied by the Government of the Russian Federation. I do understand that the Russian Government is taking some time in order to coordinate between the various ministries and departments of the Government. We certainly hope that, before long, the Russian Government will be ready to talk to us in order to find a mutually satisfactory solution to the problems which confront us.
Disaster response of the Government of Japan
Q: There are reports that Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Saito had referred to the need for change in rules that would give the Foreign Ministry more power in deciding on the acceptance of aid, etc. Is this correct? I mean the report where he said there is a need to change the law or the system which runs the acceptance of foreign aid in case of disasters. What changes, specifically, would the Foreign Ministry like to make?

A: When you refer to what was stated by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kunihiko Saito in connection with the Kansai disaster -- I think what is needed very much indeed is not simply consideration of the reformation of certain machinery of this Ministry, but rather, of the fact that, as the central Government, we must deal with this sort of emergency more effectively and more efficiently. From that perspective, I am quite sure, Vice-Foreign Minister Saito made such a reference.

Q: I am sure this question has been asked in earlier briefings, but I just got back from Kobe, where there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who bled and froze to death under the ruins because no help was coming in time. The question is: why did the Government of Japan find it so difficult to accept experienced rescue help from other countries?

A: Let me answer your question straightforwardly. We are not refusing any help at all. We are quite happy to receive any help which would be useful in responding to the local requirements. This is our basic position. This is precisely the reason, as the situation became more and more difficult and we came up with a number of things which we could not obtain locally -- for instance, a good, typical example is blankets -- we accepted generous offers like that made by the United States Government. We are so very grateful for the receipt of such a huge quantity of blankets. Whenever we received offers of assistance from foreign countries, we gladly passed on these offers to the centralized organ, which checked, case-by-case, the local requirements. Whenever there are requirements, then, this Ministry rushes to the Government which is offering such generous aid.

Q: I was thinking in terms of sort of immediate emergency things, such as dogs that can sniff live people in the rubble. Are you saying that perhaps the Government of Japan did not initially understand the magnitude of the tragedy, and that is the reason why it took so long?

A: According to what was widely reported, I think it is quite true that, at the initial stage, there was, in the first place, a lack of readiness to cope with this disaster. Also, I am quite sure that the Government failed to grasp the magnitude of the disaster which struck the inhabitants of Kobe.

Q: There was a report that some of the looting or stealing in Kobe has been attributed to some gangs coming in from Hong Kong -- the Triad Gangs. Do you have any reports from the Police Agency on this subject?

A: I am afraid to say, even though this is related to matters of a foreign nature, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not in a position to know everything. I would rather ask you to address this particular question to the National Police Agency.

Q: It is not of the scale that your attention has been drawn to take it up with the Hong Kong police?

A: I am afraid to say I cannot answer your question.

Q: Did the Japanese Government actually proclaim a national emergency because of the disaster in Kobe? And if not, why not?

A: I simply have to check on that. Because I am acting as a Spokesman for this Ministry, I do need more specific knowledge which I should obtain from the National Land Agency, which is acting as headquarters for this unfortunate disaster. Perhaps my colleague will let you know. I am sorry. I do not have any precise information about that.

Q: Do you think that your Government has the intention to proclaim national sorrow because of so many deaths?

A: At the present stage, I do not know what kind of action is going to be taken. What we have to do is continue our first stage operation.

Q: Do you think this disaster in Kobe could affect in any way Japanese help to the United Nations, refugees in the world, and foreign contributions?

A: In no way is this disaster going to effect implementation of official development assistance (ODA). We are very much touched by the offers of the international community; we are very much feeling the sense of solidarity. But at the same time, being a member of the international community, whenever we can, we regard it as our duty to extend our official development assistance (ODA), in spite of this disaster which we just encountered. It is an international responsibility.

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