Press Conference by Press Sec. 14 February 1995

Ceasefire in the border dispute between the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kishichiro Amae: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We received information from both the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador that the Peruvian Government issued a statement declaring a unilateral ceasefire, and also asked the Ecuadorian side to declare a similar ceasefire. To this proposal, Cabinet Secretary Larre tegui of Ecuador responded, saying that the Ecuadorian Government would also declare a ceasefire. The Government of Japan welcomes the ceasefire and wishes that peace will be restored on a stable basis. As was expressed earlier, the Government of Japan asked both governments to act with utmost patience and to settle this border dispute on a peaceful basis. This is the initial comment, but Q:00 Japan time, we will make an official statement.

Q: As the chief executive of Peru is of Japanese descent, has the Government of Japan played any lobbying or persuasive role, particularly in pressuring these two countries to make a ceasefire? Or do you just simply welcome it?

A: I know that this border dispute between Peru and Ecuador has been negotiated according to the Rio de Janeiro Protocol, with the four guarantor countries -- the United States, the Argentine Republic, the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Brazil. They have been working very hard to mediate this dispute. But this communique was issued unilaterally by the Peruvian Government. To your question - - the Government of Japan has been trying to persuade both governments, through diplomatic channels, that the border dispute should be settled as soon as possible. It is true that, in Peru, there are many Japanese emigrants. But, apart from that, we support all the governments in Latin America or in any other part of the world which try their best to undertake democratic reform. That is why the Government of Japan has been giving various advice or economic cooperation to the Peruvian Government, as well as to the Ecuadorian Government.
Accession of the Argentine Republic to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kishichiro Amae: Japan welcomes the fact that the Argentine Republic, on 2 February, deposited the instruments of accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with the United States of America, which is a depository country of the treaty, and became the 171st party to the NPT. The Japanese Government has repeatedly urged Argentina to accede to the NPT. The Japanese Government will continue to seek domestic and overseas support for the indefinite extension of the treaty, as was expressed earlier by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in his Policy Speech to the Diet, as time moves on toward the NPT Conference to be held in April and May 1995.
Visit to Japan of civilian police officers from the Republic of Haiti
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kishichiro Amae: Japan will invite eight senior Haitian civilian police officers to Japan from 19 February to 1 March, in order to get acquainted with Japan's police administration systems. The Government supports the international efforts to stabilize Haiti, based upon democracy, which was expressed by Prime Minister Murayama to President William Clinton of the United States during their talks earlier this year. Japan has committed to make contributions to Haiti totalling around US$10 million through international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and through bilateral economic cooperation. The Japanese Government welcomes United Nations Security Council Resolution 975, adopted on 30 January, which authorizes deployment of 6,000 troops and 900 civilian police officers under the name of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH). The Japanese Government invitation of Haitian police officers is a part of its efforts to make an active contribution for establishing an effective national police force in Haiti, and for improvement of the function of its justice system.
Itinerary of the visit to Japan by President Mary Robinson of the Republic of Ireland
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kishichiro Amae: The itinerary of the visit of President Mary Robinson of the Republic of Ireland to Japan has been fixed; she will arrive in Japan on 20 February at Kansai International Airport and will visit Nara, and then move to Tokyo on 22 February, where she will be given an official banquet hosted by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. On 23 February, Prime Minister Murayama will call on her and will host a dinner in the Prime Minister's Office. A press conference will be given to journalists here on the afternoon of 24 February at the Japan Press Club. She will travel to Hiroshima on 25 February to visit the Peace Museum, and then, on 26 February, will visit Matsue, where famous Irish-born Japanese author Lafcadio Hearn is buried. She will leave Japan for home on 28 February.
New posting of Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Director-General for Public Information Kishichiro Amae
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kishichiro Amae: Those are the announcements that I wanted to make. Lastly, this is my final press conference. From the next press conference, my successor will take over this job. I appreciate your cooperation for the last 12 months. I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.

Q: Today is St. Valentine's Day 1995, and this is going to be your last press conference. Can you tell us what you are going to do from tomorrow, and also, when you are coming back as Press Secretary?

A: That is a very difficult question to answer. Rumor has it that I will be posted to one of the Consulates-General in the United States which will be involved in the situation on the 50th anniversary since the end of World War II. So, maybe you will see tomorrow what the post will be. It is quite customary for a civil servant not to disclose this before the actual appointment. Please do understand. I enjoyed working with you very much.
Shipment of radioactive waste to Japan
Q: A follow-up on my Friday question -- the shipment of vitrified high-level nuclear waste. I hear that there still are some disagreements between the Government of Japan and the British and French companies that are doing the vitrification job. Could you clarify that? The Japanese Government has been saying that it will make public all the information pertaining to the shipment, but now, it seems to be backing up.

A: We are in the process of final decision between the three companies. The Government of Japan would like to make the information public, but it is true that there are some anxieties that, if the information is publicized, there might be a mishap. So, we are now holding discussions with the other participants in this project, in order to make the information definite before the shipment. Unfortunately, we haven't obtained the results of the discussions yet, because they are still going on.

Q: When would you expect you can reach a final agreement on this release of information?

A: As you know, we would like to make important information, such as the date of shipment, name of vessel, etc., public, but all depends on the agreement between the three companies. So, please give us time to discuss this. There will be a certain announcement before the departure of that shipment. So, we will see.

Q: You have just mentioned important information, including date and name. Does this important information include the route?

A: That is the most important thing, but it very much depends on the talks with the relevant partners. We have to pay due attention to the safety of navigation, as well as the transparency of this shipment. Both requirements should be met equally, and so this is why the talks have been continuing.

Q: By way of background, can you tell me why the Japanese side would like to make it public?

A: It is because of the last experience, the shipment of processed plutonium to Japan. There was a lot of criticism from various countries and also within Japan. This time, it is not a shipment of plutonium, but still, it is radioactive waste. As you know, Japan is not in charge of the shipment itself. But we have the responsibility to get it back to Japan, because it is our radioactive waste. In order to make people understand the necessity of the nuclear power stations in Japan, we would like to ensure, as much as possible, transparency on all these processes. This is our Government position, but certainly the shipment is the responsibility of the other partners. So, that is the reason we have been trying to reach certain results in the discussions.

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