Press Conference by Press Secretary 25 July 1995

Bus explosion incident in Tel Aviv in the State of Israel
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It so happens that this is my last briefing session. Before I take your questions, let me make just two statements. The first statement is in connection with the bus explosion incident in Tel Aviv. Japan deplores the fact that a large number of innocent citizens were killed or injured in the commuter bus explosion on 24 July in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, in the State of Israel. It expresses its sincere condolences to the victims and their bereaved families. Japan strongly condemns this vicious act of terrorism aimed at destroying the peace process. Japan hopes that the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will each overcome the difficult situation in which they are placed and will continue to make efforts toward an early conclusion of the agreement for the Palestinian Interim Self-Government despite this incident.
Emergency assistance for the People's Republic of Angola
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Today's Cabinet Meeting has authorized the Government to disburse US$7.7 million in total to international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as emergency assistance for the People's Republic of Angola. This is not the first time that we have decided to undertake this sort of assistance. In March 1995, we made available as much as 300 yen million to the World Food Programme (WFP). In other words, we are trying to help the peace process in the People's Republic of Angola. We do think that, after the end of the Cold War, there is only one country, Angola, which is sort of a left-over from the previous Cold War. We are helping for the purpose of making Angola complete its peace process through our assistance. Just for your information, since November last year, we invited the Prime Minister of Angola in April 1995; we also dispatched an economic cooperation mission to that country. These facts do explain how serious we are, indeed, in extending our help to Angola.
Possible resolutions against nuclear testing in the Japanese Diet and in the United Nations General Assembly
Q: This anti-nuclear resolution in the Diet which is being spoken about -- will the Foreign Ministry be able to give us an outline of the resolution? We have read press reports that it is a prelude to the proposal being taken up at the United Nations General Assembly calling for immediate end to all nuclear testing. Is that accurate?

A: It seems to me that you are talking about two different resolutions. One is, of course, pertaining to the legislature. In other words, when it comes to the question of preparing a resolution in the Diet, the Executive Branch has nothing to do. Of course, if it is asked to offer certain advice, it is certainly quite happy to do so. Anyhow, it is certainly the prerogative of the legislature to make whatever resolution it pleases. However, speaking of the second resolution, which has already been widely reported -- in other words, the resolution which the Government of Japan might propose at the coming United Nations General Assembly session -- we are to examine the contents of such a resolution, and we are still in the process of preparing for the resolution. So at this present stage, I cannot speak about any details of this proposed resolution.

Q: Are you saying you are going to leave this resolution in the Diet to these politicians, against a country with which obviously you place importance on developing relations under President Chirac?

A: The answer is quite simple, of course, as in whatever country, there is a strict separation of powers.

Q: When do you think the Diet could make this resolution?

A: I am not really quite sure of the exact timing, because the Diet is not yet in session. I understand that on 4 August there will be a very short period of Extraordinary Session. But of course, everything is up to the legislature.

Q: Can I come back to the resolution in the General Assembly? You had mentioned that you are preparing for it. Am I to understand that you already started consulting other countries on the draft?

A: We have not yet reached that stage. In the first place, we have to come up with certain basic elements which will comprise the draft resolution, and that sort of exercise should be initiated within the Government of Japan, and once the draft is ready, then perhaps we should have to consult with like-minded Governments.

Q: With hindsight, don't you think that this sort of resolution could have been taken up just before the NPT Review and Extension Conference last May?

A: Mind you that the Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was convened after the end of the General Assembly of the United Nations. So, if there were any attempts to adopt a resolution, that should have been done on the occasion of that Conference. That was the only available forum at that time.

Q: But as I recall, Japan was one of the main countries which supported the five nuclear-weapon powers on trying to avoid a vote at the NPT Review Conference. Don't you think that the moral position which Japan claims could have been more profoundly expressed at that particular occasion?

A: There is also another occasion in which we discuss the questions relating to a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The general consensus reached on the occasion of the NPT Review Conference was that we should complete negotiation of the CTBT by the end of 1996. Also, at the time of the NPT Review Conference, there was a commonly held opinion among the nuclear powers that maximum restraint on the question of nuclear testing should be exercised.

Q: Forgive me for asking a question that I am sure you have answered already. How do you explain the difference of the reaction of Japan regarding the atomic tests of China and France? Because it seems that two months ago, or something like that, the Government of Japan was much less aggressive, or much less concerned --

A: I see your point very clearly, but I would never say that there would be any discriminatory treatment among our reactions at the level of the Government. Whatever country conducts nuclear testing, we will show our strong opposition to such an attempt, and we keep asking any government which might do nuclear testing to refrain from doing so. In the case of the People's Republic of China, of course, we made a very strong representation, and we made it quite clear that the Chinese nuclear testing would be taken into consideration when we would be establishing our economic cooperation projects on a grant basis throughout the present fiscal year. That decision should be taken as a very strong determination on the part of the Japanese Government vis-a- vis the question of nuclear testing.

Q: So you think the Chinese test is just as bad as the French test?

A: Yes.

Q: May I approach that question from another angle? There is a feeling, especially among Chinese circles in a sense, that the protest directed at the French, apart from the aspect of last Sunday's elections, leaving that out, are actually aimed at China, not at France, and that you are trying to draw some sort of a confluence of interest between the Pacific nations who are concerned about France, and you are trying to mobilize their consensus against China in a quid pro quo.

A: We are acting on the basis of national sentiments, which derive from our tragic experiences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We do not see any other elements whenever we show our very strong opposition to any conduct of nuclear testing.

Q: Couldn't this national sentiment have been better served by a more effective symbolic statement, such as avoiding the Prime Minister's visit to France after the new French President had said he was going to resume testing? Don't you think avoiding that visit altogether would have been a much more symbolic expression of national sentiment?

A: You must understand that between Japan and the French Republic, there are many important relations -- economic, political, scientific, cultural and others. The Government of Japan has a strong intention of enhancing these relations as much as possible. At the same time, when it comes to the question of nuclear testing, our position is diametrically different from that of the French Government. On the occasion of Prime Minister Murayama's visit to Paris, he took up this matter, naturally. At the same time he emphasized that it would be in the best interests of both Governments to promote further the bilateral relationship. In this context, I think that the visit of Prime Minister Murayama to Paris was very useful -- useful for the purpose of enhancing the bilateral relationship, useful because he could take this opportunity to explain directly to the President of the French Republic our strong opposition to the French resumption of nuclear testing.
Japan's assistance for the Middle East peace process
Q: First of all, I have to say thank you very much for helping us to promote and to introduce some of the real images of Japan to our people. I have two questions. Regarding the explosion in Tel Aviv -- what kind of measures or actions has the Government of Japan taken to help the Middle East to overcome terrorism?

A: I must say that we are not a direct party to this Middle East peace process; in other words, the negotiations are left to those parties which are directly involved, such as your Government, the Israeli Government, the PLO, or other regional Governments. But, in the course of the Madrid peace process, the Government of Japan has taken a very active part in the process which supports the peace negotiation. You may recall that this new cooperative process was initiated in January 1992, if I am not mistaken about the timing. The Government of Japan has been taking part in that cooperative joint program, which should be conducive to the amelioration of the negotiating atmosphere in the region. Also, we do think it is quite important for the Government of Japan to offer economic assistance to the Palestinians. So, precisely two years ago, on the occasion of then-Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa's attendance at the United Nations General Assembly, he made it known that it was the intention of the Government of Japan to offer as much as US$200 million in order to improve the living condition of the Palestinians. We continue to offer this sort of assistance. Of course, in carrying out our assistance, it is very important for us to have a cooperative relationship, particularly with the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Reports of a possible visit by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to the Middle East
Q: There is a report in The Japan Times that mentioned that the Prime Minister will visit Egypt and the Middle East after the Upper House elections. Could you comment on that?

A: I also noticed the reports in the Japanese-language newspapers; however, I am officially bound to say that no definite plan has been established so far. Therefore, I am not in a position to offer you any concrete information about what was reported in the papers.
Missile testing by the People's Republic of China
Q: What is the Foreign Ministry's position on the missile testing by China near the Taiwan coast?

A: Like other Governments, we also are watching with care these missile experiments. We are very much concerned about ensuring sea traffic safety in the East China Sea. We are also interested in observing the situation surrounding the Taiwan Strait. We do hope that there will not be any heightened tension around the Taiwan Strait because of these missile experiments. After all, the peace and security of the region have so much to do with the peace and tranquility of the Taiwan Strait.

Q: On these questions on China/Taiwan, have there been any official statements?

A: No. We have not issued any official statements. Simply, when asked at the time of the press conference, whatever we say can be taken as the official reaction from the Japanese Government, but we did not make any official statement. Thank you very much.
Attendance by an official of the Government of Japan at a ceremony marking the end of World War II in the Pacific
Q: Can you tell us the current thinking about who, from the Government of Japan, will attend the ceremony in Honolulu on 2 September marking the end of the war?

A: You may recall that we received an invitation card issued by the Defense Secretary of the United States of America in April 1995. The invitation was addressed to his counterpart, the Director-General of the Defense Agency, who has received the invitation coming from Washington, D.C. However, at the present stage, the Government of Japan has not yet taken a decision on whom to send to the commemoration ceremony at Pearl Harbor. I think the decision should be taken rather quickly, since the ceremony takes place on 2 September. But at the present time, no decision has been taken.

Q: I noticed that the White House now says they are going to use the term, "VJ Day" at this ceremony. Do you think that influences the Japanese decision in any way?

A: If you read the invitation card very carefully, the invitation says, "You are invited to attend a ceremony which marks the end of the war in the Pacific and the end of World War II." But of course, we are quite aware of the fact that 2 September has been designated as "VJ." In other words, this is a sort of historical appellation. But the invitation card speaks for itself. We know for what purpose we are being invited.

Q: A more private question -- tell us about your successor.

A: I am quite free to talk about myself, but --. He will be confirmed on 4 August, a very nice chap coming from Washington, D.C. This information will reveal who is coming.

Q: What does "confirmed" mean? By the Foreign Minister?

A: Normally, when it comes to the appointment of senior officials, I understand that there is a sort of approval by the Cabinet. Therefore, that will take place on Friday, 4 August, when there is a Cabinet Meeting. My appointment will be confirmed by the Cabinet, and on the same day I have to go the Imperial Palace to attend the attestation ceremony.

Q: The new ambassadors, you mean?

A: Yes.

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