Press Conference by the Press Secretary 19 September 1995

1. Emergency aid to the People's Republic of China for flood disaster relief
2. Emergency aid for flood disaster relief in North Korea and renewed consultations regarding possible humanitarian rice assistance
3. Visit by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to the Middle East
4. Possible topics in the upcoming speech by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono at the United Nations
5. Japan's position regarding possible accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by the State of Israel
6. Economic aspect of the Japan-Arab Republic of Egypt relationship

1. Emergency aid to the People's Republic of China for flood disaster relief

   Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. On 19 September, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency aid totalling about ù109 million to the Government of the People's Republic of China, which has sustained damage from large-scale flooding in the basin of the Changjiang River, better known as the Yangtze River, in the southern and northeastern regions of the country. In China, torrential rains from June to August this year hit the basin of the Changjiang River, leaving about 1,550 people dead, about 50,000 injured, and about 110 million more people afflicted. The floods have also caused extensive crop damage and have partly or completely destroyed many houses. The Government of Japan has decided to extend the present aid from a humanitarian viewpoint, taking account of the magnitude of the disaster and the friendly ties between Japan and China.

2. Emergency aid for flood disaster relief in North Korea and renewed consultations regarding possible humanitarian rice assistance

   Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: This summer, North Korea suffered widespread flooding caused by torrential rains. The United Nations Department of Humanitarian Assistance (UNDHA) and other United Nations organizations conducted an assessment of the situation and found that North Korea had sustained heavy human and material losses. The Government of Japan expresses its condolences and its sympathy to the victims of the floods. On the basis of their findings, the UNDHA and the other United Nations organizations have made a request to the international community for emergency assistance. In response to this request, Japan has decided, as a member of the international community, to contribute a total of US$500,000 to these organizations to support their efforts. The following relates to rice assistance for North Korea. Before the flooding, on 30 June 1995, the Japanese Government decided to supply a total of 300,000 tons of rice to North Korea from a humanitarian point of view, in response to a request from North Korea, which was suffering from a serious food shortage. Japan had also confirmed that it was ready to hold consultations on additional deferred- payment exports, if necessary, within the limits of existing stocks of emergency rice imports. Subsequently, however, a person on the North Korean side was reported to have made a statement to the effect that North Korea had enough rice, a statement that contradicted Japan's position that the rice assistance was effected out of humanitarian considerations. This report made consultations for additional rice assistance impossible. Under these circumstances, the Government of Japan and the ruling coalition parties have been watching the reaction of the North Korean side with regard to the inquiry of the coalition parties as to the true intentions of the North Korean side. As a result, the Government has been able to confirm that North Korea regards Japan's rice assistance as being humanitarian in nature. The Government also paid attention to the fact that North Korea had confirmed to the various United Nations organizations which made on-site surveys that it had a shortage of about two million tons of grain. Based on this response of the North Korean side, and taking into account the fact that North Korea is now suffering from further food shortages caused by the flooding, the Government of Japan has decided to accept consultations on additional deferred- payment rice exports.

3. Visit by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to the Middle East

   Q: Today, the Prime Minister of Japan came back from a trip to five countries in the Middle East. So what is the result of this trip from your point of view?

   A: As you may recall, the objective of Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's visit to the Middle East was two-fold. One was to speak directly to the leaders of the countries of this region to explain the specifics of the Japanese contribution to the Middle East peace process. The other objective was to strengthen multifaceted bilateral ties with the countries that he visited. I think both aspects of the visit were successful. We are very happy with the outcome of the visit.

4. Possible topics in the upcoming speech by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono at the United Nations

   Q: Next week, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono will deliver the Japanese speech to the United Nations assembly. What is the main issue that he will talk about?

   A: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono is still working on the draft.

   Q: So, there are some kind of special issues he will stress?

   A: Of course, we anticipate that the speech will refer to the main issues in the United Nations: United Nations reform; non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; disarmament. In that context, it is very likely he will make a reference to nuclear testing.

5. Japan's position regarding possible accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by the State of Israel

   Q: Today, the Daily Yomiuri mentioned that the Prime Minister of Japan asked the Prime Minister of Israel to decide to sign the NPT. Could you confirm that?

   A: With regard to the NPT, Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama urged the State of Israel to accede to the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as soon as possible, and the response of the Israeli side to this was that it was first necessary to create a nuclear free zone, and on the basis of this, to conclude bilateral agreements. That was a prerequisite for Israel's accession to the NPT.

   Q: You mean a nuclear free zone in the Middle East?

   A: In the Middle East, yes. To be exact, creating in the Middle East a zone free from weapons of mass destruction. Those are the words used by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of the State of Israel.

   Q: Do you think that if there is a signing of such an agreement or treaty, that it will promote peace in the Middle East?

   A: Since I do not have the details of this initiative, maybe I had better refrain from commenting on this, except to say that we support the efforts of the countries in the region to achieve peace in the Middle East. With regard to the question of Israel's accession to the NPT, we will continue to call upon Israel to join as soon as possible.

6. Economic aspect of the Japan-Arab Republic of Egypt relationship

   Q: So, the Prime Minister of Japan, when he talked to President Mubarak in Egypt, talked mainly about political issues. But when he talked to the Prime Minister of Israel, he said he hoped to increase economic cooperation between the two countries. The political relation between Japan and Egypt is a very good one, but at the moment the level is so low. Is Japan going to take some measures to promote economic relations between Egypt and Japan?

   A: It is true that Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and President Hosni Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt had a very good discussion on political matters, mainly the Middle East peace process. But also, they did discuss bilateral issues, including the economic aspect. Also, Prime Minister Murayama had a very long discussion with Prime Minister Dr. Atef Mohamed Njeeb Sedki of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and this discussion focused on bilateral issues, particularly the economic side of the relationship. Prime Minister Murayama, when he was in Cairo, reaffirmed that he would like to strengthen the partnership between Egypt and Japan, which was announced at the time of President Mubarak's visit to Japan in March. He referred to Japan's assistance for market-oriented economic reform -- specifically the dispatch of policy advisors to Egypt. He also referred to the export insurance issue. He also referred to the dispatch of a follow-up mission. He said the possibility of sending a follow-up mission to Egypt was being considered, a follow-up mission to the private-sector economic delegation that visited Egypt. They referred to the plans to construct a bridge over the Suez Canal. Prime Minister Murayama said that the surveys necessary for the project were proceeding as scheduled and that he would like to cooperate with Egypt in order to achieve a successful outcome. In his meeting with Prime Minister Sedki, he discussed a large number of Japanese economic assistance projects for Egypt. So, I think a great deal was discussed regarding the economic aspect of the relationship.