Press Conference by the Press Secretary 19 January 1996

Release of Japanese defense attache by People's Republic of China
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I do not have any announcements to make this afternoon. I would be very glad to answer any questions you may have this afternoon.

Q: Could you apprise us on the case of Col. Maetani?

A: This has been in the papers for about two days now and I think you have read all these news reports. Col. Kenji Maetani was traveling with his colleague, Air Force Lt. Col. Bradley Jerdes from the American Embassy when, on 11 January he inadvertently entered a restricted zone -- a military off-limits area -- in Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. He was detained and interrogated by the People's Republic of China authorities. He was released on the evening of 12 January after Minister Koreshige Anami of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing went to Guangdong Province and confirmed who Col. Maetani was -- that he was the defense attache of the Defense Agency in Beijing. It is a fact that Col. Maetani did enter a restricted area. This itself is regrettable and we have conveyed this position of ours to the People's Republic of China authorities. But, we have also lodged a protest with the People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding his detention and interrogation. We consider this to be a violation of Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Q: Is he coming back to Japan today?

A: Yes, I can confirm that his date of return to Japan is 19 January today.

Q: Do you have any idea what Col. Maetani was doing, specifically -- and what, specifically, is operating at that military facility? Do you have any information on that?

A: You have to ask the People's Republic of China side about the military facility in their country. With regard to Col. Maetani's activities, this was a part of his routine activities as a member of the Japanese Embassy in the People's Republic of China -- in Beijing. As you know, getting acquainted with a country and getting a good grasp of what is going on in the country for a diplomat is a very important part of his duties.

Q: Has the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or the Defense Agency decided upon his successor in the People's Republic of China?

A: No, I am not aware of any decision.
Japan-United States-Republic of Korea joint consultations
Q: Later this month in Hawaii, the United States, Japan and Republic of Korea are going to hold a deputy-minister level consultation on the Korean Peninsula. Could you give us, for example, when it is going to be held and who will represent Japan?

A: When the foreign ministers of the three countries met in Osaka, taking advantage of the APEC Meeting, they agreed to hold a meeting to discuss the situation in Northeast Asia at the sub-cabinet level, and they agreed that this meeting should take place some time in January. It has been agreed that this meeting will take place on 24-25 January in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Q: Could you elaborate a bit on what you just said -- the Northeast Asia situation -- the subject of these consultations about the Northeast Asia situation?

A: Of course this includes the situation on the Korean Peninsula, particularly North Korea. In Osaka the three foreign ministers agreed that they should coordinate very closely their positions -- their policies -- on North Korea. That, of course, will be a very important subject.

Q: Another question is, obviously, these consultations will be largely in the character of swapping information. Is there any chance that the three countries will agree on some specific coordinated action?

A: I think the purpose of this meeting is to compare notes and to coordinate policies. I am not aware of any specific items on the agenda of the upcoming meeting.

Q: Maybe you can give us some personal observation of yours. For example, this Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO). There appears to be some minor rifts between the three major partners. For example, who will pay for the fuel oil to be supplied to North Korea this year; or what the European Union can do as a smaller partner of the KEDO? Could you tell us your observations on this? For example, are these things subject to discussion?

A: You mean in Honolulu?

Q: Yes.

A: We have the KEDO to discuss this matter -- the issues relating to North Korea's nuclear development program. There is a separate forum for that. This is my own guess, but I doubt very much that this will be discussed in Honolulu. I am not aware of any discrepancies or differences among the three key members of the KEDO on the matter that you mentioned. It is true that the question of obtaining financing for the provision of heavy oil is one of the subjects being discussed, but this is a subject that the three countries are consulting on very closely. They have been making joint efforts to get other countries on board to make financial contributions to this effort.
Recent activities in the Republic of Chechnya
Q: Would you say a few words about the position of the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the situation around Chechnya?

A: Yes, we are aware of the announcement made yesterday by President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation regarding the completion of the operation in Pervomayskaya. We have been following with deep concern the situation there. We regret very much that this hostage-taking situation occurred and that people lost their lives and that people were injured as a result of the fighting. I would like to emphasize that Japan is strongly -- firmly -- opposed to all acts of terrorism. Also, I think you are well aware of our position regarding the Chechnya situation, but let me repeat this. Japan believes the Chechnya situation is at the root of all these problems. We have repeatedly called for the peaceful settlement of the Chechnya situation. We would like to emphasize once again our strong hope that the conflict concerning Chechnya be settled as soon as possible and that the safety of its citizens be ensured and that order be restored peacefully as soon as possible.
Alleged denial of nursery school admission for children of United States servicemen
Q: Does the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have anything to say about this report in Yamaguchi that children of United States servicemen will not be allowed to attend nursery schools?

A: I have not read that news report.

Q: It creates the impression that there is sort of a racial bias against the children of United States servicemen. It involves 16 schools. It says they cannot accept children of United States servicemen because the schools are too full -- there isn't room. But, there are only three children of servicemen in schools. It just seems absurd on the face of it.

A: I cannot answer that question because A: I have not read that news report; and B: I do not have the facts. But, I know many examples where the children of foreign nationals are admitted to public schools in Japan. There are numerous examples of that.

Q: Including my daughter. I have never run into anything like this personally. I'm sure the story will be perking around for a few days, so maybe you will have a chance to check it out.

A: I will check on that.

Q: I have never run into anything like this myself. It just strikes me as odd.

A: I am sure that cases like these are not widespread.
Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Q: Could you inform us of your general impression and the specific contents of the talks between the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? Particularly in terms of nuclear non-proliferation.

A: As you know, on 17 January, the day Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrived, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda paid a courtesy call. This was in the afternoon of 17 January. Prime Minister Bhutto referred to news reports about the Republic of India's plans for a nuclear test. She said that this was a very serious source of concern for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. She said efforts should be made to promote a non-nuclear area in South Asia. Foreign Minister Ikeda urged the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and to cooperate with Japan with regard to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) negotiations. Prime Minister Bhutto said that in view of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's experience -- the three wars that it had with the Republic of India in the past, that from a security standpoint, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan could not act unilaterally on this, but that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was prepared to join the NPT simultaneously with the Republic of India. She said that she was prepared to do so tomorrow if needed. In her meeting with the Prime Minister yesterday, they did not go into detail on non- proliferation issues as the issues had been discussed with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, Prime Minister Hashimoto also called for accession by both the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the NPT. He also sought continued cooperation by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for an early conclusion of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He also said Japan would like to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the early initiation of the cutoff treaty -- the treaty on the cutoff of fissile material. Just for your information, in the Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Minister Bhutto, Kashmir, Afghanistan, UN reform, and bilateral cooperation were also discussed.

Q: About Prime Minister Bhutto's visit focusing mainly on NPT issues. I would like to hear about the other topic issues discussed at the Summit Meeting.

A: On Kashmir, Prime Minister Hashimoto told Prime Minister Bhutto that the peaceful settlement of this issue with the Republic of India through dialogue is important -- he asked her to promote dialogue with the Republic of India side. In response, Prime Minister Bhutto said that the Kashmir issue was at the core of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's bilateral relations with the Republic of India, and although the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was making serious efforts to settle the Kashmir issue, the Republic of India has not responded to such efforts -- and that the Republic of India has refused to put Kashmir on the negotiating table. She said that if the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's friends, such as Japan, the United States, and other G-7 countries were to take up a mediating role to solve this problem that Pakistan would welcome this. On Afghanistan, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that this issue had a major bearing on regional stability, and that it had to be settled in a way that would not prolong or enlarge the conflict. He also said that interference from outside must be terminated and that the peace efforts by the UN must be supported. Prime Minister Bhutto said that she fully agreed with this, but as a neighboring country, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan found itself in a dilemma. That is to say that if the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stopped involvement in Afghanistan, other countries in the region might take advantage of this and intervene in the situation. On UN reform, particularly the restructuring of the Security Council, Prime Minister Hashimoto explained Japan's general position on these issues. Prime Minister Bhutto said that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had no problem with Japan becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. She also said that it was necessary to establish clear criteria in order to ensure a fair process for the reform and enlargement of the Security Council. She also said the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had problems with the sharp increase in the permanent membership of the Security Council. Prime Minister Hashimoto referred to the election for non-permanent seats to be held this year. Prime Minister Bhutto said that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan would support Japan -- they had no problem with that. On bilateral issues -- first of all, investment, Prime Minister Hashimoto told Prime Minister Bhutto that Japanese companies were hoping for an improvement in the investment environment in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, namely the public safety aspect, the infrastructure, and the continuity of policies. Prime Minister Bhutto said that she would take note of this. On economic cooperation, as you know, there was an exchange of notes between the two prime ministers, concerning the extension of a 20 billion yen loan for the construction of a hydroelectric plant. The Prime Minister referred to the signing of the notes, and he also pledged 59.65 billion yen for the 31st yen loan package for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. That is the package for the next fiscal year, and it covers four projects. I can give you the names of the projects later on if you so wish. Prime Minister Bhutto expressed her appreciation for Japan's assistance. Thank you very much.

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