Press Conference by the Press Secretary 5 November 1996

Food aid to Palestinian refugees
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing. I have one announcement today. In addition to this, I would like to provide an explanation on one other subject. The announcement has to do with Japanese food aid to Palestinian refugees. The Government of Japan is now preparing to exchange notes with the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in the Near East regarding Palestinian refugee food aid through the Agency. There are more than three million Palestinian refugees near the Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The refugees in poverty are facing a severe food shortage. In these circumstances, the present aid is being extended in response to the call by the UNRWA, which provides various forms of assistance, such as extensive food aid for Palestinian people living in poverty. Some progress was seen in the peace process in the Middle East when the Palestinian interim Government was established by the election of the Palestinian council in January of this year. The peace process is now in a critical situation. The Government of Japan is considering what sort of contribution can be made to the process. The economy of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is deteriorating extremely because of the prolonged economic blockade. Concerning the food shortage the Palestinian refugees are now facing, the Government of Japan will make its decision soon to extend aid through the UNRWA to purchase grain in support of Palestinian refugees this year, as well as with a view toward supporting the peace process.
General overview of the upcoming APEC Meeting in the Philippines
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: As you know, this month there will be an APEC Meeting in the Philippines. In due course, we would like to brief you more and more on the Japanese positions on this upcoming Meeting. Today, I would like to explain a little bit about the upcoming APEC Meeting. Recalling the short history of the APEC Leaders' Meeting, in Seattle, in 1993, the vision for liberalization of trade and investment was adopted by the members. In 1994, in Bogor, the goals for liberalization of trade and investment was adopted. Last year, 1995, the action agenda was formally adopted at the Osaka Meeting. This year, the individual action plans and collective action plans are going to be adopted at the Meeting. So, the upcoming APEC Meeting is characterized as the first year of individual and collective actions among members. I would like to explain, in very general terms, the position of the Government of Japan for this upcoming Meeting. As I explained to you, the upcoming Meeting is very important because we are going to take the first actions toward further liberalization of trade and investment. The Government of Japan considers it necessary and important to take a positive role in implementing the action agenda that was adopted in the Osaka Meeting. Secondly, APEC itself is characterized by open regionalism, and should be compatible with the World Trade Organization (WTO). And, APEC should complement and develop free trade organizations under the WTO. In this sense, the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Singapore is very important. We believe that APEC should give a positive message at the upcoming APEC Meeting for the Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Singapore. Thirdly, there are several sub-regional arrangements at APEC, notably the ASEAN Free Trade Arrangement, the North American Free Trade Arrangement, and the Australia-New Zealand Economic Arrangement. We must continue to take firm measures so that those sub-regions will not be tempted to be closed to the members at the sub-regional meetings. At the same time, we should continue to take firm action so that APEC itself will remain open to the outside world.

This is the announcement that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
Amount of food aid from Japan for Palestine refugees
Q: Did you say how much money in food aid was going to the Palestinians?

A: We are in the final phases of preparing the announcement. However, at the current time we cannot tell you the amount. Around 20:00 today we will be in a position to announce the amount. If you are interested you can contact our office.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the People's Republic of China
Q: Reports say that Japan will freeze ODA to China this month or next month. Is this true?

A: The concerned Government officials are studying what we should do about Japan's grant aid to the People's Republic of China which was frozen in connection with the conducting of nuclear tests by China. However, we have not established a concrete policy regarding this yet.
United States stance on Japan territorial issues
Q: It was reported last week that the United States Government had formally informed Japan, regarding the Senkaku Islands territorial issues, that the United States will not support any countries' steps. Could you elaborate on this?

A: The United States announces every now and then its attitude toward the Senkaku islands. Press Secretary Burns of the State Department of the United States said in the past that the United States will not take any position regarding the sovereignty over Takeshita Island. We understand and know the position of the United States. At the same time, whenever we have the opportunity, we have explained to our American colleagues the fundamental position of the Government of Japan on the Senkaku Islands. At the same time, every now and then, questions on the possible application of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty to the Senkaku Islands have been raised by journalists, especially those stationed in Washington, DC. Also, regarding this issue, the Government of Japan has been explaining the position of the Government of Japan. In general terms, we understand that the Senkaku Islands are under our administration. Therefore, the territories that are under the administration of Japan in relation with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, especially Article 5, will include the Senkaku Islands. The United States Government knows and understands the position of the Government of Japan regarding this.

Q: The U.S. Government understands the position of Japan, but they do not say anything about it. And, if they do say something, they say that they do not want to take any side on this. Is that right?

A: As far as the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands is concerned, the United States side has not taken a position on this. However, the United States Administration knows and understands the position of the Government of Japan on the applications of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty regarding the Senkaku Islands.
Visits to Japan by Prime Minister Willem Kok of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada of the Republic of Bolivia
Q: Also, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands is visiting Japan right now. What is the purpose of his visit? Also, do you have any information regarding Bolivia?

A: Prime Minister Kok of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is visiting Japan. There are several purposes for the meeting between Prime Minister Willem Kok and Prime Ryutaro Minister Hashimoto. Making use of this opportunity, Japan wants to further develop a friendly relationship with the Netherlands. At the same time, we would like to strengthen our economic and trade relations. Secondly, in the year 2000, both Japan and the Netherlands will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the establishment of contact between the two countries. The two prime ministers will exchange views on how to strengthen bilateral relations. Thirdly, Prime Minister Kok and Prime Minister Hashimoto are expected to establish a personal relationship. We are sure that this personal relationship will contribute to strengthening the bilateral relationship of the two countries. Fourthly, the Government of the Netherlands wants to strengthen cooperation on various political agendas, especially regarding world economic and trade matters. Prime Minister Hashimoto is happy to exchange views on this with Prime Minister Kok of the Netherlands. Fifthly, an agreement on science and technology is expected to be signed. We hope that through this we can strengthen cooperation, especially in the field of research and development of science and technology.

You may recall that when Prime Minister Hashimoto visited Latin America last August, he emphasized the importance of establishing a new partnership between Japan and Latin America, especially in view of the fact that Latin America will be a key area for the development of international society in the twenty-first century. Last August, Prime Minister Hashimoto did not have a chance to visit Bolivia. But, now, he is very happy to exchange views with President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada of the Republic of Bolivia, especially because Bolivia is now Chairman of the Rio de Janeiro Group this year. We sincerely hope that President Sanchez de Lozada's visit to Japan this time will strengthen not only ties between Japan and Bolivia, but also ties between Japan and Latin America. Bolivia has been endeavoring to develop its own economy. And, Bolivia has achieved concrete results in controlling inflation and, at the same time, achieving high economic growth. Japan is ready to extend appropriate cooperation to Bolivia, especially in view of achieving democratization and economic development in Bolivia. This is the significance of President Sanchez de Lozada's visit to Japan. Thank you very much.

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