Press Conference by the Press Secretary 21 May 1996

Japan's recent participation in international efforts for development
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Very recently, Japan presented its proposal titled "A New Approach to an Agenda for Development" to the Meeting for the United Nations Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on an Agenda for Development. We regard as very important several points, notably: a new partnership; output-oriented development targets; and reinvesting a part of the savings resulting from reform into the development activities in our detailed proposal. The idea has already been touched upon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs several times, especially when Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda attended the 9th Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at Midland, South Africa. Also, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) high-level assistance committee meeting, we touched upon this. We continuously engage in dialogue on this subject with our counterparts. Looking at the other paper we have circulated, related to the 35th OECD Council at Ministerial Level, you can understand the basic stance of the Government of Japan on the issues that were discussed at the Council.
Consultations between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Klaus Kinkel of the Federal Republic of Germany
Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Yesterday, Foreign Minister Ikeda met Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Klaus Kinkel of the Federal Republic of Germany. These were the Japan-Germany Regular Foreign Ministerial Consultations. We announced the Action Agenda for the Japan-Germany Partnership. Also, for your reference, we have distributed a paper related to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to the East European and Baltic countries to further assist their reforms.
Issues related to North Korea
Q: Yesterday, it was reported by some members of the Kasumi Press Club here that they met with North Korean First Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kang Sok Chu. In the statement, Mr. Kang Sok Chu is reported to have mentioned the possibility of North Korea accepting the four-way talks proposed by the Republic of Korea and the United States of America, and they are waiting for an explanation from the States. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on this? Also, the reports said that Mr. Kang expressed his uneasiness with Japan linking these four-way talks with normalization of relations between North Korea and Japan. Could you comment on this?

A: Firstly, on the four-party conference -- at my last press conference I explained to you very briefly the content of the tripartite consultations in relation to North Korea. Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States exchanged views about the situation of North Korea. At the same time, they exchanged views on how the North Korean authorities may react to the United States-Republic of Korea proposal of the four-party conference. They noted that the North Korean authorities have not responded yet. The three countries share the same view that this proposal was made jointly by the United States and the Republic of Korea; therefore, if North Korea wants to clarify the content of the proposal, both the United States and the Republic of Korea are available at any time to explain it to them. The Government of Japan fully supports this idea; we simply hope that the North Korean authorities will come directly and listen to the United States and the Republic of Korea on this proposal. On your second question -- Mr. Kang Sok Chu's statement was made to the visiting Japanese journalists; it was not made to the Government of Japan. Secondly, the Government of Japan has got to continuously take into account various situations, various elements, in attempting to reopen normalization talks with North Korea, and the Japanese position on North Korea has not changed. I would like to repeat this again; the aims of the talks are: firstly, to normalize the relations between Japan and North Korea since the end of World War II; and secondly, to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Of course, Japan intends to cooperate and communicate with the Republic of Korea and the United States on this issue.

Q: Recently the North Korean communist party has been contacting Japanese political parties, and trying to send their delegates to Japan. They want an invitation from some of the political parties, mainly the SDPJ in Japan. It was reported recently the Government of Japan is trying to make a single contact point that would be the Government, not the Japanese political parties. Are there such movements within the Government of Japan?

A: I have got to explain this to you in the following way. First of all, the Coalition parties already stated that the normalization talks should be carried out through diplomatic channels -- by the Government. Also, the Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ) has decided to invite a delegation of North Korean authorities to Japan, and the Government of Japan is not involved in this invitation. However, we understand that the SDPJ has not decided actually when the Party will invite the North Korean guests to Japan. At the same time, according to our understanding, some influential members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have reservations about the invitation; in particular, Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council Taku Yamasaki officially stated that he personally does not intend to meet the North Korean representative before the four-party conference actually takes place. In any case, this is being done by the political parties and the Government of Japan is not involved.
Visit to Japan by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the People's Republic of Angola
Q: Angola's President dos Santos is visiting Japan next month, and I would like to know if there are any bilateral agreements that can be expected between Japan and Angola to be entered into at the time during his visit.

A: First, speaking generally, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda recently visited the Republic of South Africa to attend the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting. At that time, he had a chance to meet various representatives of the African countries, and Foreign Minister Ikeda expressed his desire to strengthen the bilateral ties between Japan and the African countries. At the same time, the Government of Japan wants to emphasize that we highly appreciate the efforts undertaken by the African countries for democratization and the introduction of market-oriented economies. As long as these efforts continue, the Government of Japan wants to extend economic cooperation wherever possible. Regarding the schedule of the visit to Japan by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the People's Republic of Angola -- it is categorized as an official working visit, and President dos Santos will visit Japan from 3-6 June. President dos Santos and Mrs. dos Santos will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and Their Majesties will host a Court Luncheon in honor of President dos Santos and Mrs. dos Santos. President dos Santos will also have official talks with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of President dos Santos and Mrs. dos Santos, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and Angola.
Reported requests for assistance in opening embassy offices in Tokyo by some African countries
Q: On that same topic, on UNCTAD -- there was a working lunch with the Minister of Trade in Midland and some of the African representatives, Foreign Ministers. One of the reports we have is that Japan will assist some of these countries to open embassies in Tokyo -- those that are not affluent enough. Do you know anything about this?

A: Basically, what I understand is that, unfortunately, the Government of Japan itself does not own, for example, a building to rent office space for our African colleagues. However, every now and then the Foreign Ministry is approached by the diplomatic corps to make good offices to landowners who can offer better facilities with reasonable prices, and so on.
Japan-Republic of India relations
Q: How does Japan view the recent change of government in India, where a Hindu-based party with religious overtones has assumed power?

A: The Republic of India is a very important country for Japan, and we sincerely hope that we can continuously develop bilateral ties. We understand that, with a new Prime Minister, a new Government has been born in India. We are watching to see whether the new Government will win the vote of confidence by 31 May. Since 1991, the previous Government has been advocating the policy of economic liberalization, and it has been helping in the development of closer ties with Japan. We hope that the new Government will also support the economic liberalization policy. We do not know whether the nuclear policy which was involved in the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be automatically implemented by the new Government or not. But, we are a little bit concerned about the nuclear policy stated in the election manifesto. In any case, we understand that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a moderate and able politician, and we hope that both Japan and India can deepen mutual understanding. We hope that the Indian Government can understand the Japanese policy on a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a cut-off treaty, and negotiations on NPCR, and so on.

Q: Suppose the Government is defeated on 31 May, and a left-dominated party comes to power? Will there be any change in your country's attitude towards India?

A: First of all, Japan has no intention to become involved in the internal affairs of India, and secondly --.

Q: But the left-dominated party coming to power means there will be a shift in the economic policy, because of certain domestic --.

A: What we would like to stress is that we sincerely hope that any Indian Government will continue to implement the economic liberalization policy, which will definitely strengthen our ties in the future.

Q: Suppose there is a slowing down of that policy -- of the reforms -- will it affect Japan or the relations between Japan and India in any way?

A: This is a very hypothetical question, so I do not want to make direct comment on what you said -- but we hope that the liberalization policy continues.

Q: Is more investment going to come into India from Japan?

A: I am sure that, in the past, the liberalization plan has helped strengthen economic ties. India offers a very good market for any country interested in your country, including Japan, and therefore, it is vital for any Indian Government to continue in that direction.
Issue of United States forces' facilities and areas in Okinawa
Q: How does the Foreign Ministry comment on Okinawa Governor Masahide Ota's submission of a bill on U.S. bases in the prefecture of Okinawa? The Okinawa Governor yesterday submitted a bill to the assembly calling for a referendum on the future of the U.S. bases in Okinawa.

A: I have not seen the announcement you refer to. However, when President William Clinton of the United States of America visited Japan in April, Japan and the United States agreed on how to realign, reduce and consolidate the United States facilities and areas in Okinawa. Both Japan and the United States have been endeavoring to implement what was agreed during the visit, and both Governments have committed themselves to prepare the final conclusions on this by November. So, the Central Government is going to implement its commitment. At the same time, on the referendum, I do not know with what or how the Central Government should react. We understand that Okinawa Prefecture itself presented its own so-called action agenda for the reduction of United States bases -- especially, they intend to eliminate all the bases within the several years to come. But, we have the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and must abide by that commitment, and we would like to harmonize the requests from the local people and our duties under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
Japan's policy towards the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding nuclear issues
Q: Coming back to India again, about this nuclear policy -- India and Japan have one thing in common regarding nuclear policy. It is fast-breeder technology -- I think both India and Japan believe the future of civil use of nuclear energy for production of power is in this particular type of technology. Is there any kind of cooperation between these two countries?

A: Again, I am terribly sorry, but I do not know the particular Japanese policies on this.

Q: Is Japan concerned about India's achievements in the nuclear field, particular with Kashmir in mind, with Pakistan in mind?

A: We have been asking both the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and we think that the NPT is very important. Unless the two countries join the NPT, I think the worldwide non-proliferation regime cannot be established. So, we simply urge your country and Pakistan to join the NPT as soon as possible.
Japan-United States trade balance
Q: Yesterday, it was announced by the Finance Minister that the deficit between imports and exports between Japan and the United States has been decreasing by a serious amount. Are there any reflections coming from the U.S. against this?

A: Already some time ago, the trends which you mentioned started to appear, and already the United States Administration clearly knows about this.

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