Press Conference by the Press Secretary May 27, 1997

Press conference announcements
1. Coup in the Republic of Sierra Leone
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: The Government of Japan expresses its strong regret that as a result of the recent coup in the Republic of Sierra Leone, the peace process which had been progressing based on the Abidjan Accord has been interrupted. The Government of Japan hopes that the democratic peace process in Sierra Leone will resume at the earliest date possible with the help of the mediation of neighboring countries, the United Nations and regional organizations. This being realized, the Government of Japan intends to provide assistance actively in whatever means possible as a member of the United Nations Security Council.
2. Activities of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
  Spokesman Hashimoto: Very recently, the agreement for membership of the European Union was signed by the representative of the European Union and the Secretary-General of the Korean Peninsula Economic Development Organization (KEDO). Several times in the past, I have explained the nature of the global importance of the activities of KEDO. In this sense, we welcome the recent provisional signing of the agreement with KEDO by the European Union. We hope that the formal agreement will be made through the necessary procedures.
3. Visit to the Russian Federation by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda
  Spokesman Hashimoto: I would like to point out the following in regard to the recent meeting by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Primakov of the Russian Federation. Last year, the two gentlemen met five times, and they did their best to improve the relationship between the two countries. This most recent meeting was the first meeting between the two gentlemen this year. As a result of the meeting, the two ministers agreed to convene a Japan-Russia top-level meeting at the Denver Summit, and to hold the Second Round of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economy on 9 June on the occasion of the visit to Japan by First Deputy Premier Boris Nemtsov of the Russian Federation. They also confirmed that Prime Minister Viktor S. Chernomyrdin of the Russian Federation is also to be invited to Japan and that they will continue to expand and strengthen dialogue between Japan and Russia. Japan reiterated the importance of simultaneously moving forward efforts concerning sovereignty issues and concerning the creation of an appropriate environment for resolving the territorial issue. The two aspects for this reasoning should be treated as two wheels of a cart and not as separate issues. In addition, Japan hoped not to simply confirm the Tokyo Declaration in regard to territory-related negotiations, but also to work together toward moving one or two steps forward from the Declaration. In this respect, the Russian side understood and pointed out the need to create an appropriate environment and accumulate practical measures. In any case, Japan wants to improve its relations with the Russian Federation in the future.
4. Presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran
  Spokesman Hashimoto: Regarding the presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan believes that the election of Hojjatol-Islam Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with an overwhelming majority of Iranian votes, reflects calls for change from all parts of the Iranian population. Japan will continue to observe closely the new administration's selection of the Cabinet and other domestic trends. The Government of Japan hopes that Iran will adopt open and realistic policies and take concrete actions which will mitigate the concerns of the international community in regard to Iran's international behavior.
Japan-Russian Federation relations
Q: Do you consider the visit of Foreign Minister Ikeda to Russia fruitful, and why? What results do you consider the most important? What, if any, agreements were reached in Moscow?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan regards the visit and the meeting with Foreign Minister Primakov as very fruitful. We are especially satisfied to note that top-level exchanges will resume this year. We have several outstanding issues to be solved between the two countries. However, now we know that President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation is happy to meet Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in Denver. At the same time, the Russian Federation will dispatch First Deputy Premier Nemtsov to Japan. We hope that foreign minister-level meetings will resume this year, as well. This means that we will have many more important occasions where both governments can tackle the outstanding issues. We understand that those outstanding issues cannot be solved promptly. However, if both governments share the strong political will to improve our relationship, I believe we can be optimistic about the future. But at the same time, we must be very realistic. In this sense, we hope that the so-called framework negotiations on fishing will be the first example of a concrete accord between the two countries this year.

Q: During his visit to Russia, Foreign Minister Ikeda pledged assistance for the transferral of armed forces deployed on the South Kuril Islands to some other parts of the country. Can you tell us if there are any plans to carry this out?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Foreign Minister Primakov explained to Foreign Minister Ikeda that the Russian Federation intends to decrease the level of forces over the Northern Territories. During this recent meeting, Foreign Minister Primakov did not specifically tell us the present force level over the islands. However, Foreign Minister Primakov reconfirmed the statement of President Yeltsin, who in the past, clearly stated that the Russian Federation will withdraw the Russian forces completely, except for the deployment of border guards. Apart from that, this time, Foreign Minister Primakov did not specifically mention how to proceed with a reduction in the level of forces. In any case, Prime Minister Hashimoto will have the opportunity to meet President Yeltsin in Denver. I am sure that Foreign Minister Ikeda will have the chance to meet Foreign Minister Primakov many more times this year; we will have a chance to speak on this subject more specifically in the future.

Q: Can we understand that it is Foreign Minister Ikeda's intention to raise this issue during the next meeting?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Whenever we have a chance, we continue to ask them to do so.
Japan-Islamic Republic of Iran relations
Q: Could you comment on the future of Japan-Iran relations?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan is of the view that Iran should not be isolated from the rest of the international community. At the same time, we have been pointing out that the international community has certain concerns about the behavior of Iran throughout the world. We sincerely hope that Iran will take concrete actions that will mitigate the concerns of the international community. Now, Hojjatol-Islam Mohammad Khatami has been selected as the President of Iran. He will be formally appointed as the President in the future. We hope that the government under him will go in the direction which I explained to you.
Situation in the Islamic State of Afghanistan
Q: Could you comment on the situation in Afghanistan?

Spokesman Hashimoto: In regard to the situation in the Islamic State of Afghanistan, we understand that the Taliban has gained an interim victory in many parts of Afghanistan. We are carefully watching this situation. We have our own legal criteria in which we recognize a new government. One of the criteria we use for recognizing a new government is whether or not the new government is effectively controlling the whole country. In this sense, we are now watching to see whether or not the Taliban faction is actually effectively controlling the whole of Afghanistan. We must also carefully watch whether the guerrillas will continue to fight against the Taleban, etc. Therefore, we are carefully watching this situation.
Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation
Q: Japan and the United States are presently reviewing the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. From Japan's perspective, is Japan looking at things that could result in a change to the Constitution or is that totally out bounds?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan has been repeatedly explaining to the Japanese public and to the outside world that we would like to review the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation within the context of the present Constitution, and there is much to do under this. We need to have the new Guidelines fully supported by the public. We intend to publicize the interim report for discussion sometime at the beginning of June.

Therefore, you will have to be a little more patient. However, when you have a chance to read the interim report, you will understand that the Government of Japan does not intend to amend the Constitution for the purpose of amending the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation. This is what the Clinton Administration understands from the exercises of the Review of the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation.
Japanese wives in North Korea
Q: Is any progress being made on the issue of Japanese wives in North Korea?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Thus far, there has been no progress made. On 21 May, an informal working-level meeting between Japan and the North Korean authority took place in Beijing. Although we are not in a position to tell you what exactly the two sides talked about, I would like to tell you that Japan wants to continue that level of informal meeting in the future. However, we cannot specifically tell you when the next round of informal meetings will take place.

Q: Does North Korea want that process to continue?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We cannot specifically tell you their intention. However, we should not be either optimistic or pessimistic about the future.
Situation in the Senkaku Islands
Q: Taiwanese and Hong Kong protestors carried out actions triggered by a Diet member landing on the island earlier this month. Will Japan take any measures to see that Japanese do not land on the island in the future?

Spokesman Hashimoto: As far as a Diet member landing on the Senkaku Islands is concerned, the relevant ministries are still conducting studies into whether or not those actions have breached any Japanese internal laws or regulations. The Senkaku Islands are an integral part of Japanese territory. We understand that Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Government of the People's Republic of China have a different view regarding this. However, we must not jeopardize the good relations between Japan and China, Japan and Taiwan, and Japan and Hong Kong over this issue. The protest actions that took place yesterday are regrettable. Through the appropriate channels, the Government of Japan informed the Taiwanese authorities and others that the Government of Japan deems it regrettable that this situation has arisen in which some members of the Taiwanese and Hong Kong protest group entered Japanese waters despite the warning and the deterrence of the Japanese authorities. At the same time, the Government of Japan believes that this series of incidents regarding the Senkaku Islands must not damage our overall relations with neighboring countries and regions. It has been our hope that the parties involved would maintain their calm. It is our understanding that the authorities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere made efforts to discourage the Taiwanese and Hong Kong protestors from carrying out such actions to a certain degree. The Government of Japan hopes that, in the future, all related parties will act calmly. That is our sincere hope. I hope that the Taiwanese and Kong Hong people concerned will understand this and will not try to engage in protest actions in the future.

Q: From the point of view of Taiwan and Hong Kong, the landing on the island by the Diet was a provocative act. Do the Japanese have any plans to take action to prevent this type of action in the future?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Senkaku Islands are an integral part of Japan. We will continue to maintain this position. At the same time, as I told you before, this should not hamper the development of good relations between Japan and Taiwan, Japan and China, and Japan and Hong Kong. We hope that all of the relevant people understand this and will address this issue with restraint.

Q: If Japan regards the Senkaku Islands as sovereign territory, why not deploy armed forces on the islands?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We have never deployed forces on the Senkaku Islands since they became Japanese territory. We effectively control the islands. Furthermore, we do not want to make the Senkaku Islands such a big issue that relations with neighboring countries and regions would be jeopardized.

Q: Will Japan file the issue of the Senkaku Islands in international court in order to solve this territorial dispute?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We have never been asked by any party to file this case with the international court. However, we firmly believe that the Senkaku Islands are an integral part of Japan, and there is no argument about this.
Agreement between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Russian Federation
Q: Today, in Paris, the leaders of several states are going to sign the basic document on cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia. Even though the distance from Europe to Japan is great, do you think that the signing of this document can somehow influence the security environment surrounding Japan? Is Japan optimistic about this treaty or not?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The peace and stability on the European continent is not only important for the countries directly involved in that region, but also for the peace and stability of the world. This was especially the case during the Cold War. I recall that then-Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone made a special statement when the Government of the then-Soviet Union intended to withdraw SS20 missiles from the European theater and to allocate those missiles in the eastern part of the Soviet Union. Then-Prime Minister Nakasone warned that it would give a very negative sign to the countries concerned in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. Now the Cold war is over, but still the peace and stability on the European continent has global implications. So, Japan is naturally interested in this, and we are carefully observing how the dialogue between NATO and the Russian Federation will be established and conducted under the newly established forum. We would like to be informed fully by the Russian Federation and NATO on developments over there. We understand that both NATO and the Russian Federation still must carefully address the issue of the expansion of NATO. We hope that both NATO and the Russian Federation can manage peace and stability in that area in the future.
French elections
Q: Could you comment on the French elections?

Spokesman Hashimoto: First of all, this has not been completed. Secondly, Japan does not want to comment on elections which are part of the domestic politics of a particular country. After the end of the second round of elections, we may be in a position to comment. However, for the time being, we cannot comment on this.
Turkish military movements in the Republic of Iraq
Q: Do you have any comment on Turkish military movements in Northern Iraq?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We are watching the situation with great concern. In any case, we need to see the situation calm down. However, every now and then, that area becomes a trouble spot. Japan is not directly involved in this, so we are just watching this situation with deep concern. At the same time, that kind of situation should always be settled through negotiation talks rather than through military actions.

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