Press Conference by the Press Secretary July 11, 1997

Introduction to the press conference
1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Madrid Summit
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Madrid produced an initial conclusion regarding the expansion of NATO and clarified the future direction of NATO. Japan hopes that these results will cultivate peace and stability in Europe toward the 21st century, and will further contribute to greater peace and stability in the international community as a whole. Japan believes that these results are important steps in the building of a post-Cold-War world order. In this connection, Japan wishes that NATO expansion will promote the building of a closer cooperative relationship between NATO and the Russian Federation in the future. The impact of NATO's expansion may extend to the security of Japan and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region as well as global security. From this viewpoint, Japan will implement more intimate exchanges of information and opinions among NATO, Russia and other countries concerned, based on its opinion that it is very important to increase its dialogue with NATO, Russia and other countries concerned and also to broadly share an awareness regarding security issues.
2. Situation in Cambodia
  Spokesman Hashimoto: I would like to explain to you the position of the Government of Japan on the situation in Cambodia. First, Japan vigorously asks the CPP (Cambodian People's Party) and FUNCINPEC (the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia) to observe the Paris Peace Accords, maintain the current constitution and political system, and implement a free and fair election as scheduled, in May of 1998. Second, Japan recognizes that the present situation in Cambodia is not merely a domestic problem, but has serious impact on regional peace and stability and that the international community cannot leave the situation intact. Japan is concerned with the situation and has been appealing the position which has been described above to the two parties. Third, it is crucial to Cambodia's stability that the Cambodian Government, which can be accepted by the international community, works toward national reconciliation and development of its economy and social welfare. In this sense, we need to keep a close eye on how the CPP and FUNCINPEC can rebuild their cooperative relationship and how King Norodom Sihanouk can play a role as this situation progresses.
Sending of Japanese aircraft to Thailand
Q: Foreign Minister Ikeda announced this morning that Japan is sending an aircraft to Thailand. What is the purpose of this?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We understand that, this morning, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto asked Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and the Cabinet Minister in charge of the Defense Agency to prepare the aircraft in case of a need and to study the possibility of sending the aircraft to one of the bases in the Kingdom of Thailand. On this basis, Foreign Minister Ikeda and the Cabinet Minister in charge of the Defense Agency are now studying this in accordance with the relevant law and regulations.
Maintaining peace in Cambodia
Q: Japan played a very important role in bringing peace to Cambodia. Regarding the current situation in Cambodia, what can Japan do to achieve peace in Cambodia?

Spokesman Hashimoto: As you correctly pointed out, Japan took initiatives together with other friendly countries in restoring peace and prosperity in Cambodia. We also contributed a lot to the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cambodia. After peace was restored in Cambodia, the Government of Japan started to extend substantial aid to Cambodia. On this basis, we are greatly concerned with the situation in Cambodia. We sincerely hope that the people concerned will observe the Paris Peace Accords and maintain the present constitution and political system. At the same time, and as was agreed at the Denver Summit of the Eight, we sincerely hope that a free and fair general election will be held, in May 1998. Japan, together with other countries, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations will do its best to address national reconciliation with the parties concerned.

Q: Does this mean that Japan is playing an active role in this situation?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Japan, together with other countries, is actively involved in helping the Cambodian situation improve in a direction that we would like to see.

Q: By what means are you doing this? The special envoy is back from Cambodia now.

Spokesman Hashimoto: Yes, after former Ambassador Imagawa returned to Japan, this incident unfortunately took place. We have now been exchanging information and views at various capitals and organizations such as the United Nations. For example, the ASEAN countries decided to dispatch three foreign ministers to contact King Norodom Sihanouk of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the two Prime Ministers; we very much appreciate their efforts. By doing so, we hope that peace will eventually be restored in Cambodia.
Dialogue with ASEAN and others on Cambodia
Q: Has there been more direct consultations either yesterday or this morning in Kuala Lumpur between ASEAN and Japan?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Foreign Minister Ikeda telephoned the Chairman of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia. At the end of this month, there will be a Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Making use of that opportunity, Japan will exchange views with the ASEAN countries and with other dialogue countries. The most important thing is that the parties and the people concerned in Cambodia establish direct contact and jointly endeavor to solve this situation through peaceful means. For the time being, the situation is rather fluid. So, while we are intensifying our diplomatic efforts, we must, at the same time, keep a close eye on the development of the domestic situation in Cambodia.
Situation regarding Japanese citizens in Cambodia
Q: What is the general situation of Japanese citizens in Cambodia?

Spokesman Hashimoto: At present, 370 Japanese are now in Cambodia. Out of these, 361 are staying in Phnom Penh, 8 people are at Siem Reap and one person is at Sihanoukville. Already, 139 people left Cambodia after the incident started.
Evacuation of foreigners in Cambodia
Q: If you use a Japanese aircraft to evacuate people from Cambodia, will these planes be allowed to carry non-Japanese foreigners?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan has not yet decided whether or not the aircraft will be flown to Cambodia to transport Japanese citizens. In general terms, I would like to tell you that if the aircraft is dispatched to a certain place to rescue Japanese citizens, it can also transport foreign citizens according to their wishes.
Response of Japan and ASEAN countries to the situation in Cambodia
Q: ASEAN countries have advised their business people to freeze their investments in Cambodia. They have also decided to minimize diplomatic staff at their embassies, which is more of a warning move. Is Japan doing the same thing as well?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan has no intention to downsize the number of embassy personnel. At present, only 18 people are working at the embassy. They must work very hard to take care of Japanese citizens, contact the Cambodian Government, etc. Therefore, we are simply not in a position to cut down on personnel. As far as the business people are concerned, the Government of Japan has been advising those who do not necessarily have urgent business in Cambodia to leave Cambodia in the near future. Regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Cambodia, due to the fluid situation in Cambodia, it is difficult, in practical terms, for us to continue our ODA activities for the time being. Having said so, if you ask about ODA activities in the future, we are just carefully watching the situation and we are cautiously deciding what to do. We think that it is not the proper time for us to make any decisions on our future ODA activities in Cambodia.

Q: Let me rephrase my question. The ASEAN countries have decided to isolate Cambodia. Is Japan intending to cut off its aid to France in this regard? ASEAN countries are freezing private investment. Is Japan doing likewise?

Spokesman Hashimoto: If the situation becomes fluid, it is natural that many business people, including Japanese business people, cannot engage in commercial activities in Cambodia. However, the Government of Japan is not in a position to tell business people what to do. As far as the Group of Eight is concerned, we understand the United States side decided to freeze its aid for one month. We interpret this as the United States wanting to have a free hand regarding what to do with the aid. We do not interpret this as the Clinton Administration intending to freeze its aid for a long time. As I told you, Japan thinks it is not appropriate to make a decision now as to what to do about aid. We are closely watching the situation in order to decide what to do in the future. With that said, the position of ASEAN is not much different from that of Japan. But, as far as the participation of Cambodia in ASEAN is concerned, it is understandable that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers decided to postpone participation to a later date. This means that the decision itself to let Cambodia participate in ASEAN still stands, but the date of participation is delayed. Therefore, we do not think that ASEAN intends to isolate Cambodia from the international community.

Q: Clearly, there is a sign of pressure coming out of ASEAN toward Cambodia. Therefore, is Japan also putting some kind of pressure on the parties concerned in Cambodia to come up with some kind of solution?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Japan and Cambodia have been enjoying a very close relationship. Japan is playing a major role in their economic development. We think that the Cambodian Government understands what the Government of Japan has been stating so far on the situation. We are concerned with the situation in Cambodia. And, as I told you, we have announced the basic position of the Government of Japan on Cambodia. We hope that this message has been seriously taken by Mr. Hun Sen and other relevant individuals.
Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the State of Israel
Q: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit Tokyo next month. What are the topics that will be discussed when he arrives?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Regarding the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the State of Israel, we are not yet in a position to officially announce the date of his arrival or his program in Japan.
Middle East peace process
Q: What is the current position of the Japanese Government concerning the Middle East?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Maybe you remember that Foreign Minister Ikeda extended an invitation from the Government of Japan to Prime Minister Netanyahu to visit Japan when Foreign Minister Ikeda visited Israel and met Prime Minister Netanyahu in August 1996. We are satisfied with the intensification of dialogues between the two countries in recent years. Regarding the exchange of people this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Levy visited Japan at the end of last February and the beginning of last March. Also, Minister of Trade and Industry Nathan Sharansky visited Japan last April. Then-Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunji Yanai visited Israel last April. If Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Japan in the near future, we would like to exchange views not only on the bilateral issue, but also on the Middle East. The situation in the Middle East has become rather tense since the Israeli Government decided to construct houses in the Har Homa housing project. Since that time, the Government of Japan has been contacting both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In this connection, Deputy Foreign Minister Yanai visited the Middle East last April. We would like to further exchange views with Prime Minister Netanyahu on how to further promote peace and stability in the region. We understand that peace in the Middle East should be realized in accordance with the relevant international agreements.
Press conference with Hwang Jang Yop in the Republic of Korea
Q: In the report recently released and at the recent press conference with Hwang Jang Yop, he said Kim Jong Il's plan is to turn Tokyo and Japan into a "lake of fire" to prevent American intervention. Is the Japanese Government aware of this?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We read the transcript of Mr. Hwang Jang Yop's press conference and we noticed that there was nothing particularly new contained in that transcript. We understand that Mr. Hwang Jang Yop was talking more or less about his general views about the situation in North Korea.

Q: So, there is nothing particularly new that came out of this?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Government of Japan has been exchanging information and views with the Governments of the Republic of Korea and the United States and we are closely monitoring what is happening in North Korea. What I would like to stress here is that Mr. Hwang Jang Yop's statement did not add anything new to what we have already known about the situation in North Korea.
Japan-North Korea contacts
Q: Regarding Kim Jong Il's revelation, or whatever you care to call it, can it impact the contacts between Japan and North Korea?

Spokesman Hashimoto: To be frank, we do not know. Japan and North Korea conducted a series of talks on normalization between the two countries. However, the negotiations were suspended for a long time. Every now and then, we contact North Korea informally. We hope that normalization talks will be resumed in the future. However, North Korea has not indicated that it will conduct formal talks between the two countries in the near future.

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