Press Conference by the Press Secretary July 22, 1997

Press conference announcements
1. Import of maize from China
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: There was a newspaper report last week that a Japanese company imported maize from North Korea. This does not represent the fact. I would like to explain what actually took place. The importer used to buy maize from China. The maize imported this time was shipped from China, and was reloaded in North Korea to be transported to Japan by the Mangyongbon, in order to reduce shipping time and cost. Therefore, I would like to once again repeat that this company, again this time, imported maize from China through North Korea. However, it did not import maize from North Korea.
2. Visit to India and Pakistan by Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda
  Spokesman Hashimoto: Recent Japan-India and Japan-Islamic Republic of Pakistan relations have been characterized by less than frequent high-level exchanges. The 50th anniversary of national independence as well as the recent inaugurations of new government administrations in both countries make this year the ideal timing for a visit by Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda. Both countries also have influential voices within multilateral fora. Therefore, exchanging views, for example on the United Nations Security Council, is useful. Japan is the largest donor of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to both India and Pakistan. India has continued to carry out economic liberalization policies since their implementation in 1991. Pakistan has worked to resolutely implement economic reform based on measures to promote industry, which has earned them high marks from the international community. Japan is in a position to support such economic reforms. Foreign Minister Ikeda will announce Japan's intention to continue to provide economic cooperation in response to their economic reforms. On the other hand, Japanese private investment in India and Pakistan is still low. Japanese business circles are increasingly interested in economic reforms and it is much hoped that they will be provided with a better investment climate in the two countries.
  
  Recently, India has been advancing diplomatic relations based on good-neighbor policies under the "Gurjal Doctrine" and Pakistan is implementing substantial reduction in defense expenditures, an area considered unrealistic in the past. The first Vice Ministerial-Level Talks between the two countries were held last March after a three-year recess. Japan applauds these efforts to relieve tensions, which will help improve the well-being of the people and drive economic growth in the area. India and Pakistan are also members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which contributes to stability and growth in the South Asian region. Japan is the only country outside the region to financially support the activities of SAARC, through the Japan Special Fund for SAARC (US$500,000 annually). In addition, BISTEC, a sub-regional organ for economic cooperation on the part of the countries of South Asia, including India and Thailand, was inaugurated in June, and is now attracting attention as a concept which will become a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, two regions which have traditionally had less than strong ties. Japan considers the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) a realistic and steady instrument for nuclear arms reduction and an important step toward the establishment of a nuclear-free world, and hopes that India and Pakistan will sign and ratify it at the earliest date possible. In addition, now that the number of member nations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) exceeds 180 and the NPT system is supported by nearly the entire world, Japan would like to once again appeal to India and Pakistan to join the NPT as soon as possible. Japan earnestly hopes that Foreign Minister Ikeda's visits will stimulate the expansion and deepening of exchanges between Japan and the South Asian region on both the governmental and personal levels.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Q: Japan has long been asking India and Pakistan to join the NPT. Does Japan have any new ways or proposals to encourage them to do so?

Spokesman Hashimoto: I do not know whether you can call it a new effort or not, but as I told you, a Japanese foreign minister has not visited India for a long time. Foreign Minister Ikeda is now in Pakistan and is going to visit India and will hold an important policy dialogue with his counterparts. I am sure that Foreign Minister Ikeda will touch on the subject and will once again endeavor to appeal to the two countries to sign the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Apart from that, there is a possibility that Foreign Minister Ikeda will stress the need to start a cut-off treaty in the near future. At the same time, he will appeal to the two countries regarding self-restraint on the development and deployment of missiles. Therefore, I can say that this is a continuation of Japanese efforts to endeavor to convince the two countries to sign the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and, together with us, make further endeavors in the field of nuclear disarmament.

Q: You mentioned that Foreign Minister Ikeda is going to try and convince them not to develop missiles.

Spokesman Hashimoto: Yes, he may be doing that. This is Japan's traditional diplomacy toward Pakistan and India -- to ask them to keep restraint on the development and deployment of missiles. At the same time, I am sure that Foreign Minister Ikeda will extend his great appreciation for the holding of a meeting of the Vice Ministers of the two Governments. Japan sincerely hopes that both Japan and India will make further efforts to establish a tangible result on outstanding issues between the two countries.
Afghanistan situation
Q: Can you update us on talks in Pakistan on the Afghanistan situation?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Japan is concerned about the internal situation in Afghanistan, and has been contacting all the factions and endeavoring to persuade them to sit at the table to negotiate on a peaceful settlement of the conflict. You may recall that Japan invited the representatives of the factions to Japan before. This means that we invited a representative of the Taliban in February of last year. In June of last year, we invited one representative of the Rabbanni faction. In March of this year, we invited three representatives of the non-Taliban factions, meaning the Rabbanni, the Dostum and the Khalili factions. Now, three people from the Taliban faction are in Japan. Japan appreciates the efforts of Pakistan to mediate among the factions concerned in Cambodia. We sincerely hope that Pakistan's efforts will actually contribute to the establishment of dialogue among the factions. At the same time, in general ways, the Government of Japan wants to emphasize that the adjacent countries to Afghanistan should stop providing the factions with arms. In this sense, we hope that the Pakistani Government understands what the Government of Japan thinks. All in all, we should highly respect the efforts done by the United Nations UNSMA. Japan would like to continuously cooperate with the UNSMA for the realization of peace in Afghanistan.

Q: Are you implying that though Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia are appearing to be making efforts to mediate a solution either in cooperation with each other or in conflict with each other that they have their own agenda? Is Japan trying to establish itself as that credible power to mediate the solution?

Spokesman Hashimoto: I am not sure whether or not Japan can play a role as a mediator. While Japan cooperates with the United Nations, Japan offers to provide a meeting place somewhere in Japan if all the factions in Afghanistan are ready to peacefully negotiate the conflict. We have been relaying this message to all of the factions. Unfortunately, we have not yet received a favorable response from all of the factions. However, some of the factions have basically said that that is a good idea.
Japan-India bilateral relations
Q: There have been reports that Foreign Minister Ikeda's trip is a preparation for a trip by Prime Minister Hashimoto. Have any tentative dates been set for this visit?

Spokesman Hashimoto: I do not believe that a possible visit by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to India has been taken up between Japan and India thus far. Foreign Minister Ikeda is going to visit India and exchange views with his counterpart on many subjects, including bilateral relations, but I cannot make a comment on this today.
Taiwan's participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Q: Are you in a position to give us some sort of a run-down on the talks between Hong Kong and Taiwan which are taking place in Tokyo regarding Taiwan's participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Regarding Taiwan's participation in the WTO, if I remember correctly, already, two or three months ago, the bilateral negotiations between Japan and Taiwan were completed. We understand that still several other major nations have yet to complete their negotiations with Taiwan on its participation. We have not yet completed the negotiations with China on its participation. We understand that there is a tacit understanding among members of the WTO that the participation of Taiwan and China should be simultaneously realized. Therefore, after the end of the negotiations with Taiwan, we have been stepping up our efforts to persuade our friends in Beijing to give us a better offer on various outstanding matters, especially market access issues. As for Hong Kong, I am not familiar with the negotiations between Hong Kong and Taiwan going on at the moment. We will check on that and get back to you.

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