Press Conference by the Press Secretary January 20, 1998

Announcements
1. Final press conference by Mr. Hiroshi Hashimoto, Press Secretary / Director-General for Press and Public Relations
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to my last press conference. As early as Friday this week, my successor will hold his first press conference, and I hope you will enjoy his press conferences.
2. Visit of Secretary of Defense William Cohen of the United States of America
  Spokesman Hashimoto: I have two announcements today. Firstly, Secretary of Defense William Cohen of the United States of America will arrive in Japan today as part of his visit to Asian countries. During his visit, Secretary of Defense Cohen will meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi and Director-General Fumio Kyuma of the Defense Agency. They will discuss, among other subjects, current regional situations and issues concerning the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements, including the so-called joint review under the Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation and Okinawa-related issues.
3. Japan-Russian Federation relationship
  Spokesman Hashimoto: Secondly, on the subject of the Japan-Russia relationship, during the last two and a half years in which I have been the press secretary, Japan-Russia relations have truly become geared toward a genuine improvement. The fact that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation reached various agreements at Krasnoyarsk has captivated us and reminded us of our dignified determination that both ministries of foreign affairs, of Japan and Russia, have to do our utmost to conclude the peace treaty of the year 2000 based on the Tokyo Declaration. These feelings are shared by all the personnel in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are involved in current Japan-Russia relations. I hope I have successfully conveyed such feelings in my past press conferences. Vice-ministerial talks for the peace treaty are scheduled in Moscow for 22 January, this week. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Tamba and Mr. Grigory Karasin, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, are heads of their respective delegations. They will discuss the framework and procedures of the peace treaty negotiations, so that we will be able to embark on the new steps toward the conclusion of the peace treaty. Moreover, I should note that Mr. Sergei Yastrzhemvsky, the press secretary for the Russian presidential office, issued a statement which highly commended the proceedings of the Hashimoto-Yeltsin plan. Since the Government of Japan is making its utmost efforts to implement the plan with a view to steadily realizing the agreements reached at Krasnoyarsk, we would like to welcome the evaluation of the Russian side of the plan. At the same time I would like to reiterate our determination to further develop cooperation between our two countries based on the plan. With the Diet's approval, Foreign Minister Obuchi will visit Russia in mid-February to hold talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeny Primakov of the Russian Federation and First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov of the Russian Federation, keeping in mind the visit of President Yeltsin to Japan in mid-April. This visit by Foreign Minister Obuchi has great importance in stepping up our efforts to realize the Krasnoyarsk agreements.
Japan-Russian Federation talks
Q: Do you have any specific plan in regard to ongoing talks in Moscow? Who specifically is going to take part when these negotiations in Moscow start?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The subject of the participants in the formal negotiations will be discussed at the vice-ministerial-level talks, so let us wait and see what will come out of the meeting.

Q: Have you a specific view, your own point of view, as to who is going to take part?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Are you talking about the upcoming vice-ministerial-level talks?

Q: Yes, but I wonder, what is your proposal -- who should take part in this negotiation -- not the one that starts on Thursday, but the one between the two foreign ministers?

Spokesman Hashimoto: As I told you, that particular subject will be dealt with by Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Karasin. It will be held as early as the 22nd of this month. I am sure that after the end of the talks, they will be in a position to tell you what conclusion the two sides have reached, so let us wait and see. In any case, we are very happy to strengthen our cooperation in various fields. As far as the peace treaty negotiations are concerned, first of all the vice foreign ministers will meet and set the direction of how to deal with this difficult issue. Therefore, without making predictions, I hope you will have a bit of patience and wait for what will come out of the meeting. In any case, we sincerely hope that productive talks will be held, not only at the vice-ministerial level, but also at the foreign-ministerial level. As I told you at the outset, Foreign Minister Obuchi's visit to Moscow sometime in mid-February will be extremely important, and I am sure that Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Karasin and Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba will sincerely talk and prepare for the ministerial-level talks.
Possible meetings with President-Elect Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea
Q: Are there any plans for the Republic of Korea's President-Elect Kim Dae Jung to visit Japan before he takes office on 25 February? Secondly, a personal question, where will you be posted from here?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We know that there has been some speculation on possible visits by Mr. Kim Dae Jung to several other countries, but we understand that speculation on his visit to Japan has not been decided at all. As far as my new assignment is concerned, this morning the Cabinet approved my having an ambassadorial assignment, and tomorrow I will receive a formal instruction from Foreign Minister Obuchi. It is better not to say more here. I do not think I will go into it now.

Q: To what country?

Spokesman Hashimoto: I think I will go to a country in the Asia-Pacific region, in Southeast Asia, and I would like to continue our very good relations.

Q: If I may follow up on the subject of Kim Dae Jung, do you expect that a visit might materialize before he takes office, because he takes office on 25 February? Are you interested in his visiting before -- while he is still in an unofficial position -- or is there no thought about it?

Spokesman Hashimoto: The Republic of Korea is a very important neighbor for Japan, and Prime Minister Hashimoto has been enjoying a very good relationship with President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea. I am sure that Prime Minister Hashimoto would be happy to meet Mr. Kim Dae Jung, but as far as Mr. Kim Dae Jung's overseas trips are concerned, we simply do not know when he would like to come or how he would like to meet Prime Minister Hashimoto. In any case, I am sure that in due course the two gentlemen will have a chance to meet.
Visit of Secretary of Defense William Cohen of the United States of America
Q: On the visit of Secretary of Defense Cohen, the developments in Okinawa at least indicate that any solution to the problem of the relocation of the base will be dragged on for a considerable time, possibly longer than was originally envisioned by both sides when they made the agreements. What will you tell Secretary of Defense Cohen with regard to this? What is your position? Will you try to fulfill the expectations of the agreements with regard to the Guidelines, or will you say we first have to wait until the situation is sorted out in Okinawa?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We should separate the issue of Okinawa from the issue of the Guidelines. As far as the relocation of Futenma Air Station is concerned, I think the Japanese side will explain to the U.S. side the recent developments. At the same time, the Japanese side will explain that the Government of Japan will continue to endeavor to get support and understanding on the part of the local people on how to relocate Futenma Air Station. You are already familiar with the Government plan. Once there has not been progress on this issue, basically, the Japanese side will explain the present situation and the U.S. side will listen to it. At the same time, I am sure that the Japanese and U.S. sides will reaffirm their mutual commitment to realizing the agreement made by the so-called Special Action Committee on Okinwawa (SACO) process. As far as defense cooperation is concerned, since the so-called 2 + 2 Meeting took place last September, both the Japanese and American sides have been discussing what to do with the so-called comprehensive mechanism, etc. At the working level, we have deepened our understanding, and this issue will be taken up at the ministerial level, where they will review the process carried out by the working group. If they reach a final understanding or agreement on this issue, I think the Japanese and American sides will issue some kind of documentation after the end of the meeting.
Permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council
Q: We heard the American ambassador over at the Foreign Correspondents' Club this afternoon make a speech, and he mentioned that he very much supports Japan's becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and then he said we hope we will find some sort of formula within the next few months by which Japan can still become a member of the Security Council soon. Is there any concrete negotiation going at the moment between the U.S. side and the Japanese side on finding a sort of compromise formula? If so, can you tell us anything about it?

Spokesman Hashimoto: What I can tell you is rather general. First of all, between Japan and the United States, we have been exchanging information and views on this very important subject. At the same time, we still do not know how to proceed with this issue at the U.N. forum. In fact, last year there was significant progress in comparison with the previous years. However, we have still not succeeded in winding up the talks, so our efforts will continue. Our basic stance is that we would like to reach an agreement as soon as possible, but as of today, we are not in a position to tell you how we can realize this process. When the time comes, I am sure that not only the United States but also Japan and other countries will try to push this issue forward.
Currency situations in Asia
Q: Is there new progress concerning the Asian financial crisis?

Spokesman Hashimoto: As far as Japan's assistance to several countries in Asia which are facing economic difficulties, we will abide by the commitments made by the Government of Japan. At the same time, it is very important to note that those Asian countries should continue to implement the agreements reached between them and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We sympathize with the countries now facing difficulties, but in order to overcome difficulties, we hope that they will continue to implement the agreements with the IMF. At the same time, as you know, the Government of Japan is asking the Diet to approve several measures to expand our domestic demand, notably the income tax reduction program. We hope that with those measures approved by the Government, Japan will be able to give a good signal to the outside world, that the Government of Japan, in cooperation with the private sector, is determined to overcome economic difficulties and enjoy sustainable economic development through expanding domestic demand.

Q: The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore made a call at the Vancouver Summit for Japan, the United States and the countries of the European Union to work together to solve the Asian economic crisis. He made that call again two weeks ago. What is Japan's position on this?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We know that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of the Republic of Singapore is proposing the idea you mentioned. At the same time, the finance ministers of the G-7 countries, together with the finance ministers of the relevant countries, are contemplating holding a meeting sometime in the future. At the same time, the chair of the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is also contemplating taking up the currency issue at the London ASEM II meeting. I think those efforts will contribute to stabilizing the currency situation in the Asia-Pacific region. However, on the specific proposal made by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, I am sorry I do not know about the progress of the discussions of the idea. However, the main thing is that already, many countries have been making their utmost efforts to stabilize this situation. We understand that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong visited the Republic of Indonesia and met President Suharto of the Republic of Indonesia, President William Clinton of the United States of America made a telephone call to President Suharto, and Prime Minister Hashimoto also made a call to President Suharto. Now people are closely watching the situation in Indonesia, while in other Asian countries the situation has been becoming a bit more stable, so we hope for the time being that the Indonesian Government will handle the situation properly, so that the market will be more confident of the future of Indonesia. Having said so, the spirit of the proposal made by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has been already realized on various occasions.

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