Press Conference by the Press Secretary 2 October, 1998

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the start of operations by Japanese fishing boats in waters surrounding the four Northern Islands
2. Conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
3. Position of the Government of Japan on recent events in Malaysia
4. Response to Japanese aid package for Asia
5. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura to the Russian Federation
6. Possible visit by President William Clinton of the United States to Japan
7. Possible visit by President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China to Japan
8. Response of the Government of Japan to the sub-critical nuclear experiment conducted by the United States

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura on the start of operations by Japanese fishing boats in waters surrounding the four Northern Islands

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Good afternoon. First of all, today I would like to explain a statement to you made by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura yesterday concerning the start of operations by Japanese fishing boats in waters surrounding the four Northern Islands. The operations by Japanese fishing boats in waters surrounding the four Northern Islands started on 1 October in accordance with the framework agreement on these operations, signed in February this year and which came into effect in May. The negotiations on the framework agreement lasted three years. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Koumura said he believes that the enthusiasm and hard work of those concerned in Japan and the Russian Federation and, above all, the mutual trust between them have made the operation of Japanese fishing boats a reality. Japan-Russia relations have been steadily progressing in every field since the Krasnoyarsk Summit talks in November last year, and this progress is now becoming a current of history. The start of operations of Japanese fishing boats off the four Northern Islands is highly significant in accelerating this current. Foreign Minister Koumura sincerely hopes that the smooth implementation of the agreement will ensure the safe operation of our fishing boats, deepen the mutual trust between our two countries and contribute to the further progress of Japan-Russia relations in the future.

   Related Information (Japan's Northern Territories)
   
2. Conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: My second announcement concerns the conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition, of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-Personnel Mines Ban Treaty). The Government of Japan, represented by Ambassador Hisashi Owada, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, deposited its instrument of acceptance of the Anti-Personnel Mines Ban Treaty on 30 September with the United Nations Secretariat in New York. The convention will enter into force in Japan on 1 March 1999. On the same day, the convention will enter into force in all existing contracting parties. More than 100 million anti-personnel mines remain buried in conflict areas of the world. They not only pose great humanitarian problems in that they indiscriminately maim civilians, but they also severely hinder post-war reconstruction efforts in these areas. It is hoped that the Convention will contribute greatly to the solution of these problems. By the way, the conclusion of this Anti-Personnel Mines Ban Treaty by Japan is significant in the sense that it will promote the international cooperation towards the complete prohibition of land mines, the aim of this treaty. In particular, taking into consideration the fact that the number of Asian signatories to the treaty is not very large, we have to confess, and while countries in Asia such as the Kingdom of Cambodia have serious problems caused by landmines, Japan's conclusion of the treaty in this context we think significant in promoting the efforts to solve these land mine problems by Asian countries. Japan, which is aiming at achieving "Zero Victims" of land mines at an early date, will continue to lead the international society in this field by making further efforts with the countries concerned to achieve a universal and effective ban on landmines, clear landmines which remain buried and assist the injured by this weapon.

   Related Information (Anti-Personnel Landmines)
   
   
3. Position of the Government of Japan on recent events in Malaysia

   Q: There has been a great deal of concern about the treatment of Mr. Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Several governments now have said that they may not attend the APEC Meeting. The Philippines said that it might not. What is Japan's position on attending APEC and what is the latest position you are taking on the treatment of Anwar Ibrahim?

   Mr. Okada: We know that there are many news reports which say that some countries have expressed concern about the situation in Malaysia, in particular about the suspected violence against former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. As far as this particular point is concerned, we also know that Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia promised, on his side, to investigate the case and if the news reports prove to be true, appropriate measures shall be taken against the police officials concerned. Therefore, we hope now that through investigation of the Malaysian authorities concerned, facts will be made clear. Concerning the overall situation in Malaysia -- we would like to refrain from making detailed comments on the domestic affairs of Malaysia. However as you know, Japan, having close relations with Malaysia, expects that the domestic political situation will remain stable as Malaysia is in particular now making efforts to overcome the economic difficulties. We are now paying close attention to the situation.

   Q: Is Prime Minister Obuchi still going to the APEC meeting?

   Mr. Okada: As far as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting, we have recently received the formal information that the Ministerial Meeting will take place on 14 and 15 November and this Informal Summit Meeting takes place on 17 and 18 November. We understand that those Meetings will be held according to this schedule which the Malaysian side has informed us about.

   Related Information (Japan-Malaysia Relations)
   
4. Response to Japanese aid package for Asia

   Q: Regarding Finance Minister Miyazawa's trip to Washington, for the last few days there has been at least concern expressed in Washington over Japan's economy. He is going with a US$ 30 billion aid package, a huge amount of money. Is it unfair for Japan to come under so much criticism when it is digging into its pockets so deeply to try to help the rest of Asia?

   Mr. Okada: We have explained to the United States and the rest of the world that we have been aware of our responsibility for economic viability in Asia, especially as we are the largest economy in Asia. We have been making efforts to contribute to the recovery of the Asian economy, and as you know, in terms of money, we have already contributed US$ 43 billion to that end and the new Administration under Prime Minister Keizo Obuhci and his Cabinet of economic revitalization are tackling these very difficult economic issues. This revival of the Japanese economy itself also contributes, -- that is one of the key issues for the recovery of the Asian economy as a whole. Therefore, on the one hand, we are now making efforts to assist those Asian countries to revitalize their economies, and on the other hand, we are also making efforts to revitalize our own economy so that they can profit from our recovery. In that context, I am confident that we have been doing our best though we also have to recognize that the people inside and outside of Japan are quite well aware of this important position of Japan in the Asian and world economy and they want us to take things much more rapidly and in much less time. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet their expectations because of our internal policy-making procedures. Now we have very powerful opposition parties and therefore the procedures to reach agreement in the Diet take some time. Therefore we hope that those people outside Japan would understand what we are doing is in the right direction, but at the same time we understand that they are to some extent irritated about what we are doing. However we hope that they understand we are now making our best efforts.

5. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura to the Russian Federation

   Q: Can you give us any more information on the visit by Foreign Minister Koumura to Moscow such as the dates and schedule?

   Mr. Okada: At the last press conference, I explained that we are still coordinating with the Russian side so as to realize this visit of Foreign Minister Koumura in October. In fact, we are trying to realize that in the week starting 12 October, but the problem is how to coordinate with the Diet session. Therefore we have not been able to come to a final decision on what date. Anyhow, we are going to make that visit in October and we are quite sure that we can do it.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
6. Possible visit by President William Clinton of the United States to Japan

   Q: When is President Clinton going to visit Japan?

   Mr. Okada: We hear from the side of the United States that President William Clinton wants to visit Japan after the APEC Meeting. That is the basis for our consultation now and we are coordinating with the side of the United States about what date is appropriate and convenient for both sides.

   Q: Could you give us an indication when that date will be announced? Should we get a date nailed down by the end of today? We are hearing 21 to 22 November, unofficially.

   Mr. Okada: We know that these days are floating around now but we have not come to any definite conclusion.

   Q: When will you know?

   Mr. Okada: I do not know now. I know that the dates you just mentioned are floating around, but it is not yet decided.

   Q: President Clinton has put off his visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He chose to come to Japan and South Korea next month. Did Clinton himself ask to come to Japan or was it a Japanese suggestion?

   Mr. Okada: The wish was first expressed by the side of the United States. That is what we understand. They sounded us out and we are glad to accept.

   Related Information (Japan-U.S. Relations)
   
7. Possible visit by President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China to Japan

   Q: We hear that Jiang Zemin is also planning to come in November. Probably it will be after President Clinton's visit. Can you give us even tentative dates for the visit?

   Mr. Okada: We have been making efforts to realize this postponed visit within this year and this is also the wish shared by the Chinese side. The only problem is we have not been able to find convenient dates up to now. Some exchanges are still going on between the two countries but unfortunately we have not been able to reach convenient dates. That is what we are now doing. I cannot narrow it down. November is one possibility, but not yet.

   Q: Will the Clinton visit be a formal state visit or a working visit?

   Mr. Okada: I do not have information on that yet.

   Q: Will the Jiang Zemin visit be a formal state visit?

   Mr. Okada: Yes. When a head of state visits Japan in his status as head of state for the first, we can invite him as a state guest, but when he comes a second time within two or three years, that is not a state visit.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
8. Response of the Government of Japan to the sub-critical nuclear experiment conducted by the United States

   Q: Can you comment on the recent sub-critical nuclear test by the United States? Does Japan think that this test is contributing to nuclear disarmament? Does Japan support this test?

   Mr. Okada: Concerning the sub-critical experiment by the United States, we understand that the United States undertakes this sub-critical experiment to enhance security and reliability of stored nuclear weapons and to maintain a nuclear deterrent without making a nuclear test itself. It is also the international understanding that the sub-critical experiment is not a nuclear explosion banned by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Allow me to turn to the issue of the CTBT. Among the nuclear states; the United States, Russia and the People's Republic of China have not ratified the treaty yet. Therefore, Japan first of all calls on those countries to ratify the treaty at an early date. We think that we should consider, with the view to attaining a world with no nuclear weapons, how to handle sub-critical experiments within future nuclear arms-reduction efforts. Japan will consult on this issue with other countries.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)