Press Conference by the Press Secretary 10 December 1999

1. Announcement on the resumption of the Syrian Track negotiations
2. Announcement on emergency assistance for displaced persons in the northern Caucasus region in the Russian Federation
3. Questions relating to the visit to Japan of President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation and the situation in the Republic of Chechnya
4. Matters regarding the visit to the Republic of Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic of Chief Cabinet Councillor on External Affairs Seiichiro Noboru
5. Question relating to the possible pregnancy of Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako

1. Announcement on the resumption of the Syrian Track negotiations

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have two announcements to make. First, on the resumption of the negotiation on the Syrian Track. On the morning of 9 December, President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America announced at a press conference that high-level peace talks between the State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic would be held next week in Washington, D.C. Japan welcomes the resumption of the Syrian Track. The peace talks between Israel and Syria will be resumed after a suspension of three years and eleven months, since January 1996. The Government of Japan hopes that these difficult talks will make progress through the courageous decisions of the leaders of both countries. Japan expects that the progress of the Syrian Track, in addition to the Palestinian Track, will contribute to the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and Japan, on its part, will spare no effort to assist that process.

   If I may, I would like to add something on the Lebanese Track. Regarding the negotiations on the Lebanese Track, former Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura proposed the so-called 'Four Point' principles on Southern Lebanon in January this year. We would like to reiterate that the negotiations on the Lebanese Track should also be resumed as soon as possible to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

   I announced last week the visit to Japan of the Deputy Prime Minister David Levy, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, but Deputy Prime Minister Levy had to cancel his visit to Japan which was initially scheduled for 12-14 December. The reason is that Deputy Prime Minister Levy will accompany Prime Minister Ehud Barak of the State of Israel to Washington where Israel-Syrian negotiations will be resumed next week. We will consult with the Israeli side to rearrange the visit to Japan of Deputy Prime Minister Levy.

   Related Information (Japan-Syria Relations)
   
2. Announcement on emergency assistance for displaced persons in the northern Caucasus region in the Russian Federation

   Mr. Harada: My second announcement is on emergency assistance for displaced persons in the northern Caucasus region in the Russian Federation. On 10 December, the Government of Japan decided to extend an emergency grant aid of $US500,000 to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and another $US500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), totaling $US1 million, to relieve the plight of displaced persons in the northern Caucasus region of the Russian Federation, including those who escaped from the Republic of Chechnya to the Republic of Ingushetia. The assistance will be used for the provision of shelters, hygiene materials and daily necessities for displaced persons, through the UNHCR and the ICRC.

   In the northern Caucasus region in Russia, which includes Chechnya, the clash between Russian Federation troops and armed groups of Chechnya, which started this August, has given rise to about 240,000 displaced persons, and their conditions have been severely deteriorating because of insufficient winterization and the worsening sanitary situation. Under such circumstances, the ICRC Appeal and the United Nations Flash Appeal were issued requesting humanitarian assistance from the international community. The present assistance by the Government of Japan is intended to respond to these appeals.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
3. Questions relating to the visit to Japan of President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation and the situation in the Republic of Chechnya

   Q: President Yeltsin did not come to Japan, but went to China. How do you feel about it? Are you disappointed?

   Mr. Harada: Not at all. We know that President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation was planning to visit the People's Republic of China and Japan, in that order. President Yeltsin has now visited China which means that the environment for his visit to Japan has been further promoted. As you know, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin of Russia visited Japan to hold consultations with Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryozo Kato recently. During their consultations, the Russian side conveyed the intention of President Yeltsin to visit Japan next Spring. Both sides will make every effort to realize a successful visit of President Yeltsin to Japan.

   Q: Does Japan regard Chechnya as part of Russia? Do you think that Chechnya is an internal problem?

   Mr. Harada: We regard Chechnya as part of the Russian Federation. The situation in Chechnya is basically the internal affair of Russia. At the same time, I have to say that we are worried about the large number of victims and refugees caused by the situation in Chechnya, and that is one of the reasons, as I just announced, why we decided to extend emergency assistance. We do hope that the Government of Russia will take appropriate measures to settle the situation in Chechnya peacefully and politically.

   Q: Do you have some comment concerning the results of the meeting between President Yeltsin and President Jiang Zemin, especially regarding President Yeltsin's comment to President Clinton about the situation in Chechnya?

   Mr. Harada: Firstly, I have not received a detailed read-out of the meetings between President Yeltsin and President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China, so I cannot make a concrete comment on what is going on in Beijing. I can only say that the stable relationship between Russia and China will contribute to the stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

   Concerning President Yeltsin's remarks on Chechnya, I do not know exactly in what context he made those remarks, so I had better refrain from making comments on what he said. I also read a news piece from Moscow that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia emphasized that bilateral relations between Russia and the United States are in good shape and that they are not cooling off. I would like to receive more information on what the Government of Russia thinks before I make any concrete comment.

   Q: Back to the visit of President Yeltsin to Japan. It seems from the news reports that this visit is so important and I do not recall any visit having such coverage before it actually happened. In case this visit happens, what exactly do you expect? Do you think that the islands will be returned to Japan just when President Yeltsin visits? Why do you think that this visit is so important that there is a lot of reporting about it?

   Mr. Harada: We attach importance to President Yeltsin's visit to Japan. Both sides are now making every effort to bring about a good result of this visit. Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Yeltsin agreed to make efforts to conclude a peace treaty by 2000. Needless to say, one of the most important items on the agenda is the issue of the peace treaty. At the same time, besides the peace treaty, if President Yeltsin visits Japan, the leaders of both countries will exchange views on further development of the bilateral relationship in various areas. President Yeltsin's visit will provide significant political impetus and momentum for promoting our bilateral relations.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
4. Matters regarding the visit to the Republic of Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic of Chief Cabinet Councillor on External Affairs Seiichiro Noboru

   Q: I heard in the news that Councillor Noboru visited Syria and Lebanon last week. Do you have any news about this visit, particularly regarding the extradition of Japanese Red Army members?

   Mr. Harada: Chief Cabinet Councillor on External Affairs Seiichiro Noboru, as the special envoy of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, visited the Republic of Lebanon and Syria from 3-5 December. He met President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Salim El-Hoss and others in Lebanon, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Farouq Al-Shara and others in Syria. He had a broad exchange of views on issues of bilateral relations and Middle East peace.

   Regarding the extradition of members of the Japanese Red Army, during the meeting, Councillor Noboru requested that the Government of Lebanon extradite five members of the Japanese Red Army imprisoned in Lebanon, after their term of imprisonment has been completed. This is not the first time that we have made such a request. We have been requesting the extradition since February 1997 when these Red Army members were taken into custody in Lebanon. In Syria, Councillor Noburu explained our position on this issue based upon his meetings with the Government of Lebanon. That is what I can share with you on the extradition issue.

   Q: Did Japan offer some assistance to Lebanon during this visit.

   Mr. Harada: I do not have detailed information on their discussion on bilateral relations. He could have touched upon our basic position on assistance to Lebanon, but I do not think that he made a new pledge of assistance.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
5. Question relating to the possible pregnancy of Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako

   Q: Can you give any comment on the possible pregnancy of Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako?

   Mr. Harada: According to the Imperial Household Agency, we have not come to the stage where we can confirm the pregnancy of Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Masako. We would be delighted if it is true, but at this moment we cannot confirm that.