Press Conference by the Press Secretary 14 May, 1999

Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic from 16 to 18 May
On the coming into effect of the Final Agreement concerning the border issue between the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador
Dispatch of a mission from the Government of Japan to East Timor and Jakarta from 14 to 22 May
United States forces in the Far East
Reported contacts between the Government of Japan and North Korea
Arrival of Kosovar family in Japan
Possible visit by a high-level Japanese Government official to the Middle East

Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic from 16 to 18 May
Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Good afternoon. Today, first I would like to make a couple of announcements. The first one is related to the visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic to Japan. Foreign Minister Kavan, accompanied by a suite, will visit Japan from 16 to 18 May as a guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This will be the first visit to Japan by a foreign minister of the Czech Republic since it became an independent state in 1993. During his stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Kavan will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura to exchange views on Japan-Czech bilateral relations and the international situation. Foreign Minister Kavan will also meet with leading figures of government and business circles and attend the opening ceremony of the Honorary Consulate in Kobe. The Czech Republic achieved accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in March this year and is now one of the most promising candidates for joining the European Union (EU). Japan has decided to invite Foreign Minister Kavan as a guest of the Foreign Minister with a view to promoting relations with the Czech Republic. If I can make a small comment to this statement. A meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Czech Republic took place when then-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda visited the Czech Republic. We think this is a continuation of that high-level contact between both countries. We also think that this is a very good occasion to develop our bilateral economic relations. There is lots of potential for us to develop our bilateral economic relations. As I just announced, there will be meetings with Japanese business circles, such as Keidanren and the Japan-Czech Republic Economic Committee. Also, this opening of the Honorary Consulate in Kobe is very meaningful for the promotion of exchange at the local level between the two countries. We also foresee the exchange of views on the Kosovo crisis because that topic is also a matter of mutual interest to both countries.
Related Information (Japan-Czech Republic Relations)
On the coming into effect of the Final Agreement concerning the border issue between the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador
Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: The next statement relates to the border settlement between the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador. The Government of Japan heartily welcomes the coming into effect on 13 May of the final agreement concerning the border issue between Peru and Ecuador. The final agreement reached in October last year concerning a peaceful resolution of the border issue stipulated that the two countries must finish activities actually to delineate the border before the agreement could come into effect. As the demarcation has been completed, this epoch-making agreement has now come into effect. Japan has given full support to the peaceful resolution of this issue in light of the peace and development of the two countries and of the peace and stability of the whole of Latin America, and expects that peace and stability in the border area will be maintained on the basis of this final agreement. From such a viewpoint, Japan recently decided to donate US$610,000 through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for demining operations in the border region. Japan expects that this assistance will contribute to the permanent settlement of the border issue and to the development of peaceful relations between Peru and Ecuador.
Related Information (Japan-Latin America and the Caribbean Relations)
Dispatch of a mission from the Government of Japan to East Timor and Jakarta from 14 to 22 May
Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: My last topic relates to the dispatch of the Japanese mission to East Timor. The Government of Japan is dispatching a mission to East Timor and Jakarta from today, Friday, 14 May to Saturday, May 22. This mission will be headed by Deputy Director-General Sumio Tarui of the Asian Affairs Bureau. More than ten officials from the Prime Minister's Office, National Police Agency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will participate in the mission. The mission will collect basic information necessary for the Government's consideration of Japan's cooperation to such efforts as the preparations by the United Nations for the direct ballot scheduled on 8 August under the Agreement signed on 5 May, and exchange views with the parties concerned.
Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
United States forces in the Far East
Q: There was a statement by a US defense official, probably Mr. Cohen, that the United States might increase its forces in the Far East because one of its carriers is dispatched to the area of Yugoslavia. Do have any confirmation on this?

Mr. Okada: I have not been given any information concerning this. It is a rather good question to be addressed to the American side.
Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
Reported contacts between the Government of Japan and North Korea
Q: Can you confirm the newspaper article this morning that Mr. Yasushiro, the Director of the Asian Division of the Foreign Ministry has met a high-level official of North Korea in Singapore last month to discuss preparation for Mr. Murayama's visit to North Korea this month? According to the article, the two parties discussed a way of how to arrange a meeting between the visiting Japanese parliamentarians and North Korean leader Kim-Jong Il during their visit. Food aid was apparently discussed during the meeting. Can you confirm these reports from this morning's newspaper, the Tokyo Shimbun?

Mr. Okada: I am aware of the press report by the Tokyo Shimbun. Yesterday there was also another report concerning the contact between a high-level official of Japan and North Korea. However, I should say that this is total speculation. As we have been explaining to you, we have been trying to have some sorts of contacts with North Korea, so-called very informal underwater contacts, but concerning their particularity or the individual contacts themselves, we are not in a position to mention them.

Q: So informal underwater contacts continue, but you cannot say that high-level contacts are...

Mr. Okada: We find it inappropriate to tell about the individual contacts. We just say we are continuing these kinds of informal contacts.
Related Information (Japan-Asia Relations)
Arrival of Kosovar family in Japan
Q: I heard that a family came to Japan from Kosovo. They called them refugees but in the same information they said that they came on a visit visa not a refugee visa. Do you expect to give them a refugee visa in the near future?

Mr. Okada: As far as we understand, the five refugees from the Kosovo area entered Japan the day before yesterday, 12 May. I understand that they were permitted to enter Japan under the assumption that they are meeting their relatives who already live in Japan. We have not received any application from those persons for political asylum in Japan. If they submit that application to us, we are going to examine the application.
Possible visit by a high-level Japanese Government official to the Middle East
Q: I heard some reports that perhaps the Japanese Foreign Minister or Prime Minister or other high-ranking official might visit the Middle East soon. Do you have any information about this?

Mr. Okada: I cannot confirm it. I have not heard anything concerning this matter.
Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)

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