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Press Conference by the Press Secretary 23 July, 1999

1. Attendance of Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC)
2. Visit of Foreign Minister Koumura to the Republic of Indonesia
3. Letter from Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China
4. Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and possibility of a visit by Foreign Minister Koumura
5. Position of Government of Japan in regard to the response of China toward the Falun Gong organization
6. Significance of the Tokyo Forum on Nuclear Disarmament
7. Content of meeting between Foreign Minister Koumura and Commissioner-General Peter Hansen of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
8. Japan's position on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

1. Attendance of Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC)

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I would like to make three announcements at the beginning. Firstly, on Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura's attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on 25-26 July and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) on the 27-28 July. We consider that the ARF and the ASEAN PMC are important meetings to discuss creating an environment of security and prosperity, and also strengthening regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. I am sure that Foreign Minister Koumura will make an active presentation to lead the meetings. As far as the ARF is concerned, we would like to discuss important regional security issues, including those related to North Korea. Foreign Minister Koumura will appeal to promote the role to be played by the ARF for regional peace and stability. As to the ASEAN PMC, given the brighter symptoms of the Asian economy, we would like to appeal to further strengthen the cooperation between ASEAN and its interlocutor countries and to see a positive message for recovering a "vigorous Asia" come out as a result of the conference.

   Related Information (Japan-ASEAN Relations)
   
2. Visit of Foreign Minister Koumura to the Republic of Indonesia

   My second announcement is on Foreign Minister Koumura's visit to the Republic of Indonesia from 28-30 July. We believe it is very opportune for Foreign Minister Koumura to visit Indonesia at a time when the result of the election is becoming definite. He will exchange views with the leaders of the Habibie Government, and also with the leader of the Democratic Party for Struggle, the party which is likely to become the first party as a result of the recent election. They will discuss various issues, including those related to East Timor.

   Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
   
3. Letter from Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China

   My third announcement is on Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's letter to President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America, President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation and President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China. Prime Minister Obuchi has recently sent letters to those leaders. The letter appeals to those leaders to promote the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The CTBT Article 14 Conference, whose aim is to promote the ratification of the CTBT, is to be held in Vienna in October this year. We believe it is important to increase the number of contracting parties of the CTBT as much as possible by the time of the Conference. To this end, Prime Minister Obuchi sent the letters to the leaders of nuclear weapons' states which have not ratified this Treaty. President Clinton and President Jiang Zemin have expressed their firm intention to realize the ratification of the CTBT, and the Government of Japan strongly hopes that this will be achieved by the time of the Article 14 Conference in October.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)
   
4. Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and possibility of a visit by Foreign Minister Koumura

   Q: What is the Japanese Government's comment on the current situation in Iran? According to media reports, Foreign Minister Koumura is going to visit Iran next month. Can you confirm this visit?

   Mr. Harada: We have been closely monitoring the Islamic Republic of Iran situation. At the present moment we are relieved to observe that the situation is showing signs of settling down. We do hope a similar situation will not reoccur and we will continue to monitor how the situation will develop. On Foreign Minister Koumura's visit to Iran, I believe you know that when Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi of the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Japan at the end of last year, both Foreign Ministers agreed to realize a visit by Foreign Minister Koumura to Iran this year. Now we are consulting and coordinating with our Iranian colleagues about this visit. We are aiming to have the visit during the summer, but we have not yet decided the concrete timing.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
5. Position of Government of Japan in regard to the response of China toward the Falun Gong organization

   Q: Do you have any comment on the Chinese Government's response to the Falun Gong organization?

   Mr. Harada: Basically, we are not in a position to make comments on the response of the Government of China to this Falun Gong group since we do not know the details of the concrete objectives or activities of the Group. On the other hand, through diplomatic channels, we received notification from the Government of China that they will continue to secure the human rights, including freedom of religion, and also to admit generally Qigong meditation and other health care. We take note of this notification, and will continue to observe the Government of China's response to and handling of this issue.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
6. Significance of the Tokyo Forum on Nuclear Disarmament

   Q: We all know that the current big nuclear powers are the most responsible nations and they know what they are required to do. In view of that, what useful purposes does the Tokyo Forum on Nuclear Disarmament serve?

   Mr. Harada: I understand that in response to the nuclear testing conducted by the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in May last year, the Tokyo Forum has held discussions designed to maintain and strengthen non-proliferation systems, including those in South Asia, to study ways of further promoting global nuclear disarmament and produce concrete recommendations to that end. At this Forum, the report, including recommendations concerning the future course of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, is expected to be formulated. We hope that the Tokyo Forum will come up with a meaningful report which includes recommendations.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)
   
7. Content of meeting between Foreign Minister Koumura and Commissioner-General Peter Hansen of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)

   Q: I have heard reports that Mr. Koumura met yesterday with Commissioner-General Hansen, who is reportedly visiting Japan. What kind of visit is it and how long is it going to last?

   Mr. Harada: I do not have his concrete schedule, but I do know that Commissioner-General Peter Hansen of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) met Foreign Minister Koumura yesterday. I will give you just the essence of the meeting. Judging from the report, Mr. Hansen's main purpose for the meeting with Foreign Minister Koumura was to express sincere appreciation for Japan's assistance to the Palestinians, and also to ask the Government of Japan to continue that assistance. He also emphasized that without a solution to the refugee issue there will no solution to the Palestinian issue. Foreign Minister Koumura responded that the Palestinian issue is a global issue, so the Government of Japan will continue to make efforts for a solution to Palestinian refugees and the political issues. On Japanese assistance to the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Koumura asked Mr. Hansen to engage in public relations activities to obtain understanding about the usefulness of the Japanese assistance to the Palestinians. Mr. Hansen responded positively and said that they would make efforts to engage public relations on Japanese assistance to the Palestinians.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
8. Japan's position on accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

   Q: I read in some reports that the Japan has expressed its acceptance of Saudi Arabia to accede to the WTO. Is this the final Japanese Government position toward the accession?

   Mr. Harada: Our position is that we support the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

   Q: Without any reservations?

   Mr. Harada: As a matter of fact, we have to go through the procedure required by the WTO, such as bilateral negotiations, which we have just finished with China. Except that sort of required procedure, we do not pose any conditions or reservations. Since this is the last press conference before the summer break, I would like to wish you all a nice summer vacation, and will see you in September.

   Related Information (Japan-Saudi Arabia Relations)