Press Conference by the Press Secretary 21 March 2000

1. Japan's position with respect to the election results in Taiwan
2. Comment on the announcement made by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America on the United States-Islamic Republic of Iran relationship
3. Meeting to take place between President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and President Hafez Al-Assad of the Syrian Arab Republic
4. Further issues pertaining to the recent election results in Taiwan
5. Possibility of a visit to Japan by President Sayed Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran
6. Japan's position on the return of four Japanese Red Army members to Japan from the Republic of Lebanon

1. Japan's position with respect to the election results in Taiwan

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have received a request from our Chinese friends that I make announcements both in Japanese and English, so if you do not have any objections, I would like to do so.

   I have three comments to start with. First, on the results of the election in Taiwan. In last week's election held in Taiwan, Mr. Chen Shui-bian was elected as the new leader. Japan hopes that under such new circumstances, issues relating to Taiwan will be settled peacefully through direct dialogue between the parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and that this dialogue will be promptly resumed. Japan, based on the Joint Communiqué of the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of China of 1972, will maintain its exchange of a private and regional nature with Taiwan as nongovernmental working relations, while at the same time furthering stable and cooperative relations with China.

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2. Comment on the announcement made by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America on the United States-Islamic Republic of Iran relationship

   Mr. Harada: My second comment is on the announcement of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America on the United States-Islamic Republic of Iran relationship. Japan has been supporting the reform policy conducted by the Khatami Government of Iran. On 17 March, State Secretary Albright made a speech at the American-Iran Council and announced concrete measures, including a partial removal of the embargo on the importation of Iranian goods to the United States, responding to the positive movements in Iran. Japan welcomes this US decision and hopes that these measures will lead to further concrete steps toward dialogue for the improvement of the relationship between the United States and Iran.

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3. Meeting to take place between President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and President Hafez Al-Assad of the Syrian Arab Republic

   Mr. Harada: My third comment is on the Syrian track of the Middle East peace process. On 20 March, President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America announced that after his visit to Southwest Asia, he would meet President Hafez Al-Assad of the Syrian Arab Republic in the Swiss Confederation. The Government of Japan welcomes this US-Syria summit meeting and also highly appreciates the efforts of mediation by the United States for the resumption of the Syrian track. We strongly hope that the US-Syria summit meeting will further strengthen the momentum to proceed the Syrian track toward the realization of comprehensive peace. The Government of Japan will continue its support for the peace process in order to realize comprehensive Middle East peace.

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4. Further issues pertaining to the recent election results in Taiwan

   Q: There is information that Taiwan wants to invite a former Prime Minister of Japan to the inauguration ceremony of the new President of Taiwan on 20 May. What will be the possibility of a response to this invitation?

   Mr. Harada: I know that there is an inauguration ceremony on 20 May, but I have not heard of any invitation from Taiwan to this inauguration ceremony. I have already mentioned our basic position on Taiwan, that is that we maintain nongovernmental working relations with Taiwan. Whenever we deal with any issue relating to Taiwan, we will consider it based upon this basic position.

   Q: So Japan has no intention to change this basic policy for Taiwan?

   Mr. Harada: We will maintain our basic position on Taiwan.

   Q: Even if the situation escalates somehow because of China's attitude?

   Mr. Harada: As I said, we will not change our basic position on Taiwan. Our position is that the issue relating to Taiwan should be settled peacefully through direct dialogue between both parties on the sides of the Taiwan Strait. We hope that this dialogue will be promptly resumed.

   Q: Mr. Chen seems to have the intention to visit the United States and Japan before assuming the post of so-called "President" of Taiwan. What would be the reaction to Mr. Chen's visit to Japan as a private individual?

   Mr. Harada: I have not heard such a plan, so I would like to refrain from making a comment on a hypothetical basis.

   Q: What is your assessment of the effect of the election results considering that Mr. Chen was elected as President? Will that improve the relationship between the parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait?

   Mr. Harada: As Mr. Chen is going to assume his post on 20 May, we would like to first watch closely what concrete policies Mr. Chen will take. We hope that the relationship between the parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will improve, and I reiterate that we strongly hope that the dialogue between the parties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be promptly resumed.

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5. Possibility of a visit to Japan by President Sayed Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Q: Concerning Iran, do you have any concrete measures that will be taken by Japan in the short term regarding relations with Iran?

   Mr. Harada: As you are aware, we invited President Sayed Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Japan, and this was accepted by the Iranian side. We would like to realize this visit by the end of this year. We have not yet come to an agreement on the concrete timing of his visit, but we would like to continue to consult with the Iranian side to come to an agreement. Once President Khatami visits Japan, that will produce very positive impetus for our bilateral relationship in various areas.

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6. Japan's position on the return of four Japanese Red Army members to Japan from the Republic of Lebanon

   Q: I understand that four Japanese Red Army members have arrived in Narita. What is the Japanese Government's comment on this?

   Mr. Harada: It is extremely meaningful to realize the return and arrest of four out of five members of the Japanese Red Army detained in the Republic of Lebanon and to try them in Japan's judicial system. On the other hand, it is regrettable that Kozo Okamoto was granted political asylum, and the Government of Japan will continue to make efforts to realize his extradition. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote international cooperation to prevent terrorism, together with police and judicial authorities.

   Q: So the Lebanese Government agreed to the Japanese request to send the four members back to Japan?

   Mr. Harada: As you know, they refused to extradite them to Japan. It was their decision to exile four of the five out of Lebanon.

   Q: And what happened to them?

   Mr. Harada: I would like to refrain from making concrete comments on the details of the process.

   Q: Do you think that Japan-Lebanon relations have been or will be affected by the development of this issue?

   Mr. Harada: We regret that the Government of Lebanon granted Kozo Okamoto political asylum, and we will continue to make efforts to realize his extradition. It is a bit premature to talk about the concrete effect of this event. However, I would say that in principle we would like to maintain the bilateral relationship with Lebanon.

   Q: I understand that when Mr. Okamoto was a prisoner in Israel, Japan did not request his extradition. Why did you request the Lebanese Government and not the Israeli Government?

   Mr. Harada: I am sorry, but I do not know whether the first part of your question is correct or not. Without that knowledge, I may mislead you, so I cannot answer your question.

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