Press Conference 2 March 2001

1. Seminar on Education and Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europe
2. Announcement on the situation in the Republic of Fiji
3. Questions on the travel advisory status of Fiji
4. Question on recent comments by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono about the use of Sagami Bay
5. Question on the approval of school history textbooks

1. Seminar on Education and Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europe

   Assistant Press Secretary Daisuke Matsunaga: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my press conference. I would like to distribute a press release on the Seminar on Education and Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europeand give you the key points of that press release.

   The Seminar on Education and Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europe, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the cooperation of the National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA), will be held on 22 and 23 March in Tokyo at the United Nations University.

   The participants at the seminar will comprise people from or involved in South Eastern Europe, experts from Japan and abroad, from the G8 countries, and organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Council of Europe.

   At the forthcoming seminar, which is a follow-up to the High Level Conference on South Eastern Europe held in Tokyo last May, the participants will seek measures to achieve "harmony among ethnic groups" through education and the protection of cultural heritage in the South Eastern European region, the importance of which was confirmed at the previous conference as well as at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.

   This year marks the beginning of a "Decade of Japan-Europe Cooperation," advocated by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, and the seminar is being held as one of the concrete measures for this cooperation. The seminar is also part of the Initiatives for Dialogue among Civilizations advocated recently by Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono.

   Related Information (World Heritage)
   
2. Announcement on the situation in the Republic of Fiji

   Mr. Matsunaga: I have one more announcement to make today, on the situation in the Republic of Fiji.

   On 1 March, the Fijian Court of Appeal ruled that Fiji's 1997 constitution has not been abolished and that the interim government cannot be considered legitimate. Japan strongly hopes that the ruling will lead to a normalization of the situation in Fiji and the early democratization of the country through dialogue and cooperation among various levels of the Fijian people. Japan will continue to watch the situation in Fiji closely.

   Related Information (Japan-Fiji Relations)
   
3. Questions on the travel advisory status of Fiji

   Q: As far as Fiji is concerned, there is a strong travel advisory rating, maybe it is category two, so travel agencies cannot make any tours at the moment. Will this continue, or will the rating be withdrawn?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The travel advisory is still valid.

   Q: What is the category number, from number one to number five?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The travel advisory rating for Suva, the capital, and its surrounding vicinity is category two. The rating for Fiji as a whole is category one.

   Related Information (Japan-Fiji Relations)
   
4. Question on recent comments by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono about the use of Sagami Bay

   Q: Yesterday, during the Diet budget committee meeting, Foreign Minister Kono questioned the effectiveness of the US military using Sagami Bay for submarine facilities and training. I was wondering if the Foreign Ministry was planning to take any action or make any moves toward the US military regarding this matter?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I am not aware of the parliamentary queries on that question. I have nothing to give you on that.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
5. Question on the approval of school history textbooks

   Q: What is the latest situation surrounding the textbook issue? As you know, the Chinese and Korean governments are worried about this.

   Mr. Matsunaga: We are aware that both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea have been expressing interest and concern about the textbook issue. At this moment, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is working on the authorization process and, in response to the expressions of concern and interest from the Chinese and Korean authorities, we are informing these two countries that the process will be conducted in an appropriate and proper manner.

   Japan firmly believes that mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation should be further promoted with China, the Republic of Korea, and other neighboring countries. And it is from this perspective also that we have to explain our position in an appropriate manner with respect to the interests and concerns.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)