Press Conference 23 March 2001

1. Announcement of assistance in kind to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for afflicted persons in the Islamic State of Afghanistan
2. Announcement of emergency aid for internally afflicted persons in the Republic of Tajikistan
3. Announcement of emergency aid for internally displaced persons in the Maluku region of the Republic of Indonesia
4. Question on the World Trade Organization (WTO) preparatory talks on the launching of the new trade round
5. Questions on the upcoming summit meeting between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation
6. Questions concerning the launching of talks with the Taliban and related issues regarding Afghanistan

1. Announcement of assistance in kind to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for afflicted persons in the Islamic State of Afghanistan

   Assistant Press Secretary Daisuke Matsunaga: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the press conference. I have three announcements to make, all on Japanese humanitarian assistance.

   In response to a request made by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has been conducting humanitarian assistance in the western part of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, the Government of Japan, on 23 March, today, decided to provide the IOM with assistance in kind comprising 160 tents, 1,200 blankets, and 1,600 plastic sheets, in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law, with a view to mitigating the humanitarian plight of the afflicted persons in Afghanistan.

   The details can be found in the related press release, which you can collect after the press conference.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
2. Announcement of emergency aid for internally afflicted persons in the Republic of Tajikistan

   Mr. Matsunaga: On 23 March, today, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant assistance of US$3.02 million to mitigate the plight of internally afflicted people in the Republic of Tajikistan, who have sustained losses from the past civil war and drought, which has been continuing since last year.

   You can collect the press release on this emergency assistance after the press conference.

   Related Information (Japan-Tajikistan Relations)
   
3. Announcement of emergency aid for internally displaced persons in the Maluku region of the Republic of Indonesia

   Mr. Matsunaga: On 23 March, today, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant assistance totaling US$1 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other international organizations to mitigate the plight of internally displaced persons of the Maluku region of the Republic of Indonesia. The amount of assistance to each organization is as follows: US$600,000 to UNICEF, US$180,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), US$110,000 to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and US$110,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO).

   For this announcement, the press release has not yet been translated. Perhaps later on sometime today, it will be available for you to collect.

   Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
   
4. Question on the World Trade Organization (WTO) preparatory talks on the launching of the new trade round

   Q: Do you have any information about the schedule for the informal preparatory meeting for the launching of the new WTO round?

   Mr. Matsunaga: In the suburbs of Geneva, the informal meeting on the launching of the new WTO round will be cohosted by Japan and the European Union (EU), and will be held on Tuesday, 27 March.

   This informal meeting will be attended by major developing countries expected to play major roles in the launching of the new round. The meeting will be held at the vice-ministerial level. From Japan, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshiji Nogami will attend the meeting as cochairman. At this meeting, the attendants will have frank exchanges of views on various issues concerning the launching of the new round. The meeting is expected to contribute to laying the foundations of coordination to be made hereafter.

   Related Information (WTO)
   
5. Questions on the upcoming summit meeting between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation

   Q: What does Mr. Mori expect to bring from the summit talks with Mr. Putin?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The talks are expected to lay the foundations for peace treaty negotiations in the future. The two leaders will exchange views candidly on overall progress and how to move bilateral relations forward in general.

   Since this will be their fifth meeting, it is expected that their talks will constitute a candid, frank exchange of views based upon their personal relationships.

   Q: Regarding the Mori-Putin summit, I understand the peace treaty will be the main issue, but other than that, what do you expect them to talk about?

   Mr. Matsunaga: In addition to the peace treaty issue, they are expected to discuss bilateral coordination in the international arena, as well as cooperation in economic fields. Economic cooperation is expected to be taken up.

   Q: Does this economic cooperation include energy issues, specifically, Sakhalin pipelines and exploration by Japanese companies?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I have no more detail than that, but can refer you to the Russia section.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
6. Questions concerning the launching of talks with the Taliban and related issues regarding Afghanistan

   Q: There is a report saying that Japan plans to launch peace talks with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. Do you have more information about this?

   Mr. Matsunaga: We are now at the stage of studying the holding of such a meeting as part of our policy toward Afghanistan.

   We would like to take into account the situation surrounding Afghanistan as regards whether to hold such a meeting, when to hold such a meeting, and whom we are going to contact. Japan will study this along with other contributing factors, and take into account the situation surrounding Afghanistan in considering those factors.

   Since the Soviet invasion into Afghanistan in 1979, hostilities have continued, land has been ravished, and the number of refugees has been increasing. We are gravely concerned about the situation in Afghanistan.

   Japan recognizes that the only means to obtain lasting peace is for the warring factions to agree to an unconditional ceasefire and resume direct dialogue with one another, and that foreign intervention should be terminated. We believe that the only means to achieve peace in the country is to establish a broad-based government, which enjoys support at various levels from the people of Afghanistan.

   From a neutral position and as a nation in Asia, Japan has been extending its assistance and cooperation through such international organizations as the United Nations. We have been extending our assistance and cooperation for peace efforts and expressing our desire and willingness to host a peace dialogue in Tokyo in cooperation with the countries and organizations concerned if there is a move toward serious dialogue from factions in the Afghan dispute. This was expressed sometime ago and is not the first time Japan has expressed such a desire. Certainly, this idea is being considered as one possible concept to pursue.

   Q: There are three countries that have relations with Afghanistan, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Are you contacting these countries to achieve the goals you just mentioned, and if so, when did you contact them?

   Mr. Matsunaga: As I said earlier, whom we contact will be taken into consideration in the context of the situation surrounding Afghanistan. We will watch the situation in Afghanistan closely in considering whether to hold such a meeting at all, when to hold it, and whom to contact.

   Q: According to some media reports, Osama Bin Ladin is staying in Afghanistan, and the United States is pressuring Afghanistan to hand him over. What is Japan's position on this issue, and is it related to the general situation and Japan's policy toward Afghanistan?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I have nothing particular on that specific question. But of course, we are against international terrorism.

   Q: Do you have any proof that he is involved in international terrorism?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I have no comment to make on that issue.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)