Top > Announcement > Press Conference by The Press Secretary of MOFA > 25 January 2002

Press Conference 25 January 2002

  1. Emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo
  2. Emergency aid for flood disaster in the Republic of Senegal
  3. Emergency assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan for drought disaster relief
  4. Emergency aid to the Republic of Uzbekistan for drought disaster relief
  5. Update on diplomatic activities in Afghanistan
  6. Question with regard to reports of a visit to Japan by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of the State of Israel
  7. Question concerning aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  8. Question concerning an office of the Afghan Interim Authority in Tokyo
  9. Question concerning the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
  1. Emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have several announcements to make today.

    My first announcement concerns emergency assistance to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the wake of the recent volcano eruption there.

    On January 25, the Government of Japan decided to extend to the Democratic Republic of Congo a total of approximately 43.4 million yen in aid comprising US$200,000 in grant assistance and emergency assistance equipment valued at approximately 22 million yen, including blankets, tents, water containers, and tarpaulins.

    The Government of Japan, taking into account the seriousness of the disaster and its friendship with the Democratic Republic of Congo, decided to provide the emergency assistance in a humanitarian spirit.

    Related Information (Japan-the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations)
  2. Emergency aid for flood disaster in the Republic of Senegal

    Mr. Hisaeda: The second announcement is on emergency aid for flood disaster in the Republic of Senegal. On January 24, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency aid in kind, comprising tents, blankets, and sleeping mats, worth approximately 15 million yen, to the Government of the Republic of Senegal, which has sustained great damage from flooding.

    The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency aid from a humanitarian standpoint, in view of the seriousness of the disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Senegal.

    Related Information (Japan-Senegal Relations)
  3. Emergency assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan for drought disaster relief

    Mr. Hisaeda: My third announcement is in regard to emergency assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan for drought disaster relief.

    On January 25, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance equivalent to 50 million yen to the Republic of Tajikistan to support its measures to cope with the drought it has been suffering.

    The Government of Japan has decided to extend the assistance as part of its humanitarian, economic, and other necessary assistance to neighboring and affected countries. This assistance is one of the measures announced by Japan on September 19, 2001 in response to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America. This assistance was announced on the occasion of the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan.

    Related Information (Japan-Tajikistan Relations)
  4. Emergency aid to the Republic of Uzbekistan for drought disaster relief

    Mr. Hisaeda: The fourth announcement today is on emergency aid to Uzbekistan for drought disaster relief.

    The Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance equivalent to 50 million yen to the Republic of Uzbekistan to assist its measures to cope with the drought it has been suffering.

    As was the case with the assistance to Tajikistan for drought disaster relief, the Government of Japan decided to extend this emergency aid to Uzbekistan as part of the package of measures announced on September 19, 2001 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. This emergency aid was also announced on the occasion of the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan.

    Related Information (Japan-Uzbekistan Relations)
  5. Update on diplomatic activities in Afghanistan

    Mr. Hisaeda: Finally, I would like to update you on our diplomatic activities in Afghanistan. On January 3, we opened a Liaison Office in Kabul. We have stationed two officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on a rotation basis, in Kabul. Furthermore, we have appointed Mr. Kinichi Komano as Charge d'Affaires ad interim in Afghanistan. Mr. Komano had been appointed as the Counsellor in the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, as well as the Counsellor in the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan. As there is only a Liaison Office in Kabul, after having completed all the necessary procedures, including the notification to the Afghanistan Interim Authority about the appointment of the Charge d'Affaires ad interim, we would like to open the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan as soon as possible.

    Mr. Komano is now in Tokyo, but he will very soon be going to Islamabad, where he will be based, traveling to Kabul as required, until such time as circumstances allow him to stay in Kabul. After Mr. Komano assumes his post as Charge d'Affaires ad interim in Afghanistan, we hope that preparations for the reopening of the Embassy proceed swiftly.

    Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
  6. Question with regard to reports of a visit to Japan by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of the State of Israel

    Q: For a few weeks we have been reading in Japanese newspapers that there is an invitation for Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel, to come to Japan--that Prime Minister Koizumi has invited him to visit Japan. I have also read in recent days that there is no invitation. I would like to know whether or not there is an invitation for him to come to Japan.

    Mr. Hisaeda: The Government of Japan has been talking to the Government of the State of Israel, as well as Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority, on many occasions, including telephone communication by the Foreign Minister or Prime Minister, urging self-restraint by both sides. However, I have to check as to whether a formal invitation has been extended to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel.

    Related Information (Japan-Israel Relations)
  7. Question concerning aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

    Q: I would like to know if Japan is concerned about the developments on the India-Pakistan border. Japan is giving liberal aid to Pakistan for participating in the international coalition against terrorism. What is Japan doing to ensure that part of this aid is not diverted against India?

    Mr. Hisaeda: First of all, the Government of Japan tries to take every opportunity to express its concern over the situation between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and urges both sides not to aggravate the situation. For instance, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi telephoned Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India on January 16, and he also talked to President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan on the same topic, and so on. We are very much concerned about the situation there. At the same time, we appreciate the fact that President Musharraf, in his speech, demonstrated his firm position against terrorism and that he would not allow any terrorism under the name of Kashmir. "We sincerely hope that these words will be followed by official action."

    Japan strongly hopes that both countries will commence dialogue and, moreover, that the tension between the two countries is eased, and all the issues will be resolved peacefully.

    As for the economic cooperation you mentioned, our policy is that any economic assistance and cooperation extended by Japan should be used for peaceful purposes.

    Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
  8. Question concerning an office of the Afghan Interim Authority in Tokyo

    Q: Thank you for the information regarding the Liaison Office in Afghanistan. At the same time, will Afghanistan have a representative office in Tokyo? We had a diplomatic office of Afghanistan under the Taliban Government, but at the moment there is no Afghan Embassy in Tokyo. Do you have any news about this, and how are Japanese to apply for visas?

    Mr. Hisaeda: I do not have the information here, but I will check on your behalf.

    Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
  9. Question concerning the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan

    Q: Has there been any agreement on the role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan? Will it stay beyond six months, the stipulated period? Has there been any agreement on that?

    Mr. Hisaeda: Yes. I understand that the United Nations Security Council discussed the matter and agreed upon the International Security Assistance Force to be established by resolution 1386, by consensus. According to the resolution, the International Security Assistance Force to be established will be deployed in Kabul and its surrounding area and support the Interim Authority of Afghanistan. The term will be, as you correctly stated, six months.

    Q: Was there any agreement at the recent meeting? Because I believe that people in Afghanistan are saying that Professor Rabbani openly stated that ISAF will not be accepted by the Afghan people for beyond six months.

    Mr. Hisaeda: I do not have any information about what happened after the resolution. I will have to check.

    Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
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