• Register Email Updates

• Advanced Search
• Help

Press Conference 8 October 2002

1. Statement on possible missile testing by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
2. Statement on the Israeli incursion into the Gaza area
3. Emergency medical aid to counter the meningitis epidemic in the Republic of Rwanda
4. Statement on the situation in the Kingdom of Nepal
5. Questions concerning normalization talks with North Korea
6. Follow-up question on the situation in the Middle East
7. Question concerning Japan's position on United Nations resolutions on Iraq
8. Follow-up questions regarding the situation in Nepal
9. Question in relation to reports on the abduction cases
10. Question on the response to the tanker fire off the coast of the Republic of Yemen
11. Questions on the Questions on the Kaigai Koryu Kyokai

1. Statement on possible missile testing by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Before answering your questions, I would like to share four pieces of information with you. Firstly, I have a statement about the possible missile test in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

   Yesterday we received notice from the Government of Pakistan that they would conduct another missile testing today, 8 October. In response, the Government of Japan today made a request of the Embassy of Pakistan here in Tokyo that the test be halted.

   We believe that if this test is actually conducted, it will further ignite the race for the development of missiles between Pakistan and India and henceforth worsen the tension between the two countries. We express our strong concern about this missile development race, and we hope that the governments of both Pakistan and India respond positively to the international community's strong voice for easing the tension in this part of the world.

   Just as a small footnote to that, we have not yet received any report of actual missile firing by the Government of Pakistan today.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on a Missile Launch Test by Pakistan)
   
2. Statement on the Israeli incursion into the Gaza area

   Mr. Takashima: The second piece of information is about the Israeli-Palestinian situation.

   The Government of Japan was saddened to learn that the Israeli incursion into the refugee camp in the Gaza area yesterday had caused a large number of casualties among ordinary citizens there.

   We think this incident quite deplorable and express our deep condolences to the bereaved families and heartfelt sympathy to those who have been injured.

   The Government of Japan is concerned that this attack by the Israeli Defense Forces will aggravate hatred among the Palestinians against Israelis and will not serve to improve the situation there.

   The Government of Japan once again urges the Israeli Government to exercise maximum self-restraint in order to break the vicious circle of violence. At the same time we would also like to urge Palestinians to make further effort on their side to break this cycle of violence.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Israeli Incursion into Khan Yunis, a Refugee Camp in Southern Gaza)
   
3. Emergency medical aid to counter the meningitis epidemic in the Republic of Rwanda

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about Japanese emergency medical aid to the Republic of Rwanda.

   The Government of Japan decided to send emergency medical aid to Rwanda where a meningitis epidemic has claimed more than 100 lives since last month.

   The aid includes 10 million yen worth of vaccine and syringes, and we expect that this aid will enable doctors there to provide approximately 150,000 vaccinations to stop further spread of this deadly disease.

   Related Information (Emergency Aid against the Epidemic of Meningitis in Rwanda)
   
4. Statement on the situation in the Kingdom of Nepal

   Mr. Takashima: The last piece of information that I would like to share with you is about the situation in the Kingdom of Nepal.

   We are watching carefully the volatile political situation in Nepal in the wake of the recent dismissal of the Prime Minister and the dissolution of the Council of Ministers.

   The Government of Japan hopes that Nepal's political crisis will be solved early within the framework of the constitution and that the peace and stability of the country will be maintained.

   We expect that the Government of Nepal will carry out a free and fair election promptly on the basis of democracy and constitutional monarchy.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Dismissal of the Prime Minister and the Dissolution of the Council of Ministers in the Kingdom of Nepal)
   
5. Questions concerning normalization talks with North Korea

   Q: On the normalization talks with North Korea, can you make any comment about when and where they are likely to be held?

   Mr. Takashima: According to the Pyongyang Declaration, the resumption of the normalization talks has to be started by the end of this month, and we expect that these talks will be held some time toward the end of this month, but the venue and the date have not been decided yet.

   Q: Do you have any idea about how the abduction issue will fit into the normalization talks?

   Mr. Takashima: We do expect the abduction issue to be one of the most important agenda items of the talks, and we will certainly put this issue on the table from the outset of the talks, but how and in what manner the normalization talks will be held is still under discussion with North Korea, and it has not been finalized yet.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration)
   
6. Follow-up question on the situation in the Middle East

   Q: There are increasing numbers of reports saying that Israel has destroyed many facilities built by the Japanese Government. Are you aware of the latest developments, and will you take some measures against the Israeli Government?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, we do not have confirmation of the destruction of facilities built with the assistance of the Japanese Government. However, we have made it very clear to the Israeli Government that we are very much concerned with the situation there, and we also expressed our wish that those facilities or buildings that have been set up with Japanese taxpayers' money should be left intact. That is, that they should not be targeted by Israeli military action.

   Related Information (Japan-Israel Relations)
   
7. Question concerning Japan's position on United Nations resolutions on Iraq

   Q: I read a Jiji report saying that Japan supports the latest United Nations resolution on Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: We are not a member of the UN Security Council at this moment. We do recognize that the Security Council is now examining and studying the draft resolution, and we are simply waiting to see the final result of the decision made by the Security Council.

   We hope for the success of the Security Council's effort to have a strong resolution to express the international community's strong wish to the Iraqi Government, to have them comply with the wishes of the international community, to have immediate, unconditional, unrestricted inspection of possible weapons of mass destruction, development as well as deployment or storage.

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   
8. Follow-up questions regarding the situation in Nepal

   Q: Are there any ideas for Japan to send a special mission to Nepal?

   Mr. Takashima: There is no such plan at the moment, but we are closely watching and monitoring the political situation there and urging Nepal, especially the monarchy, to respond positively to the call from the international community to hold a fair and free election as soon as possible.

   Q: What kind of travel advisory is in place for Nepal at the moment?

   Mr. Takashima: I know that the level has not been changed in the wake of the dismissal of the Prime Minister or the political upheaval in that country, but what the level is exactly, I will have to check and give that information to you later.

   Related Information (Japan-Nepal Relations)
   
9. Question in relation to reports on the abduction cases

   Q: According to recent news reports, families of the abductees are casting a lot of doubt about the report from North Korea compiled by the fact-finding mission. Many of the families appear close to demanding a second fact-finding mission to check out the contradictions between points. Can I have your comment on this?

   Mr. Takashima: We do recognize the strong wish of many of the members of the families of the victims of the abduction cases to have further investigation and clarification of the case and, especially, much more detailed clarification of the report given by the North Korean side.

   We are also studying and checking the content of the report made by the North Korean side and the report brought back by the fact-finding mission. A second fact-finding mission is one of the options we are considering.

   The Government of Japan has already expressed its intention to make this matter one of the important agenda items of the resumed talks for the normalization of relations between our two countries.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
10. Question on the response to the tanker fire off the coast of the Republic of Yemen

    Q: Did the Japanese Government make any statement on the tanker explosion that took place off Yemen?

    Mr. Takashima: We have not issued a statement, although we have issued an advisory warning to the shipping industry for vessels to take full precautions operating in that area, and that information has already been disseminated to Japanese ships in that area.

    Q: By "that area," do you mean Yemen or all of the Middle East?

    Mr. Takashima: The territorial waters of the Republic of Yemen as well as the waters in the vicinity. This is in addition to the previous warning to the Japanese shipping industry in conjunction with possible terrorist action in the area.

    Related Information (Japan-Yemen Relations)
    
11. Questions on the Kaigai Koryu Kyokai

    Q: On 7 October you started the Kaigai Koryu Kyokai here in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What is the official English-language name of this organization? Also, the organization consists of 19 members: Is it possible to check the membership on the website?

    Mr. Takashima: I think names are already being announced. I will have to check the formal English name and other details, which I will give to you later.