Press Conference 29 October 2002
- Japan's Assistance Package for Afghanistan
- Upcoming visit of President Rafael Hipólito Mejía Domínguez, President of the Dominican Republic
- Japanese governmental representative Mr. Yasushi Akashi's upcoming visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Questions regarding North Korea
- Question on samurai bonds
- Question about passports issued by the Palestinian Authority
- Questions concerning Foreign Minister Abdullah of Afghanistan
- Questions regarding the terrorist attack in Moscow
- Japan's Assistance Package for Afghanistan
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have three announcements that I would like to make.
Firstly, the Government of Japan today decided to offer a new assistance package of more than US$136 million to the Transitional Government of Afghanistan, headed by President Hamid Karzai, to promote the peace and reconstruction process in the country.
This package includes grant aid to support the improvement of the economic structure of the country, including, for example, the procurement of necessary equipment for education, public health, transportation, water and so forth. In addition, the package includes money for a project to improve Kabul television stations. The decision was made to coincide with the visit to Japan of Afghan Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, who is scheduled to meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi tomorrow in Tokyo. Incidentally, Dr. Abdullah met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda today.
With this new package, Japan's assistance to Afghanistan for this year will reach US$282 million, which exceeds Japan's original pledge of US$250 million, made at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan held in Tokyo in January of this year.
Related Information (Japan's Assistance Package for Afghanistan - On the occasion of the Visit to Japan of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan -)
- Upcoming visit of President Rafael Hipólito Mejía Domínguez, President of the Dominican Republic
Mr. Takashima: President Rafael Hipólito Mejía Domínguez, President of the Dominican Republic, will pay an official visit to Japan from 26 November to 1 December of this year. During his stay in Japan, President Mejía will make a State call on His Majesty The Emperor and hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes President Mejía's visit, which will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Related Information (Japan-Dominican Republic Relations)
- Japanese governmental representative Mr. Yasushi Akashi's upcoming visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Mr. Yasushi Akashi, the newly appointed Japanese governmental representative for peace building, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, will be in Sri Lanka from 3 to 9 November. During his stay, Mr. Akashi will meet with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and officials of the Government of Sri Lanka, the political parties of the country, as well as international organizations. He also plans to visit various places, including the northern and eastern parts of this island nation where civil war had been fought over the past 19 years.
Related Information (Appointment of a Representative of the Government of Japan for Sri Lanka)
- Questions regarding North Korea
Q: A very long time ago, Japanese passports specifically mentioned that North Korea was a prohibited place for the Japanese to visit. Has there been any change in the status of passage to North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: Currently, if you have an entry visa from North Korean authorities, then you are entitled to visit; and the same applies to the visits of North Koreans to Japan. If they apply for an entry visa, and if the visa is issued by the Government of Japan, then North Koreans are entitled to visit here.
Q: Is there a Japanese Embassy in North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: There is no embassy there because we do not have diplomatic relations with North Korea. To protect the Japanese nationals there, there is no other option but to simply rely on the North Korean authorities.
Q: If relations between Japan and Korea are normalized, then will there be a Japanese Embassy in North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, once talks of normalization of relations between the two countries end successfully, then there will be a Japanese Embassy in Pyongyang, and a North Korean Embassy in Tokyo.
Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
- Question on samurai bonds
Q: Do you have any information on samurai bonds?
Mr. Takashima: I am afraid I am not prepared to answer that question at this time. Please allow me to look into the issue before I give you an answer.
- Question about passports issued by the Palestinian Authority
Q: According to Jiji Press ten days ago, it was reported that Palestinian Authority passports would become valid in Japan. I also read that in the Japanese Government Cabinet meeting on Friday, a decision was made to recognize the validity of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority. Do you have any confirmation on this issue?
Mr. Takashima: I am sorry I do not have that information at this moment. Let me check into that, please.
Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
- Questions concerning Foreign Minister Abdullah of Afghanistan
Mr. Takashima: For your information, I made three announcements regarding an additional aid package to Afghanistan, the visit of Dominican Republic President Mejía to Japan, and also Japanese governmental representative Mr. Yasushi Akashi's visit to Sri Lanka, so I hope you can get that information later.
Q: So this statement about Afghanistan is related to the visit of the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, it is, and part of the package will be signed by Foreign Minister Abdullah and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi tomorrow in this building.
Q: At what time?
Mr. Takashima: The time has not been fixed yet.
Q: Could you please just give me an idea about Mr. Abdullah's activities during this visit?
Mr. Takashima: He arrived in Tokyo yesterday, and today he has had various interviews with the Japanese as well as the foreign media. He also met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda at the Prime Minister's Office today. Also, later in the day, Mr. Abdullah is giving a press conference at the Japan Press Club. Just for your information, it will probably be from 15:00. Tomorrow, he will be coming to this building to attend the signing ceremony of papers for part of the assistance package. Mr. Abdullah will be attending a working dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi tomorrow.
Q: Is he going to meet Mr. Koizumi?
Mr. Takashima: I do not have that information at this moment.
Related Information (Japan's Assistance Package for Afghanistan - On the occasion of the Visit to Japan of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan -)
Related Information (Visit to Japan by Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan)
- Questions regarding the terrorist attack in Moscow
Q: Were there any Japanese among the hostages in the Russian theatre?
Mr. Takashima: According to the Japanese Embassy in Moscow, there was no report on any Japanese hostages or casualties.
Q: Did the Government of Japan make any comments or have any reactions to the way the Russian authorities resorted to using gas in order to end this hostage situation?
Mr. Takashima: Yesterday, Prime Minister Koizumi sent a message to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, extending his condolences to those who were killed during the incident. Also he reiterated the necessity of the fight against terrorism.
Foreign Minister Kawaguchi issued her own statement, also expressing her sympathy and condemning terrorist activities, and extended her condolences and sympathy to those who were killed and injured during the incident. She also reiterated the necessity of international efforts to combat terrorism.
Q: Is using gas accepted by the Japanese Government to fight terrorism?
Mr. Takashima: We do not have any comment on that because we do not have any information on the type of gas or type of action that the Russian security forces applied. However, we do regret that many hostages were killed or are still suffering from the consequences of that action of using special gas.
Related Information (Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation Concerning the Occupation of a Theater in Moscow)
Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, concerning the Occupation of a Theater in Moscow)
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