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Press Conference 1 November 2002

1. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to attend ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting in the Republic of Cambodia
2. Japan to extend grant aid for governance reform to the Republic of Indonesia
3. Japan's assistance for Palestinian reforms
4. Statement on the election for the House of Representatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain
5. Question concerning possible terrorist attacks in Phuket
6. Question regarding the resumption of talks of normalization of relations with North Korea
7. Question concerning the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

1. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to attend ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting in the Republic of Cambodia

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing despite this bad weather. Today I have four announcements that I would like to make before I take any questions.

   Firstly, today, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided to visit Cambodia from 3 to 5 November to attend the ASEAN+3 (Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea) Summit Meeting and Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting, as well as the Trilateral Meeting of the Leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

   In Cambodia, Prime Minister Koizumi will also have meetings with Prime Minister Than Shwe of the Union of Myanmar and Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Republic of Cambodia, separately.

   At the ASEAN+3 Summit Meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi is expected to exchange views on the development of regional cooperation in East Asia.

   At the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi will discuss the deepening of Japan-ASEAN cooperation, including the Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the "ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003," which is going to be held next year.

   At the Trilateral Meeting of the Leaders of Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Koizumi will exchange views on the review and the prospects of cooperation among those three countries, the economic situation, and other issues, including regional and international affairs.

   Related Information (Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Attend ASEAN + 3 (Japan, China and the Republic of Korea) Summit, Japan-ASEAN Summit and Trilateral Meeting of the Leaders of Japan, China and the R.O.K.)
   
2. Japan to extend grant aid for governance reform to the Republic of Indonesia

   The second announcement I would like to make is that the Government of Japan today decided to extend emergency grant aid of US$4 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support governance reform in Indonesia.

   This is part of Japan's assistance to Indonesia that was pledged by Prime Minister Koizumi when he met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Mexico on 26 October 2002.

   The money, which is, again, US$4 million, will be used to promote governance reform in Indonesia, including the establishment of the rule of law, judicial reform, anti-corruption measures and other reforms that are essential for building a democratic government in that country.

   Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Summit Meeting (Overview))
   Related Information (Grant Aid for Governance Reform in Indonesia)
   
3. Japan's assistance for Palestinian reforms

   The same type of assistance will be given to the Palestinian Authority from the Government of Japan - this was announced by the Government of Japan actually yesterday. It amounts to US$2.9 million. The money will be used to assist the Palestinian Authority's reform efforts in such fields as democratization, the establishment of the rule of law, and reconstruction of the administrative system along the lines of the roadmap for support to the Palestinian Autonomous Areas announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi when she visited that area in June this year.

   The Government of Japan expects that this assistance of US$2.9 million will promote Palestinian efforts for nation-building of an independent state and that both the Palestinians and Israelis will break free of the vicious circle of violence and contribute to promoting the peace process for achieving the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.

   Related Information (Japan's Assistance for Palestinian Reforms)
   
4. Statement on the election for the House of Representatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain

   The fourth announcement I would like to make is about the results of the parliamentary elections for the House of Representatives that were held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement under my name on the result of this first election.

   In the Kingdom of Bahrain, a parliamentary election for the House of Representatives was held on 24 October, and after a run-off in some constituencies on 31 October, all 40 members of the House were elected. The Government of Japan appreciates and welcomes the election as a great step toward democratization.

   This was the first parliamentary election since the new Bahraini constitution came into effect last February. In particular, women's suffrage and their consequent participation in the election opened a new chapter in Bahraini politics.

   The Government of Japan strongly hopes that democratization in Bahrain, under the firm leadership of King Shaikh Hamad, will further progress with the wide support of the Bahraini people.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Election for the House of Representatives in Bahrain)
   
5. Question concerning possible terrorist attacks in Phuket

   Q: According to the travel advisory that was recently issued, Phuket is now maybe a target of attack by terrorists in the near future. This was pointed out by the Danish government. At the same time, an Australian minister in Los Cabos, Mexico, said the same thing. Do you have any other information about this?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not have any additional information other than what I have given on previous occasions. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still maintains that the travel advisory in place is actually an advisory for Japanese tourists to take utmost caution, especially when they visit public places in the tourist resort of Phuket, because there could be a possibility of another attack by terrorists.

   For your information, there was another travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. It is not a warning, but a simple advisory on Singapore because of the current situation in Southeast Asia. Japanese visitors, as well as residents in Singapore, have to take caution when they go to crowded places, such as discos or shopping centers.

   Q: Those destinations are quite popular destinations for Japanese tourists. I would like to have continuous information about this.

   Mr. Takashima: Thank you.

6. Question regarding the resumption of talks of normalization of relations with North Korea

   Q: I would like to ask you about whether progress on the issue of the abductees is a prerequisite for normalization to begin. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said yesterday that unless there is progress on the issue of the abductees, normalization talks will not be resumed. Is there a unified position on this by the Government?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, well, actually the Government's voices are very much unified. That is, the cases of abduction are the priority issue along with the nuclear development of that country, which is another security issue concerning North Korea. We still maintain the position that those issues have to be dealt with by the North Korean authorities before Japan resumes real talks with them. We have not decided when the second round of talks will be held. We are still considering the appropriate date for that.

   Q: The tentative date for the reunion of families of the abductees has not been decided?

   Mr. Takashima: We are requesting and urging the North Koreans to send those families of the abductees back to Japan as soon as possible, and we are simply waiting for their reaction.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
7. Question concerning the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

   Q: The European Union (EU) is reportedly considering withholding money going to Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) construction for light-water reactors. I heard that one of the leaders of the Japanese government was also saying that it would be stopped with the parties involved. In the meetings of the Prime Minister at the Trilateral Meeting of the Leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea, is this topic one of the things that will be discussed?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, we recognized the press report to that effect. KEDO itself is a joint action amongst the United States, the Republic of Korea, the EU and Japan. What to do with KEDO has to be decided among the members of the consortium. In terms of ASEAN+3 meetings, or the Trilateral Meeting of the Leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea, the general situation in North Korea will certainly be one of the topics to be discussed. However, whether KEDO will be discussed specifically remains to be seen.

   Related Information (The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO))