Press Conference 12 November 2002
- Establishment of the headquarters for the promotion of free trade agreements (FTA) and economic partnership agreements (EPA)
- Aid assistance to Afghanistan
- Question concerning the visa application by Mr. Lee Teng-hui
- Question concerning the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
- Question concerning the newly established headquarters for the promotion of free trade agreements (FTA) and economic partnership agreements (EPA)
- Question concerning Japanese vessels in the Indian Ocean
- Follow-up questions concerning the visa application by Mr. Lee Teng-hui
- Follow-up questions concerning KEDO
- Question concerning the Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP)
- Question concerning the confirmation of the remains of Mr. Kaoru Matsuki
- Question concerning the second round of normalization talks between Japan and North Korea
- Establishment of the headquarters for the promotion of free trade agreements (FTA) and economic partnership agreements (EPA)
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have two announcements that I would like to make.
Firstly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today established the headquarters for the promotion of free trade agreements (FTA) and economic partnership agreements (EPA) and opened a newly established division for FTA and EPA at the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This headquarters is headed by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukio Takeuchi, and it will coordinate the strategic planning on FTA/EPA policies by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It will also coordinate the actual diplomatic negotiations with other countries on these issues.
Related Information (Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA))
- Aid assistance to Afghanistan
Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is that the Government of Japan and the United Nations today decided to give US$1 million assistance from the Human Security Fund, which was established by Japanese donations at the United Nations, for the project in Afghanistan to assist refugees, especially female refugees, and displaced people in forming as community among themselves. This project is designed to establish women's community center in various places in Afghanistan to give assistance in health care, education, and to provide some professional training and so forth.
We hope that through this project people in Afghanistan will be able to have opportunities to improve their lives.
Related Information (Assistance for IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) / Refugee Women in Afghanistan by the Trust Fund for Human Security)
- Question concerning the visa application by Mr. Lee Teng-hui
Q: Regarding the former president of Taiwan applying to come to Japan, we have heard that it is most likely that the Government of Japan would deny his application. Has the Government of Japan made a decision yet?
Mr. Takashima: Actually, it is my understanding that Mr. Lee Teng-hui has withdrawn his application, so there is no application anymore. There is no governmental decision to accept or deny the application. He has withdrawn it.
Q: This morning?
Mr. Takashima: I cannot say when but today, and I think not too long ago.
Q: May I ask about the guidelines regarding his application? There seems to be an issue every time he tries to come to Japan. Does the Government of Japan have any guidelines on which it bases its judgment? Can you tell us what these guidelines are?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, the Government of Japan has always maintained the position that the application would be handled properly, and that it would judge whether or not a visa would be issued on a case by case basis. We also take note that Mr. Lee Teng-hui is a private citizen. So as long as he maintains his position, that factor would be taken into account when we consider his application.
Q: In other words, if he wants to come to Tokyo on a very private visit, it is possible for him, just like any normal citizen of Taiwan, to get a visa for five years with multiple entries. Is it possible for him to get that?
Mr. Takashima: We will consider it when he makes that application to us.
- Question concerning the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
Q: On Thursday, there is a meeting of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and clear differences are emerging between the United States of America on the one hand, and Japan and the Republic of Korea on the other, as to the future of KEDO with signals from the Americans that they favor effectively ending the agreement because they suggest that they will not supply any more fuel oil. Could you describe Japan's position on KEDO and what you expect from this meeting on Thursday?
Mr. Takashima: Firstly, it is my understanding that the United States has not reached that decision or any other decisions yet. The United States will be participating in the discussion to be held in New York later in the week, at the KEDO executive board meeting, where the future of KEDO as well as the issue of the supply of heavy oil to North Korea will be discussed. Until that time, no decision will be made.
The Japanese position is that the KEDO arrangement has been effective and useful for the prevention of nuclear development by North Korea. There have been new revelations that North Korea has been engaged in a new type of nuclear development, therefore we are strongly demanding and urging North Korea to dismantle that facility in a visible way. However, at the same time, we believe that the future of KEDO, because of its usefulness and effectiveness, should be considered carefully taking all factors into account before reaching any decisions.
Q: So Japan favors the continuation of the present KEDO arrangement?
Mr. Takashima: We are part of the group which organizes the KEDO arrangement, so we hope that a mutual agreement will be reached through the board meeting.
Related Information (The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO))
- Question concerning the newly established headquarters for the promotion of free trade agreements (FTA) and economic partnership agreements (EPA)
Q: Could you explain a bit about this new organization which handles FTA and EPA in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Mr. Takashima: This is an internal organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which does not require any additional manpower. This is a kind of coordination headquarters for FTA and EPA policies.
Q: Under which division?
Mr. Takashima: The Economic Affairs Bureau.
Related Information (Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA))
- Question concerning Japanese vessels in the Indian Ocean
Q: Regarding the continued refueling aid in the Indian Ocean, I believe that the term will expire next week and I was wondering if the Government of Japan has decided to continue with the refueling aid or not?
Mr. Takashima: We have not reached a decision yet but we are studying what to do with that arrangement under the special law which enables the ships of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces to be involved in supplying operations for the American and British naval vessels in the Indian Ocean.
Q: So you have not reached a decision yet?
Mr. Takashima: Not yet, but it will be announced before 19 November.
Q: I believe that they have to decide beforehand in order for it to be voted on?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, of course.
Q: So there is only a little time to deliberate?
Mr. Takashima: I expect that the operation will go on without an interval or hold, once the formal decision has been made.
Q: I have heard that they are likely to extend.
Mr. Takashima: The trend is in that direction, I believe.
Q: I have another question. There have been reports that the United States has also asked to expand the support by refueling other ships besides American and British ones and also dispatching AEGIS warships. Has that also been under consideration?
Mr. Takashima: Discussion is underway between the United States and Japan but we are not making the details of the discussion public.
Related Information (Counter Terrorism)
- Follow-up questions concerning the visa application by Mr. Lee Teng-hui
Q: Will a visa be issued for Mr. Lee Teng-hui if he makes an application with a different purpose, such as sightseeing?
Mr. Takashima: We will consider it when such an application is actually made.
Q: Do you have any reason as to why his application was withdrawn?
Mr. Takashima: I have no information on that, but my understanding is that when he made the application for a visa, the purpose, which was stated on his application, was to give a lecture or speech at the Mita campus of Keio University. However, when we checked, as is routine, with Keio University if there was any plan to have Mr. Lee Teng-hui give a speech, Keio University replied that there was no schedule for that. So we made an inquiry to the Interchange Association of Japan in Taipei, to Mr. Lee's side, and then the application was withdrawn. That was what has happened since yesterday.
Q: To confirm, he actually withdrew the application when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted him.
Mr. Takashima: The contact was done by us, but when he was reapproached, the withdrawal was made at 13:15 (Japan time).
Q: Is there a reason?
Mr. Takashima: I am sorry, I do not have any reason for that. I was just informed that he withdrew.
Q: Actually, did Mr. Lee Teng-hui withdraw his application before the Foreign Ministry contacted him or afterwards?
Mr. Takashima: When we contacted him, I think it was last night. Let me check but we contacted him, and then he made the decision to withdraw and he actually withdrew.
Q: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted his office late last evening and then his office contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 13:15. Is this correct?
Mr. Takashima: No, this issue has been handled by the Interchange Association of Japan in Taipei, Taiwan, which is not the Embassy or the Consulate General. The Interchange Association simply represents the Japanese interests in Taiwan and also handles the visa applications there. It actually contacted Mr. Lee, once again, on the clarification of the purpose of the visit and then Mr. Lee withdrew his application.
Q: So he contacted the office.
Mr. Takashima: I am not sure if it was he himself who did it or if his agent did, but the application was withdrawn.
- Follow-up questions concerning KEDO
Q: Coming back to KEDO, I understand that of course it is a collective organization and that Japan's voice is not the only one which will be heard on Thursday. But am I correct in believing that prior to Thursday's KEDO meeting, in light of the recent revelations from North Korea, Japan does still believe that the KEDO arrangement is good and useful?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, we still believe that KEDO has been effective and is still serving its purpose even today.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit more about why Japan believes that? What does Japan think the consequences might be if the arrangement came to an end?
Mr. Takashima: The reason why we believe the KEDO arrangement has been useful and still is that since it was established, for about ten years KEDO prevented North Korea from reprocessing the used fuel from the reactor in the Yongbyong area. Although there was a new type of nuclear development in another place in North Korea, still this KEDO arrangement is part of the international arrangement which actually puts some sort of framework of making North Korea into a non-nuclear state. We believe that without this KEDO arrangement, a different type of situation could emerge.
Q: I believe Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld of the United States of America has said publicly that the Americans believe that North Korea has several nuclear warheads, which are capable of being delivered as well. Does Japan share that assessment?
Mr. Takashima: My recollection is that the word Mr. Rumsfeld used was not "several" but "a few" or something similar, but we recognize that Mr. Rumsfeld made a statement to that effect, but that is his information, and we do not have any other information except for the press reports and also his statement.
Q: If that is the case, even if that is not confirmed, simply in the light of North Korea's admission that it is enriching potential weapons material, then KEDO has clearly failed in its broad intentions, has it not?
Mr. Takashima: As I have said, KEDO has been effective in stopping the reprocessing of the used fuel at Yongbyong, and also it was the symbol of the commitment by North Korea not to develop their nuclear capability any further. Therefore, we can claim that North Korea has admitted the violation through the new type of nuclear development, mainly enrichment of uranium. We believe that North Korea should comply with this KEDO arrangement based upon the Agreed Framework 1994 between the United States and North Korea, also the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as well as the South-North Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This is one of the main issues Japan will be discussing with the North Koreans when the normalization talks and also the security discussions start between our two countries.
Related Information (The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO))
- Question concerning the Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP)
Q: This is just a technical question regarding the Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in Kobe next week, starting 27 November. Is there any involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparing this international conference?
Mr. Takashima: I am sorry, I do not have any information on that. Let me check on it.
Related Information (Population and AIDS)
- Question concerning the confirmation of the remains of Mr. Kaoru Matsuki
Q: Regarding Mr. Matsuki's ashes, has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted North Korea regarding the fact that the ashes are not likely to belong to him?
Mr. Takashima: I do not have any information as to whether we have already contacted them, but we have already made a long list of inquiries to present to them asking many questions that have emerged from their original answers. In light of that sort of situation, this issue will also be raised with North Korea.
Q: What does this revelation that these remains are not Mr. Matsuki's tell us about North Korea's sincerity in repatriating the remains of those who died in North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: In the case of this person's ashes, we recall that the North Koreans have said that they were not 100% sure if the remains were his because of the circumstances under which those remains were collected and processed. So we will, once again, have a careful study of the report from the police and surely, we will pose this question to the North Koreans, firstly, for the clarification of this rather questionable handling of this case by the North Koreans, and we will also ask them to give us more information on the alleged death of Mr. Matsuki.
Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
- Question concerning the second round of normalization talks between Japan and North Korea
Q: Is there any indication of the details of the second meeting to be held between Japan and North Korea, such as date and place?
Mr. Takashima: Actually, the date has not been decided yet. At the first round of talks with North Korea in Kuala Lumpur last month, both sides agreed that security discussions would be held some time in November. But on the second round of normalization talks, the North Korean side proposed by the end of November but we withheld our view on that. We are still studying when would be an appropriate time to have the second round of talks. So nothing has been decided yet.
Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
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