Press Conference 10 December 2002

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the Signing of the Agreement for the Cessation of Hostilities in Aceh
2. Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul Naga of the Arab Republic of Egypt
3. Review of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Charter
4. Follow-up question concerning official development assistance (ODA)
5. Questions concerning the situation in Iraq
6. Question concerning entrance procedures at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
7. Question concerning the Japan-United States of America Status of Forces Agreement
8. Question concerning the visit to Japan by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage of the United States of America
9. Question concerning the kisha club system in Japan

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the Signing of the Agreement for the Cessation of Hostilities in Aceh

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I have three announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi issued a statement on the situation in Aceh, Indonesia, in which she said as follows:

   The Government of Japan wholeheartedly welcomes the signing of the agreement on the "Cessation of Hostilities in Aceh" between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The Government of Japan pays tribute to the efforts of the participating personnel who have made such a big advancement toward the peaceful settlement of the situation in Aceh.

   As part of such efforts toward the "Consolidation for Peace," the Government of Japan held the Preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh on 3 December in Tokyo, in order that the international community encourage the peace agreement and express its intention to support reconstruction and development in Aceh after the cessation of hostilities is achieved. The Government of Japan believes that such diplomatic effort by the Government of Japan, in concert with the efforts of others concerned, have provided the impetus for the realization of the signing of the agreement.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Signing of the Agreement for the Cessation of Hostilities in Aceh)
   
2. Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul Naga of the Arab Republic of Egypt

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul Naga of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi today met with Minister Abul Naga in this building for 40 minutes. During the course of the discussion, the two ministers touched upon the situation in Iraq and agreed on the necessity to urge the Government of the Republic of Iraq to unconditionally and completely adhere and comply to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441.

   The two ministers also touched upon the situation in the Middle East, especially Palestinian issues, and they both agreed that it is of utmost importance to cease the violence and seek a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the situation.

   The Foreign Minister of Egypt welcomed Japan's further involvement in the question of Palestine and also the Middle East. Both ministers agreed to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

   Related Information (Japan-Egypt Relations)
   
3. Review of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Charter

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the decision of the Government of Japan on the review of official development assistance (ODA).

   The Government of Japan today decided to start reviewing the ODA Charter, which is the basic policy paper on Japan's official development assistance, adopted at the Cabinet level in June 1992. This review is to be undertaken against the change in the domestic and international environment during the past ten years since this current Charter was adopted. The review work will be completed by the middle of next year and during that review process, the Government will listen to the various views and opinions, including those of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the business community and the general public.

   With this review, there are two more changes regarding official development assistance. Firstly, the Government of Japan decided to change the method of debt relief from FY2003. Currently, Japan's debt relief is made by first claiming the reimbursement of the debt and then providing grant aid for debt relief. However, the Government of Japan today decided to change this method and will have debt cancellation. The second additional change is the establishment of an advisory council for grant aid which will be set up next January, and it will enhance the transparency of the Japanese grant aid by securing effective and proper implementation of the grant aid.

   Related Information (1. Japan's Official Development Assistance Charter)
   
4. Follow-up question concerning official development assistance (ODA)

   Q: Further on ODA, I have seen reports in the last few days that the budget may be cut by up to 8%. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have anything to say about that?

   Mr. Takashima: It is now under consideration, and we are now in the midst of the budget-forming process. The Ministry of Finance will announce the first draft budget later this month, and by the end of the year, the Government will decide the budget plan for the next fiscal year, which starts next April. It is expected that Japanese official development assistance will be reduced, but to what extent is still under consideration.

   Q On the same subject, I read a report that 21 countries would be joining immunity from yen loans. Can you confirm that?

   Mr. Takashima: Not at this moment. I would like you to wait for the official announcement.

   Q: They did not name any countries so far, but are there categories?

   Mr. Takashima: I am not prepared to give that information at this moment.

   Q: On the peace conference that is due to take place in Japan next year for Sri Lanka, Mr. Akashi referred to it as a new direction for Japanese foreign policy in perhaps becoming more involved in a riskier situation than in the past. Would you agree with that? Is that a change of direction for Japan's aid policy?

   Mr. Takashima: It is not a change in the direction into a risky situation. Rather, we are putting more effort into facilitating the consolidation of peace in troubled areas, such as Sri Lanka, Aceh or Afghanistan, or even the Mindanao region of the Philippines, where years of conflict have been continuing and yet there are some signs of hope for peace emerging. As in Sri Lanka, we are assisting the peace effort in various regions and making sure that those peace efforts materialize and that there will be a cessation of hostilities. No more fighting, no more conflict, and the people start rehabilitating their lives there.

   This is a kind of a new set of policies and agenda under the leadership of Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi, who has, after having visited various countries in that region as well as Africa this year, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to form that sort of overall policy of helping the world to become a more peaceful place.

   Q: In the past, Japan would not have been involved before the peace process was complete. Is it then coming in at an earlier stage now?

   Mr. Takashima: It is not a policy change as such, but it is putting more weight on assisting that sort of state of a nation to be more consolidated and directed toward a firm state of peace.

   Q: Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made any commitment to assist Sri Lanka in any concrete manner?

   Mr. Takashima: Recently, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka visited Japan. During the talks between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, Japan offered full assistance to the effort by Sri Lanka to reconcile and reconstruct the nation after 19 years of civil war between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

   One example of the firm commitment by Japan is the convening of an international peace and reconstruction conference in Japan sometime during May or June next year. Another is that Japan will host the sixth round of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers next March, also here in Tokyo. Those are some of the examples of the additional effort by Japan, but perhaps you might be interested to know that Japan is top on the list of ODA donor countries to Sri Lanka. We will continue to assist them financially, technically and morally as well.

   Related Information (Japan's ODA)
   
5. Questions concerning the situation in Iraq

   Q: I have a question on the policy of the Government of Japan in the wake of the situation in Iraq. First, is Japan prepared to draft a new law concerning any assistance in peace-keeping operations in the situation in Iraq? Second, would that new law fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

   Mr. Takashima: To answer your first question, the Government of Japan is studying all the possible options in relation to the situation in Iraq. The options include the evacuation of Japanese nationals from that area or a program to deal with refugees in that region or to maintain the safe navigation of the Japanese ships in the region. However, neither the United Nations nor the United States has decided one way or the other on the possible use of force vis-à-vis the situation in Iraq. Therefore, the Government of Japan has not come to any conclusion on that policy study, so it is still continuing. No decision has been made. If it becomes necessary, then we will decide what sort of work will be done by which part of the Government of Japan, but at this particular moment, we do not have any kind of assignments to any of the governmental institutions.

   Q: About the report handed in by the Government of Iraq to the United Nations. I understand that the Government of the United States of America has already read through it. Does the Government of Japan have any information on or involvement in this?

   Mr. Takashima: Unfortunately, we are not a member of the UN Security Council at the moment. Although we have been trying to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council for many years now, UN Security Council reform has not materialized, so we are not in a position to receive the report now. My understanding is that the five members of the United Nations Security Council who are called permanent members (P5) will be given the report itself but that other members will not have that opportunity. If you are an outsider or if you are a non-member of the United Nations Security Council, you cannot say whether you will receive it or just be given information. However, we will certainly be very much interested in reading the report, and we will contribute in whatever way we can assist the work of the United Nations to resolve the issue and questions in a peaceful manner.

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   
6. Question concerning entrance procedures at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

   Q: I would like to ask a favor. Last week, I was trying to attend your press briefing, and I came with my assistant and it took him 15 minutes to clear entrance procedures. I was waiting, and I could not leave him alone, so by the time I arrived, everybody had left. Is there any way that you or some other official could make it easier for journalists to come in, because the entrance is the same for everybody? Some days it only takes a short time, but sometimes one must stand in line for 15 minutes. Is there any way that you can improve the situation?

   Mr. Takashima: Before going any further, I would like you to understand the necessity of tight security in this situation. Having said that, we have tried to make access to briefings much easier by adopting various measures, including the issuance of the press pass through the Foreign Press Center. Firstly, you can take your assistant to the Foreign Press Center and get a press pass for him or her, but at the same time, please pay attention to all the announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which may include change in time or venue of the press briefing. Since we are now located in a temporary building, and it is a bit far from the center of Tokyo, I feel very sorry for you to have to make such a long journey.

   Q: Maybe you should set up this meeting on the ground floor.

   Q: Before the office moved here, we just had to show a press pass and then we could go in. However, here, after the move to the new location, we had to get another pass, one issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   Mr. Takashima: The new procedure has been taken in order to have better security in this building, and the additional yellow passes are one of the new procedures that we have adopted. I appreciate very much your kind cooperation in that new procedure.

7. Question concerning the Japan-United States of America Status of Forces Agreement

   Q: Regarding the marine major, Michael Brown. Apparently, there is a discrepancy between the understanding of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States regarding this issue. Your press release said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested custody prior to indictment in accordance to the Japan-US joint committee agreement on criminal procedures of 1995. What exactly was the discrepancy between the two statements? The Embassy of the United States issued another statement saying that it cannot warrant the departure from the standard practices agreed between the two countries. What is the difference?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, the Government of Japan requested the transfer of custody of the personnel to Japanese authorities prior to the indictment. The issue was raised during the joint committee between the United States and Japan in terms of the Japan-United States Status of Forces Agreement. The US side denied our request and said that they would keep custody of the personnel. So there was no discrepancy. That is the normal procedure, and we will raise the issue of improvement of the application of the status agreement once again during the 2+2 Security Consultative Committee (SCC) Meeting to be held in Washington next week. The rejection is the decision by the United States, and at this moment we will not raise any objections to it, but we will bring up the issue of improvement then.

   Related Information (Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements)
   
8. Question concerning the visit to Japan by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage of the United States of America

   Q: About the visit of Mr. Armitage. Can you please summarize the message given to him by the Japanese leaders he met? What is the result from the Japanese point of view?

   Mr. Takashima: Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage visited Japan on Sunday and met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukio Takeuchi yesterday. He left Japan to go to the Republic of Korea today. During those talks with Japanese officials, which included a brief courtesy call to Prime Minister Koizumi, the Japanese side and Mr. Armitage discussed the situations in Iraq and in North Korea, and also some bilateral issues between Japan and the United States.

   On the situation in Iraq, both sides agreed that it is absolutely necessary to have Iraq comply with all the requirements of the UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and unconditionally and immediately destroy and abandon all weapons of mass destruction and their production capabilities.

   On the situation in North Korea, the Japanese and American sides agreed to have closer cooperation between Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea, and to put more pressure on North Korea to abandon its new nuclear weapons program.

   On bilateral issues, they discussed some procedure as well as the agenda of the 2+2 Meeting, that is the Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Director General of the Defense Agency of Japan with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense of the United States, which is scheduled for 16 December in Washington, D.C.

   Q: There are certain reports suggesting that Japan expressed to Deputy Secretary of State Armitage that it is ready to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq after it is destroyed or attacked by the United States. Can you confirm these reports?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese side stated that although Japan has been studying every possible option vis-à-vis the situation in Iraq, it would decide independently when the necessity arises. We did not specifically mention a list of possible actions or options, but because of the close relationship between Japan and the United States in terms of mutual cooperation in various aspects, including the war on terrorism that is now under way in the Indian Ocean and the area around Afghanistan, they understood what we meant, and we understood what they meant.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
9. Question concerning the kisha club system in Japan

   Q: Some correspondents are talking about what the best source is to get Japanese news, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister's Office, or the kisha club. I understand that especially people from Europe are angry about the kisha club system, and the EU government is now protesting to the Government of Japan to abolish the kisha clubs. I presume that you are also in charge of the kisha clubs. What is your opinion on this?

   Mr. Takashima: Firstly, let me re-emphasize that the kisha club, or correspondents' club, is an autonomous organization of the press. We are simply providing them with a space for the benefit and convenience of the members of the kisha club, but we have no say on whether they continue their status or stop their activities as such.

   Secondly, during the course of the discussion of the regular consultation meeting between Japan and the European Union (EU) regarding the reform of the restrictions which exist between the two parties, the EU side raised the issue of the kisha club system in Japan as one form of restriction. We reiterated that the kisha club is not a part of the Government and is not a governmental institution, but rather it is an autonomous organization, which is self-governing of the members of the press. Therefore, we do not accept the notion that it is a restriction imposed by the Government.