Press Conference 13 December 2002

1. Emergency Grant Aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons
2. Visit to Japan by the Palestinian Delegation headed by Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Palestinian Interim Authority
3. Expansion of the duty-free and quota-free treatment for least developed countries (LDC)
4. Question concerning possible schedule of visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
5. Question concerning travel advisories by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the upcoming holiday season

1. Emergency Grant Aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons

   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 about emergency grant aid. The Government of Japan decided today to extend emergency grant aid of about 1,620,000 dollars to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as emergency assistance for Sri Lankan returnees.

   In Sri Lanka, a civil war which had continued for about 20 years gave rise to more than 800,000 internally displaced persons, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country, which were conflict areas. By September this year, more than 180,000 returned to their homes on their own.

   The internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka therefore need emergency humanitarian assistance, and the UNHCR made an emergency appeal to the international community for help in October.

   Japan intends to play an active role in Sri Lanka's peace building, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The present assistance for returnees facing difficulties in the northern and eastern regions will provide peace dividends in a tangible manner.

   This assistance will be extended as part of the emergency assistance of about 2,860,000 dollars which Japan announced at the Sri Lanka Peace Process Support Meeting held on 25 November in Oslo, Norway.

   Related Information (Emergency Grant Aid to Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons)
   
2. Visit to Japan by the Palestinian Delegation headed by Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Palestinian Interim Authority

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the visit to Japan by the Palestinian Delegation.

   Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Palestinian Interim Authority, and Mr. Maher Al Masri, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, will visit Japan from 18 to 21 December at the invitation of the Government of Japan.

   During their stay in Tokyo, Dr. Sha'ath and Mr. Al Masri will hold a Japan-Palestinian Ministerial Political Consultation meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi, and they will also have meetings with Middle East experts in Japan as well as attend a Japan-Palestinian Joint Committee meeting with Japan's working level officials in the field of political and economic cooperation.

   These are the second Political Consultation and Joint Committee meetings and are a part of Japan's efforts for the progress of the Middle East peace process.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan by the Palestinian Delegation headed by Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Palestinian Interim Authority)
   
3. Expansion of the duty-free and quota-free treatment for least developed countries (LDC)

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the expansion of duty-free and quota-free treatment for developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDC).

   The Council on Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and other Transactions, which is an advisory board to the Minister of Finance, will today discuss the expansion of duty-free and quota-free treatment for the least developed countries' products, and also the generalized system of preference for other developing countries.

   This will be contained in a report to the Minister of Finance that will enable Japan to add more than 200 agricultural and fishery items to the non-tariff, quota-free items in the list for the importation of goods and services from the least developed countries.

   The details will be made available through both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

4. Question concerning possible schedule of visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

   Q: I believe Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will be visiting Sri Lanka in January. Have any meetings been scheduled between the Foreign Minister and the Government of Sri Lanka?

   Mr. Takashima: The travel plan is still under discussion, and no details have been set yet. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi wishes to visit Sri Lanka as part of her efforts for the policy of peace consolidation.

   Related Information (Japan-Sri Lanka Relations)
   
5. Question concerning travel advisories by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the upcoming holiday season

   Q: This morning, I saw Ms. Watanabe, Division Director of the Kaigai Anzen Sodan Center, on a half-hour program on NHK participating in a show concerning travel advisories during the New Year's season. Because many Japanese are expected to go overseas and might face some difficult situations, travel advisories are very important.

   For example, in Guam, in the last few days, there have been many accidents caused by a typhoon. Many Japanese still remain stranded in the airport and have not been able to come back to Japan. Is there any travel advisory on this?

   Mr. Takashima: We have already issued a spot advisory on the situation on the Island of Guam, which was hit by a very strong typhoon. I understand that there are still fires burning in the port areas and also that many houses have been damaged, and electricity is still shut down throughout most of the island. However, the airport is open, and I believe that commercial airlines have dispatched special flights to take care of those who are stranded in the airport as well as in the hotels on the island.

   We understand that Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez of Guam has issued an appeal for the international community to assist in the efforts to recover from the damages.

   In general, during the year-end and New Year's holiday season, there will be a lot of Japanese traveling all over the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been issuing advisories to them saying that utmost care and precautions will be necessary to take care of themselves and avoid any sort of accident, events or harm, including possible terrorist attacks in various places in the world.

   You may have noticed that all the details of the travel advisories are available on our website, and hopefully travelers will have time to take a look before they depart from Japan.