Press Conference 19 March 2002

1. Results of the Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan
2. Question on a visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Al Muasher of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
3. Question on a visit to Japan by a Palestinian official
4. Questions regarding concerns about weapons of mass destruction
5. Question regarding the meeting of the Reform Advisory Board
6. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by President Pervez Musharraf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

1. Results of the Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have one remark to make at the outset about the results of the Preparatory Mission for Supporting Afghanistan, which we sent to Afghanistan from 3 to 13 March.

   This mission was sent to Afghanistan in order to formulate our plans for future assistance to Afghanistan, and the mission has come back with concrete results. I believe that a list of those results has been distributed to you today. Under "Content of Assistance", the list identifies six main areas of assistance: resettlement of refugees, demining, media infrastructure, education, health and medical care, and assistance for women. We will now take more concrete steps, based on the results of this mission, to formulate our detailed assistance plans to Afghanistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
2. Question on a visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Al Muasher of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

   Q: I read the speech by Mrs. Kawaguchi. She said that Japan expected a visit from the Foreign Minister of Jordan. Do you have any details about this visit?

   Mr. Hattori: Yes, we are expecting Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Al Muasher of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to visit Japan, but we are not yet able to give you any detailed information about the itinerary of his visit. I would like to ask you to wait a little bit more.

   Related Information (Japan-Jordan Relations)
   
3. Question on a visit to Japan by a Palestinian official

   Q: I think I also read that there will be a Palestinian official visiting Japan?

   Mr. Hattori: Well, unfortunately, I do not have material on that to give you.

   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
4. Questions regarding concerns about weapons of mass destruction

   Q: Mrs. Kawaguchi mentioned that Japan feels very concerned that weapons of mass destruction might be developed by Iraq, and that Japan wanted Iraq to prove its innocence. What does Japan want from Iraq in terms of this proof?

   Mr. Hattori: As you know, the international community, through United Nations resolutions, has been requesting Iraq to accept inspections to evaluate the situation with regard to weapons of mass destruction. To our understanding, Iraq has not come up with a positive response to the requests of the international community. What we want, first of all, is for Iraq to accept international inspections, to be undertaken by the United Nations, so the situation can be evaluated. I think that is very much necessary.

   Q: So, Japan is against weapons of mass destruction?

   Mr. Hattori: Absolutely.

   Q: In any country?

   Mr. Hattori: Yes, in any country.

   Q: But, probably, many countries that are friendly to Japan own these weapons?

   Mr. Hattori: When it comes to nuclear weapons, there is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to which Japan is a party. It is our understanding that the parties to the NPT, except five nuclear countries, do not seek an access to the weapons. Both biological and chemical weapons are also regulated by conventions to which Japan is a party. It is a strong hope on our part that each country in the world becomes a party to those international conventions so that the proliferation of those very dangerous weapons does not take place. That is our understanding and our policy.

   Q: That is very good, but are you going to follow those countries that have not participated in the same way in which you are following Iraq?

   Mr. Hattori: Of course. If there were any doubts about a certain country, for example, violating their commitments under those conventions, the appropriate response would be for the international community to come up with concrete actions in order to verify, first of all, whether the country concerned is really abiding by the convention. The necessary procedures are specified in those conventions. It is not our policy to adopt any double standards. Our policy is one that should be applied to any country.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)
   
5. Question regarding the meeting of the Reform Advisory Board

   Q: According to my information, I understand that there is a meeting on Foreign Ministry reform to be held today. What is the English name of this committee?

   Mr. Hattori: The Reform Advisory Board: This committee has terms of reference to come up with a very detailed action plan for the reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   Q: Thank you very much.

6. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by President Pervez Musharraf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Q: Did Japan make a commitment to Pakistan about economic assistance or related issues during President Musharraf's recent visit?

   Mr. Hattori: During the visit to Japan by President Pervez Musharraf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi discussed all the bilateral issues, including our already committed assistance to Pakistan, with President Musharraf. There was no new additional economic assistance to Pakistan from Japan. We have already amply pledged our financial and technical assistance to Pakistan; it is now time for us to deliver on the commitments that we have made to Pakistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)