Press Conference 23 April 2002

1. Announcement on changes to the travel advisory and warnings system
2. Question on Japanese assistance to Palestinians
3. Follow-up question on changes to the travel advisory system
4. Question on upcoming visit to Japan by President Romano Prodi of the European Commission
5. Question concerning a discussion on public relations strategies

1. Announcement on changes to the travel advisory and warning system

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As you may know, the Japanese Government has been reviewing the travel advisories and warnings addressed to Japanese nationals who are to travel abroad.

   We used to have five different levels of classification, in terms of the levels of dangers and situations in a particular country or place. We now have a revised formulation for travel advisories, which is going to be put into effect from 26 April. The new system is going to have four different categories, or levels, for the situations in different countries.

   The main thrust of this new system is that it puts greater onus on the traveler. Of course, the Government is responsible for giving appropriate advice whenever it is needed, for whatever country it may be, for whichever travel advisory will be issued.

2. Question on Japanese assistance to Palestinians

   Q: Regarding assistance to Palestinians, do you have an update regarding Japan's measures towards the Palestinian issue?

   Mr. Hattori: Well, it is not that we are not doing anything at all. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi has been having various kinds of telephone conversations on and off. We always keep ourselves in touch with the Americans and the Palestinians, and with the Israelis. Things are changing on the spot, and this situation is not easy.

   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
3. Follow-up question on changes to the travel advisory and warning system

   Q: Regarding the travel advisories, where can Japanese people get this information?

   Mr. Hattori: This afternoon at 15:00, this Ministry is going to officially announce this new policy to the Japanese press. This will be one way in which we will publicize it. And, of course, we have put this on our homepage. So, I think that there will be no problem for Japanese nationals to be informed.

   Q: What I mean is, just in general, for Japanese people who are in Japan or abroad, how can they learn about the updated travel advisory system?

   Mr. Hattori: For each of the countries, you mean? Or in general?

   Q: In general.

   Mr. Hattori: As I said, this will be put on the homepage of this Ministry.

   Q: As for people who do not have access?

   Mr. Hattori: That will be reported by newspapers. What else can you expect us to do in disseminating this information? This is a globalized world, so there is no problem for this new policy to become known to the public.

4. Question on upcoming visit to Japan by President Romano Prodi of the European Commission

   Q: I have a question about European Commission President Prodi's visit to Japan. Could you please give us an update regarding his scheduled meetings and the issues to be discussed?

   Mr. Hattori: President Romano Prodi of the European Commission arrives in Japan on 25 April. The EC President is going to deliver a speech to the House of Representatives on the morning of 26 April. In addition, President Prodi will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor on the afternoon of 26 April. Later that afternoon, President Prodi will give a press conference, and he will meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. That evening, Prime Minister Koizumi will host an official dinner for President Prodi. The following day, 27 April, President Prodi will leave Japan.

   Q: When and where will the press conference be held?

   Mr. Hattori: The press conference will be held at 16:45 at the Japan Press Club.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission)
   
5. Question concerning a discussion on public relations strategies

   Q: I read a report saying that there was a meeting held with the Minister for Foreign Affairs just yesterday, and in this meeting the issue of how to reform public relations was discussed. They discussed how the public relations function was to be changed or developed. What kind of discussion was this?

   Mr. Hattori: Yes, public relations, PR, is one of the agenda items for the deliberations by the committee. For example, I was asked to present our own ideas, new ideas, for improving our PR strategy. Those were presented to the committee. I have not yet heard what kind of discussion the committee conducted on the basis of our proposed ideas.

   Although we have been making our own efforts in order to make ourselves accountable as much as possible in the eyes of the public, in terms of diplomacy, it may be that it is not enough. I think that there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of quality and quantity in regard to our relationship with the public. I do not know what kind of new measures will be discussed in that committee, but in the middle of May the committee is supposed to come out with an interim report including recommendations on various areas, of which PR will be one.