Press Conference 25 June 2002

1. Emergency assistance to the Islamic Republic of Iran
2. Emergency aid for reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan
3. Follow-up question concerning emergency assistance to Iran
4. Question on the upcoming visit to Japan by President Kim Dae-Jung of the Republic of Korea
5. Question on discussions toward an international conference on the situation in the Middle East
6. Question on the reported US stance towards Iraq
7. Follow-up question regarding reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan
8. Question on press arrangements for the G8 Kananaskis Summit

1. Emergency assistance to the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Assistant Press Secretary Daisuke Matsunaga: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have two announcements to make today, the first of which concerns our emergency aid to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

   The Government of Japan decided to extend emergency aid equivalent to 50 million yen in total to the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has sustained great damage from an earthquake. This comprises emergency grant aid of about US$250,000 and emergency assistance in kind, which is equivalent to about 19.8 million yen, or US$162,000. The emergency assistance in kind is made up of tents, plastic canteens, portable tanks, electric generators, towels, and so on.

   In the late afternoon of 22 June, local time, the Government of Japan sent a message expressing sympathy from Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi of Iran and on the same day dispatched to the quake-hit areas an official of the Japanese Embassy in Iran who on 23 June observed the damage and relief activities as the first official from foreign missions in Iran to do so.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
2. Emergency aid for reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan

   Mr. Matsunaga: My second announcement is about our assistance to Afghanistan.

   On 25 June the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of US$3 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist its Recovery and Employment Afghanistan Programme (REAP) which the UNDP implements in the city of Kandahar and its vicinity.

   If I may explain the project a little, REAP, a recovery and employment project, has been implemented in the city of Kabul and its vicinity by Japan's assistance, and it is highly evaluated by Afghanistan, international organizations, and the international community. REAP will help rebuild destroyed buildings and destroyed roads and other infrastructure and at the same time provide employment to Afghan people. Japan has decided to extend this project not only to Kabul and its surrounding areas but also to the city of Kandahar and its vicinity, to which a large number of refugees and displaced people have been returning.

   In addition to this US$3 million assistance to the UNDP, Japan is also going to provide US$10 million to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its efforts to help refugees and displaced people and also to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) US$640,000 for the same purpose, that is, to help refugees and displaced people. Furthermore, Japan is providing US$700,000 to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its work to preserve the historical monuments in Bamiyan.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Follow-up question concerning emergency assistance to Iran

   Q: In connection with the earthquake in Iran, do you have any requests from Iran to give aid?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I heard that we have received appeals from the Iranian Government, and I can help you with the details later.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
4. Question with regard to the upcoming visit to Japan by President Kim Dae-Jung of the Republic of Korea

   Q: Korean President Kim Dae-Jung is scheduled to visit Japan for the main purpose of attending the closing ceremony of the World Cup. Besides a friendly meeting between the President and Prime Minister Koizumi, do you think they will discuss some concrete political issues at this time?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I am not privy to the detailed agenda, but the leaders are going to have a meeting, and their meeting will cover issues that would be covered by ordinary bilateral meetings.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   
5. Question on discussions toward an international conference on the situation in the Middle East

   Q: The Foreign Minister attended the G8 Foreign Ministers' conference in Canada, and she discussed the Middle East. Are you, is the Ministry, encouraged or discouraged by the results of talks there in terms of convening a conference for the settlement of the problem?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Our thinking is that an international conference on the Middle East must be convened as soon as possible, and we also expressed our wish to take part in the international conference. So, we want to see the international conference suggested convened as soon as possible. As for the situation in the Middle East, Japan strongly hopes that both the Palestinians and the Israelis stop the violence and resume negotiations as soon as possible. That is our position.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
6. Question on the reported US stance towards Iraq

   Q: Regarding the recent report that President Bush suggested the use of violence to destroy Saddam Hussein, how do you assess this remark or this report? Are you aware of any concrete information on this report? What is your response?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Our position on Iraq is that Iraq should accept UN inspections in accordance with the wishes of the international community. As to the axis of evil remark made by President Bush in his State of the Union address, we interpret his remarks as his opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and his determination to make efforts to stop the proliferation of those weapons of mass destruction.

   Q: What is your response to that report, that President Bush is sanctioning the use of violence to stop Saddam Hussein? President Bush is said to have allowed or sanctioned the use of violence to, so to speak, assassinate President Saddam Hussein for reasons we know. What is the Ministry's position on this?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I am aware of the news report, but beyond that I have nothing on it. Regarding the preemptive action: What the President referred to was preemptive action, not preemptive attacks, as far as I understand.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   
7. Follow-up question regarding reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan

   Q: On the Japanese Government aid to Afghanistan through the UNDP, is the Japanese Government just giving the aid to Afghanistan, or are you following up on the spot?

   Mr. Matsunaga: There is a mechanism in Kabul called the Implementation Group at which all donors, including international organizations, get together to coordinate and monitor what they have been doing and what they are going to do. There is a mechanism to watch how the assistance is going to be used.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
8. Question on press arrangements for the G8 Kananaskis Summit

   Q: This week the G8 Summit will be held in Canada. How can we get such press passes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and how many journalists will accompany the Prime Minister?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I think the traveling press from Japan will be in the order of about 100 persons. Regarding how you can get access to the news reports, the announcements coming out of the G8 Summit, please watch our website carefully as we will try to get any statements or communiqués coming out on the website as soon as possible. The wire services will also be accompanying the delegation, so if you are watchful of the wire services, you can probably get the latest information from them.

   Related Information (G7/G8)