Press Conference 7 November 2003

1. Statement by Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on situation in Aceh, Republic of Indonesia
2. Upcoming schedule for Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi
3. Questions concerning possible dispatch of Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to Iraq
4. Question concerning security situation
5. Question concerning North Korean situation
6. Question concerning possible upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld of the United States of America

1. Statement by Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on situation in Aceh, Republic of Indonesia

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Today, there are two things I would like to say.

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima issued the following statement on the situation in Aceh, Republic of Indonesia.

   Concerning the decision for the extension of military emergency for further six months in Aceh, made by the Government of Indonesia on 6 November, the Government of Japan expresses its concerns for the extension as it has been Japan's basic position to expect the issue of Aceh to be peacefully solved under the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

   The Government of Japan has been continually urging the Government of Indonesia in cooperation with other countries concerned to heed human rights and secure transparency. Japan intends to continue urging the Indonesian Government toward the peaceful resolution of the issue.

   Japan is also prepared to extend all the indirect assistance necessary for that goal.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Situation in Aceh, Indonesia)
   
2. Upcoming schedule for Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi

   Mr. Okuyama: As regards Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's schedule for next week, subject to the formal approval by the Cabinet on Monday, she will visit Malaysia on 11 November (Tuesday) and the Lao People's Democratic Republic on 12 November (Wednesday).

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will pay a courtesy call on Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and have a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Syed Hamid in Kuala Lumpur.

   On Wednesday, she will have a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavath Lengsavath of Laos, and there may be some other meetings with high officials of the government.

3. Questions concerning possible dispatch of Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to Iraq

   Q: If we go from East Asia to the Middle East, what is the latest on Japan's plan to send civilians and military personnel to Iraq?

   Mr. Okuyama: We are still continuing the consideration from various angles based on the results of the mission that we sent to Iraq and other countries earlier. At this moment, we have no definite announcement to make on what kind of personnel to be dispatched nor on what areas and timeframe.

   We believe that the reconstruction of Iraq and the stabilization of civil life in Iraq will be important not only for the peace and stability of the Middle East but also for the peace and stability of the international community as a whole. Also, we regard this issue as having a direct impact on the national interests of Japan.

   Thus, we would like to implement at an early timing, appropriate contributions involving the capabilities of the Self-Defense Force (SDF) while watching carefully the development of the situation on the ground.

   Q: There were some reports about the statements by Mr. Yukio Okamoto, Special Advisor to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, in Iraq. Reportedly, he did not rule out that Japanese forces or personnel could be attacked in case they were to go to Iraq. I am wondering what the real situation is regarding his statements. And, does it represent government policy?

   Mr. Okuyama: Our mission in Baghdad is taking utmost precaution against any security threat in Baghdad and Mr. Okamoto's press conference was held in that kind of situation. He said that utmost care and caution need to be taken against the threats.

   As for the dispatch of SDF personnel, we believe that there are various areas and regions in Iraq and different levels of security threats throughout the country. While taking utmost caution against possible security threats, we still believe that we could identify appropriate areas and functions in which the SDF will be able to cooperate with the humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq.

   Q: The Japanese press described the attacks in Iraq by certain groups against American military forces and civilian targets as terrorist.

   There are two kinds of attacks in Iraq: first of all, against American forces; second, against civilian targets such as international organizations and civilian people. Some Arab people differentiate between these two. They say that attacks against American forces is resistance against occupation while attacks against civilians is terrorism.

   I noticed however in Japan that the Japanese press brand all of these attacks as terrorism. What is the policy of the Government? How does the Government of Japan describe the attacks going on in Iraq against civilians and against American military targets?

   Mr. Okuyama: There are various different security threats, and we understand that the perpetrators may be different and there are certain specific targets of attacks. On the whole, it may be difficult to distinguish exactly what kind of security threats are there but I think that depending on the areas and the personnel, these security threats actually differ.

   Certainly, we have to consider appropriate means to protect our embassy staff and premises. That consideration may have to be different from the consideration of what kind of security measures that a possible dispatch of SDF may have to take on the ground in certain areas that they are dispatched to.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
4. Question concerning security situation

   Q: We all know that Japan's image in Arab countries is very positive. Basically, I noticed that a lot of people were kind of surprised about Japan being named in the latest terrorist threats against certain countries.

   Additionally, there were some reports recently that a so-called al-Qaeda member was arrested in Japan and deported. What is the reality here? What is happening on this? Does Japan feel that it is threatened despite the fact that most reports do not seem to indicate that anybody would want to target Japan because it has a very good image among and good relations with Arab countries?

   Mr. Okuyama: First of all, to answer to the last part of your question regarding what the Government of Japan is doing within its own territory against possible terrorist threats.

   We are taking utmost care against possible terrorist threats in Japan. I will not comment on the factual aspects of the recent case which involved a foreign national in Japan for security reasons. However, generally speaking, we do not perceive any imminent terrorist threats from the al-Qaeda or any other group within the Japanese territory.

   We are proud that Japan's image in the Arab and Islamic world is rather good and we hope that this image will continue. We are strengthening our efforts to engage in a close dialogue with the Arab and Islamic world, and hope that through our efforts and with the cooperation of the countries concerned, the safety of Japanese nationals in various parts of the world will be maintained.

5. Question concerning North Korean situation

   Q: Just an update of the recent North Korean situation. Recently there have been a lot of reports talking about the six-party talks or about the security guarantees from the American to the North Korean regime. How does the Government of Japan currently see the situation and conditions regarding North Korea?

   Mr. Okuyama: Firstly, we are hoping for the holding of an early meeting in the format of the six-party talks. The date is not fixed and we are expecting Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of the People's Republic of China to come to Japan from 12 to 16 November.

   Further, the visit to Japan of Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly of the United States of America is under coordination at the moment. No date and other aspects are fixed yet.

   Through the discussions with China and the US as well as the Republic of Korea and others, we would like to reach early agreement on the holding of the six-party talks.

   Simultaneously, we are in touch with North Korea on holding of bilateral consultations to address the issue of abduction. So far, the North Koreans have not come back to us.

   Also, we are expecting the Korean Peninsula Energy Organization (KEDO) to reach a formal agreement by 21 November involving the status of the light water reactor projects.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
6. Question concerning possible upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld of the United States of America

   Q: Speaking of visits, there were also some reports saying that US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld would visit Japan. Do you have any information on that? I heard that he was going to meet Foreign Minister Kawaguchi.

   Mr. Okuyama: For Mr. Rumsfeld's visit, we are still discussing with the United States to make this happen in mid-November. No decision has been reached on the specific dates of the visit and I have no more things to say on this.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)