Press Conference 13 May 2003

1. Terrorist incident in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2. Message from Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sergeevich Ivanov of the Russian Federation on the terrorist incident in the Republic of Chechnya
3. Upcoming Conference "Towards Stable Coexistence of Mutually Interdependent States of Israel and Palestine" to build confidence between the Israelis and the Palestinians
4. Question concerning terrorist incident in Saudi Arabia
5. Question concerning upcoming Group of Seven/Eight (G7/G8) Finance Ministers' Meeting in Deauville, French Republic
6. Questions concerning announcement by North Korea
7. Question concerning upcoming conference in Tokyo on Middle East peace
8. Question concerning reports of possible activity on the Sekanku Islands
9. Question concerning the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA)

1. Terrorist incident in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have three announcements to make.

   The first announcement is about the report from Riyadh on the terrorist incident there.

   Three Japanese nationals were injured due to a bomb blast in a compound in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which happened Monday night. Of those three, two were hospitalized. They are officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency's Saudi Arabia Office. According to the press report, there were many other casualties because of the blast and the bomb blast was caused by terrorist attack.

   The Government of Japan strongly condemns this kind of violent act of terrorism whatever the cause may be. We convey our deep condolences and sympathies to the victims of this terrorist attack and their families.

   Related Information (Japan-Saudi Arabia Relations)
   
2. Message from Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sergeevich Ivanov of the Russian Federation on the terrorist incident in the Republic of Chechnya

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the terrorist attack in the Republic of Chechnya.

   Regarding the terrorist bombing that occurred in Chechnya on 12 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the same day sent a message to the following effect to Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sergeevich Ivanov through the Japanese Embassy in Russia:

   "Concerning the terrorist bombing in the Republic of Chechnya, I express my deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

   I feel truly distressed that a terrorist attack of this kind has been committed again, after the act of terrorism in October, in which a theater in Moscow was occupied. Such atrocities can never be tolerated or justified on any grounds.

   The fight against terrorism is a task which the international community has to tackle solidly, and so I would like to continue maintaining close contact with you on this issue."

   Related Information (Message from Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Igor Sergeevich Ivanov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, on the Terrorist Incident in the Republic of Chechnya)
   
3. Upcoming Conference "Towards Stable Coexistence of Mutually Interdependent States of Israel and Palestine" to build confidence between the Israelis and the Palestinians

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement is about the conference to be held in Tokyo in conjunction with the Israeli-Palestinian peace effort.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host a conference entitled "Towards Stable Coexistence of Mutually Interdependent States of Israel and Palestine" on 19 and 20 May in Tokyo to build confidence between the two parties.

   Taking part in the Conference will be representatives of the business world, the governments, the Parliament and the academic world of Israel, the Palestinian Self-Government Authority, and Japan.

   The Conference will discuss a vision of prosperity for both the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the role to be played by the international community, from a mid- and long-term perspective.

   This Conference will be held as part of Japan's initiative for confidence-building between the Israelis and the Palestinians, one of Japan's policies for promoting the Middle East peace, which was announced by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi in her recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous Areas.

   Related Information (Holding of a Conference "Towards Stable Coexistence of Mutually Interdependent States of Israel and Palestine" to Build Confidence between the Israelis and the Palestinians)
   
4. Question concerning terrorist incident in Saudi Arabia

   Q: I was wondering whether any travel warning has been announced for Saudi Arabia?

   Mr. Takashima: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on 1 May a travel warning urging those who are planning to travel to Saudi Arabia to take utmost caution because of possible terrorist attack. We regret that a terrorist attack was actualized in such a tragic form.

   Q: I have heard that there might be a change to the travel plans of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. How will this affect his planned visit to Saudi Arabia?

   Mr. Takashima: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda announced this morning that there would be no change of plan for Prime Minister Koizumi to visit Saudi Arabia as well as the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America.

   Related Information (Japan-Saudi Arabia Relations)
   
5. Question concerning upcoming Group of Seven/Eight (G7/G8) Finance Ministers' Meeting in Deauville, French Republic

   Q: The other day, US Treasury Secretary John Snow suggested the possibility of there being an international donors' conference for Iraq in the same way that there was one for Afghanistan. This is something that may be discussed at the upcoming finance ministers' meeting in Deauville. Would Japan support there being such a conference for Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: We understand that the assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq would be one of the main topics to be discussed by the finance ministers of the Group of Seven/Eight (G7/G8) countries when they meet this week. Minister of Finance Masajuro Shiokawa will be attending this meeting, and the details are not available through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but rather the Ministry of Finance would be a better place to inquire.

   Q: In general, in terms of how you decide or how much should be given and for what, do you think that a donors' conference would be the best way for the international community to decide?

   Mr. Takashima: I think this topic will certainly be discussed among the participants. Furthermore, it is my understanding that the total amount of the necessary financial resources for the reconstruction of Iraq has been studied and discussed through various channels including international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

   Q: So to clarify, the discussion of a possible donor conference on Iraq, would that be something that would be discussed among the G7/G8 ministers?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not have any information on that.

   Q: Is it something that is being discussed between Japan and the US?

   Mr. Takashima: As a possibility, I have heard that such a conference was one of the things to be considered by various officials but nothing firm has come up yet.

   Q: Is it under consideration?

   Mr. Takashima: That is a possibility but I have no comment on that.

   Q: Has there been no formal proposal from the US?

   Mr. Takashima: As far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, we do not have any information on that but I can check on that.

   Q: So whether Japan supports the idea has also not been decided?

   Mr. Takashima: There are various opportunities for the ministers and officials of the finance ministries of those countries who are interested in this issue to discuss it. So there might be an opportunity to discuss it but I do not know.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
6. Questions concerning announcement by North Korea

   Q: I would like to ask a question on North Korea. Did you have any response to the statement today of the North Korean news agency that it will not obey the 1992 agreement on keeping the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons? Could you comment on the significance of that coming right before visits by the leaders of Japan and the Republic of Korea to Washington, DC?

   Mr. Takashima: I have read the report and also the announcement from the official North Korean news agency. We regret that this kind of announcement was made because this clearly violates what North Korea has openly committed itself to. This is another act of the violations of international commitments that the North Koreans have been committing including restarting of operations at the nuclear power plant in Yongbyon, breaking the seal on its nuclear facilities and expelling inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We once again strongly urge North Korea to stop taking such actions and to come back to the negotiating table quickly. At the same time, they should once again return to the position in which they abide by all international agreements.

   Q: Prime Minister Koizumi has suggested that sanctions are one possibility for the Government of Japan toward North Korea. Is this something that in the light of recent events is being considered more than it was in the past? Apart from economic sanctions themselves, are there any other measures that the Japanese Government is considering, possibly in terms of restricting travel to North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has not excluded any sort of options. We have made it very clear that we would decide what to do with North Korea while keeping a close eye on what the North Koreans have been and are doing. However, currently we have not decided to take such actions as economic sanctions or whatever other measures which would have to be enforced by special laws. At the same time, sanctions usually have to be based upon international arrangement through organizations such as the United Nations Security Council. At this moment, there is no decision that has been taken by the Government of Japan or any international organizations to impose any sort of sanctions toward North Korea.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
7. Question concerning upcoming conference in Tokyo on Middle East peace

   Q: Regarding your last announcement on the Conference that starts on Monday on the Middle East peace process, how would the Government of Japan differentiate from or relate its meaning with the current efforts of the United States?

   Mr. Takashima: The Conference does not have any direct connection to the roadmap presented by the United States or the US effort to promote peace in the region. This is a Japanese initiative, and the Government of Japan thought that it would be necessary to have a confidence-building effort to promote peace in the Middle East especially between the Israelis and Palestinians. In order to make this happen, we thought that it would be better to have representatives from various sectors of the Israeli and Palestinian communities and societies to get together in one place and have a direct exchange of views and opinions through the intermediary of Japanese participants. That is the purpose and aim of the Conference to be held in Tokyo next week. We hope that those who participate from the Israeli and Palestinian sides will take full advantage of this opportunity and get to know each other and move forward for better relations between those two groups of people.

   Q: Do you have any details of exactly who will be attending?

   Mr. Takashima: Participating from Japan are Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East, Mr. Arima; Mr. Hashimoto Chairman of the New International Political System; Prof. Ikeda of Toyo Eiwa University; Prof. Takeyama of Defence University; Mr. Morimoto, Director of Middle East & Africa Office of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   Among the Israelis are former Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin, Ms. Esthel Livni, member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset); former member of Knesset, Ms. Nehama Ronen; Mr. Daniel Levy, Policy Coordinator of the Israel-Palestine Coalition and ECF, and Advisor to the Former Minister of Justice; and a representative from business.

   From the Palestinian side, it will be Minister of Cabinet Affairs Yasir A.A. Abd. Rabou; Minister of Planning Nabil I. K. Kassi; Director General of the Palestinian Ocuncil for Development & Reconstruction (PECDAR); Talal K.A. Nasser Iddin, a businessman; and Samir S.T. Rantisi, Advisor to the Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

   Related Information (Holding of a Conference "Towards Stable Coexistence of Mutually Interdependent States of Israel and Palestine" to Build Confidence between the Israelis and the Palestinians)
   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
   
8. Question concerning reports of possible activity on the Sekanku Islands

   Q: According to reports from Okinawa, members of a Japanese right-wing factions group have reached the island of Uotsurishima. Do you have any information on this with respect to its effect on China and Taiwan?

   Mr. Takashima: I am sorry, I do not have any information on that and there have been no reports so far to that effect that I am aware of.

   Q: What is the stance of the Government of Japan on this?

   Mr. Takashima: There has been no report about the landing or attempted landing, and therefore, there has been no decision made on countermeasures or actions to be taken.

   Related Information (Basic View on Senkaku 1972)
   
9. Question concerning the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA)

   Q: Regarding the shakeup within the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) of the US Department of Defense, has this been a concern of the Government of Japan which is considering participating in the reconstruction of Iraq? With the recent change in the makeup of ORHA, is the Government of Japan concerned about how this or other personnel changes such as Lt. Gen. Jay Garner may affect it?

   Mr. Takashima: We understand that the Government of the United States has appointed Mr. L. Paul Bremer as the head of ORHA in Baghdad. The purpose of the appointment is to strengthen the function of the organization there, and we hope since ORHA is a primary office for helping the Iraqi people get their lives back to a normal state through humanitarian assistance as well as reconstruction efforts, that the new personnel will improve the situation and heighten the possibility of getting things straightened out and work efficiently. However, we do not have our own information about any additional personnel changes including on Lt. Gen. Garner.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)