Press Conference 20 June 2003

1. Chairwoman's Summing-up Statement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors Meeting concerning the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran
2. Extension of the term of the dispatch of Self-Defense Force Engineer Group and other personnel to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
3. Question concerning contingency laws

1. Chairwoman's Summing-up Statement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors Meeting concerning the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Today I have two announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is about the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors Meeting.

   On 19 June at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, the Chairwoman's Summing-up Statement concerning the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran was announced. The Government of Japan appreciates the IAEA Secretariat's efforts concerning the nuclear issues of Iran, and also regards it important that the international community expressed its concern as a unanimous message about the Iranian nuclear issues at the IAEA Meeting.

   The Government of Japan, as a responsible member of the Board of Governors of the IAEA, will continue to urge Iran to take the international community's concern seriously, cooperate fully with the IAEA in order to get rid of the international community's concern and enhance transparency in its nuclear activities through its prompt and unconditional conclusion and full implementation of an additional protocol and other measures.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Chairwoman's Summing-up Statement of the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting Concerning the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement )
   
2. Extension of the term of the dispatch of the Self-Defense Force Engineer Group and other personnel to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)

   Mr. Okuyama: The second announcement is about the extension of the term of the dispatch of the Self-Defense Force Engineer Group and other personnel to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET).

   In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1480, the mandate of UNMISET, the UN Peacekeeping Operations established upon the independence of Timor-Leste (East Timor) on 20 May 2002, has been extended to 20 May 2004. Following the extension, the Government of Japan decided at a Cabinet meeting to extend the term of the dispatch of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Engineer Group and headquarters personnel currently dispatched as PKO personnel to UNMISET in accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law.

   By this extension, the Engineer Group will continue to carry out such logistical support operations as the maintenance and repair of roads and bridges, and the headquarters personnel will continue to plan and coordinate in the UNMISET headquarters the operations conducted by the Engineer Group.

   The Government of Japan expects that such activities will contribute to peace and security in Timor-Leste and in Asia as a whole. The Government further expects that the activities conducted by the Engineer Group personnel will diversify Japan's cooperation for the nation-building of Timor-Leste and further advance bilateral ties.

   Related Information (Extension of the Term of the Dispatch of the Self Defense Force Engineer Group and Other Personnel to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET))
   
3. Question concerning contingency laws

   Q: Yesterday, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz made remarks at the House Armed Services Committee that in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, the US military forces which are based in Okinawa could react to this emergency within two days. It seems that Mr. Wolfowitz's remarks suppose that a military action by North Korea takes place against the Republic of Korea. In such circumstances, how would Japan be able to assist in the operations of the US military forces? Also, what kind of improvement and enhancement of the legal system relating to the case of emergency is Japan contemplating at the moment?

   Mr. Okuyama: The emergency situations that we contemplate may happen in the areas surrounding Japan will not be limited to potential incidents on the Korean Peninsula and potential military action by North Korea, but also include other possibilities relating to other areas in the vicinity of Japan. In the event of a certain emergency incident, in which American action is involved, Japan would be guided by the relevant legislation including the Law Concerning Measures to Enhance Peace and Security of Japan in Situations in Areas Surrounding Japan.

   As far as the contingency laws are concerned, these laws contemplate armed attacks or clear and imminent danger of such attacks against Japan's territory. In that respect, the emergency situation which might arise on the Korean Peninsula would not be directly related to the provisions of the contingency laws that are now in place.

   As for the improvement and enhancement of Japan's legal system to deal with emergency situations, I would like to stress that these laws are purely for the sake of the exclusively defensive posture of Japan, which is the fundamental tenet of Japan's defense policy. In other words, these laws are in no way purporting to change the existing fundamental defense policy of Japan, that is the exclusively defensive posture.

   Related Information (Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Concerning the Enactment of the Three Laws Regarding Response to Armed Attacks)