Press Conference 15 July 2003

1. Upcoming United Nations Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction
2. Upcoming visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
3. Question concerning recent regular consultation on disarmament and non-proliferation between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran
4. Questions concerning North Korean issues
5. Questions concerning developments in the Middle East
6. Question concerning possible deal on Azadegan oil field in Iran

1. Upcoming United Nations Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have two announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is that the Government of Japan today decided to invite the United Nations Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction scheduled to be held in January 2005 to Kobe, Japan.

   This conference, subject to decision by the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly starting in September this year, will finalize the review process of the United Nations guidelines for the international cooperation on the prevention of natural disaster known as the Yokohama Strategy and adopt a new strategy for the 21st Century.

   Since the year 2005 marks the tenth anniversary of the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake in 1995, the Government of Japan hopes to share the lessons we learned through this big earthquake with the participating nations and international organizations to this conference, and promote better preparedness and preventive measures against various types of natural disasters.

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2. Upcoming visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the visit to Japan by British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair.

   Prime Minister Blair and his wife will be visiting Japan from 18 to 20 July. During his stay, Prime Minister Blair will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and give a speech to members of the business circle in Japan. This will be the third visit to Japan for Prime Minister Blair since he became Prime Minister.

   In addition, as a reminder, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia is arriving in Japan today and will stay here until 17 July.

   Related Information (Japan-U.K. Relations)
   
3. Question concerning recent regular consultation on disarmament and non-proliferation between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Q: Could you comment on the regular consultation on disarmament and non-proliferation issues between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran that was held last week on 12 July?

   Mr. Takashima: This was the fourth consultation on disarmament and non-proliferation between Japan and Iran. The Japanese delegation headed by Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with his Iranian counterpart, Head for International Political Affairs of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Amir-Hossein Zamani-Nia.

   During the course of discussions, the Japanese side raised the issue of alleged Iranian development of nuclear weapons and urged Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and to sign, ratify and implement the Additional Protocols. At the same time, the Japanese side urged the Iranian side to exercise maximum self-restraint on the issue of ballistic missile test firing.

   Related Information (Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation)
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4. Questions concerning North Korean issues

   Q: Firstly, will there be any change in Japan's policy toward North Korea following reports that North Korea has started reprocessing spent fuel rods? Secondly, what is the prospect for the five-nation talks on the North Korean issue?

   Mr. Takashima: On your first question about alleged reprocessing by North Korea, we recognize and are very much concerned about the press report to that effect. Moreover, we have been closely consulting with the United States of America and the Republic of Korea on this and other issues. However, at this moment, we do not have definite information which clearly states that North Korea has actually finished or is engaged in reprocessing. We are still analyzing and monitoring the situation.

   As for the prospect of the five-party negotiations, we are very much appreciative of the effort by the Government of the People's Republic of China to urge the North Koreans to accept the idea of holding five-way talks on the nuclear issues of North Korea and we are still awaiting the information which hopefully will be coming from the Chinese side on the result of the recent visit to Pyongyang by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo, who reportedly met with North Korean leader, General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

   Q: Were you informed about the meeting between the Chinese official and General Secretary Kim?

   Mr. Takashima: We have read the report by the North Korean official state news agency, and we are checking it and are hopeful that through the existing channels we will be informed in due course of the actual result of the talks between the Chinese delegation and the North Koreans.

   Q: How are the studies of Japan-North Korea relations (or non-relations) going?

   Mr. Takashima: We are still hoping that the North Koreans will come back to the negotiating table on the normalization of the relations between our two countries, and also that North Korea will participate in the multilateral talks on the nuclear issues.

   As far as Japan is concerned, we are still urging North Korea to return the families of the five abductees to Japan so that the members of the families can discuss about their future in a free and unrestricted environment.

   Q: I heard a statement by North Korean officials that Japan was the country that violated the agreement that these abductees who returned to Japan would perhaps stay two weeks, but they did not return as according to the agreement. So what is your comment to this?

   Mr. Takashima: There has not been such an agreement. The decision to stay in Japan instead of returning to North Korea was based upon the will of the abductees and their families along with the Government. We believe that this has been a right decision and we urge the North Koreans to meet the strong call of the abductees and their families that they be reunited in Japan with their family members remaining in North Korea so that, as I have said, they can have an opportunity to discuss about their futures in a free and unrestricted manner.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
5. Questions concerning developments in the Middle East

   Q: There were some reports today in the Yomiuri Shimbun that Japan is hoping or looking forward to signing a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Kuwait. Do you have any details about this report?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has made no decision on the dispatch of SDF to Kuwait. Therefore, there has been no decision made on a Status of Forces Agreement with Kuwait.

   Q: Is there any delegation headed by Mr. Yukio Okamoto, Special Adviser to the Cabinet, visiting the Middle East now?

   Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that Mr. Okamoto has already returned to Tokyo. However, a part of a medical survey team is still in Iraq doing some survey work.

   Q: When is the expected departure of the SDF to Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: The date has not been set yet because the draft law is still being discussed at the Upper House or House of Councillors at the Diet.

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6. Question concerning possible deal on Azadegan oil field in Iran

   Q: With regard to the Iranian issue, I read a report in Kyodo from Tehran that the deal over the oil of the Azadegan oil field is about to be struck. Can you confirm that as the Government of Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that the negotiations are still ongoing between the Japanese consortium and the Iranian authority. Of course we recognize that Iranian officials stated that the negotiating table is open to any other parties since 1 July, but so far, the information that I have received says that there is no party other than the Japanese consortium.

   Q: So is Japan continuing to negotiate despite the American request not to do so?

   Mr. Takashima: We are negotiating and we are very hopeful that the Japanese and Iranian sides will strike a deal so that Japan will be able to have access to the Iranian oil field. At the same time, we strongly hope that the Iranian Government will reach an agreement with the IAEA soon, so that the question of a possible Iranian nuclear weapons program will be resolved.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)