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Press Conference 22 July 2003

1. Ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
2. Situation in the Solomon Islands
3. Grant aid to the Kingdom of Nepal

1. Ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, today I have three announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is that the Government of Japan welcomes the recent deposition by the Government of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria of its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) with the United Nations.

   Algeria is one of the nations whose ratification is required by the Treaty before it can enter into force. The Government of Japan has been approaching the Government of Algeria for early ratification and highly values this deposition, and urges the other twelve nations listed as necessary ratifiers for the enactment of the Treaty for early ratification.

   Related Information (Japan's Recent Efforts to Promote the Early Entry into Force of the CTBT)
   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by Algeria)
   
2. Situation in the Solomon Islands

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the situation in the Solomon Islands.

   The Government of Japan expresses its support to the initiative taken by the Government of Australia and other member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to deploy police and armed forces to the Solomon Islands at the official request of the government and parliament of the island nation.

   The Government of Japan has been observing with concern the situation in the Solomon Islands, which has been facing political instability since June 2000. The Government of Japan strongly hopes that the deployment of police and armed forces will stabilize the situation in the Solomon Islands. At the same time, the Government of Japan expresses its willingness to provide all possible cooperation for the stabilization of law and order and for the improvement of infrastructure for economic and social development in the Solomon Islands.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Situation in Solomon Islands)
   
3. Grant aid to the Kingdom of Nepal

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the grant aid to the Kingdom of Nepal.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide grant aid of 1,380 million yen (approximately US$11.7 million) to the Government of Nepal for the Project for the Extension and Reinforcement of Power Transmission and Distribution System in Kathmandu Valley.

   The city of Kathmandu suffers from chronic electric power shortage due to the lack of an adequate and efficient power distribution system. This grant aid will enable the Government of Nepal to construct necessary substations and transmission line systems so that 260,000 residents of Kathmandu will get a stable power supply in the near future.

   Related Information (Japan's ODA)
   Related Information (Japan-Nepal Relations)