Press Conference 25 July 2003

1. Assistance to Palestinian Authority (PA)
2. Assistance to Republic of the Marshall Islands
3. Upcoming visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilinka Mitreva of Republic of Macedonia
4. Upcoming attendance by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi at World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting in Montreal, Canada

1. Assistance to Palestinian Authority (PA)

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

   The first announcement is about assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

   In order to assist the reestablishment of the security apparatus of the Palestinian Authority, the Government of Japan decided to provide US$300,000.00 worth of radio communication equipment and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority for the setup of a wireless communication system.

   With this assistance, provided through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Japan expects that the Palestinian Authority will be able to reestablish its security control system so that the implementation of the "road map" for the Palestinian and Israeli peace process will be further advanced through the better security in the field in the area governed by the Palestinian Authority.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
   
2. Assistance to Republic of the Marshall Islands

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide grant aid of up to 614 million yen (approximately US$5.2 million) to the Government of the Marshall Islands for the project for the improvement of the Majuro Hospital. This hospital, established in 1968 as the focal point of the medical service in this South Pacific island nation, has been troubled by heavy salt damage to the building, and old and worn-out medical equipments.

   With this assistance from Japan, it is expected that the financial burden incurred by the Government of the Marshall Islands from the frequent air transportation of patients to the hospitals in Hawaii for test and treatment will be reduced thanks to the better medical service provided by the refurbished Majuro Hospital.

   Related Information (Japan's ODA)
   Related Information (Japan-Marshall Relations)
   
3. Upcoming visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilinka Mitreva of Republic of Macedonia

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilinka Mitreva of the Republic of Macedonia.

   Foreign Minister Mitreva will be visiting Japan from 27 July to 1 August. During her stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Mitreva will meet several high-ranking Japanese government officials to exchange views on both bilateral and multilateral issues.

   This is the first Macedonian foreign minister's visit to Japan in eight years, and the Government of Japan hopes that this visit will further promote the friendly relations between our two countries.

   Related Information (Japan-Macedonia Relations)
   
4. Upcoming attendance by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi at World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting in Montreal, Canada

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting in Montreal.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi today announced that, together with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshiyuki Kamei, she would attend the WTO unofficial ministerial meeting to be held in Montreal from 28 to 30 July in Montreal, Canada provided that the current session of the Diet will have ended by then.

   The three ministers held a meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda this morning to discuss the Japanese position at the WTO unofficial ministerial meeting. They agreed that since this Montreal meeting will be the last preparatory meeting prior to the Cancun Ministerial Conference, Japan, as one of the largest players in global trade, would play its role at Montreal for achieving success at the Cancun Ministerial, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said.

   Related Information (WTO)