Press Conference 10 December 2004

1. Upcoming visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the Kingdom of Norway and Ireland
2. Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' visit to European countries
3. Presidential election in Ukraine
4. Grant assistance to the Republic of the Philippines
5. Questions concerning lifting of arms export embargo by the European Union (EU)
6. Question concerning recent visit by Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of Bulgaria
7. Question concerning Six-Party Talks
8. Question concerning visit to Japan by Special Envoy for Six-Party Talks Joseph R. DeTrani of the United States of America

1. Upcoming visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the Kingdom of Norway and Ireland

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Today, I would like to make four announcements before I take questions.

   First is the visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to the Kingdom of Norway and Ireland. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan have accepted the invitation to visit Norway extended by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Norway.

   Along with Norway, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will visit Ireland.

   Their Majesties are scheduled to leave Tokyo on 7 May 2005, and the duration of the visit will be about a week. The itinerary of the visit will be finalized after consultation with the Government of Norway.

   Related Information (Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to visit Norway)
   
2. Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' visit to European countries

   Mr. Takashima: On this visit, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a statement in which he said as follows:

   Japan has long enjoyed friendly relations with these countries. Especially, the Royal Family of Norway has a close relationship with the Imperial Family over a long period of time. In 2001, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Norway paid a visit to Japan as State Guests, and an invitation has long been extended to Their Majesties to visit the country. Also, next year marks the 100th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

   Invitations have also been extended from Ireland to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to visit the country. President Robinson extended an invitation at the time of her state visit to Japan in 1995.

   I am confident that the visit will further strengthen Japan's existing friendly relations with these countries. I would thus like to join the Japanese people in expressing my best wishes for the visit.

   I would like to express my sincere hope for Their Majesties' pleasant journey and safe return home.

   Related Information (Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' Visit to European Countries)
   
3. Presidential election in Ukraine

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the Ukrainian election.

   The Government of Japan welcomes the Ukrainian Parliament's adoption of the amendment to the Constitution and the presidential election law as a major step forward towards the normalization of the situation. The Government of Japan considers it extremely important that the runoff presidential election to be held on 26 December is carried out democratically so that the will of the Ukrainian people can be reflected in a free and fair manner.

   The Government of Japan is considering the size of the election observation team to be dispatched to monitor this runoff election in Ukraine.

   Related Information (Japan-Ukraine Relations)
   
4. Grant assistance to the Republic of the Philippines

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about Japan's grant assistance to the Republic of the Philippines.

   In the wake of the disastrous damage in the Republic of the Philippines caused by the torrential rain, the Government of Japan today decided to provide emergency grant assistance of US$350,000 to the Government of the Philippines to provide emergency food package to 20,000 households for ten days. The Government of Japan has already provided US$250,000 worth of emergency assistance in kind such as blankets, tents and electric generators on 3 December. Today's emergency assistance is in addition to this original assistance.

   Related Information (Japan-Philippines Relations)
   
5. Questions concerning lifting of arms export embargo by the European Union (EU)

   Q: Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi reportedly said that Japan opposes the lifting of the arms export embargo by the European Union (EU) to the People's Republic of China when she attended the 12th Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria. Is this report true?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has been requesting the EU countries to take a cautious approach towards the lifting of the arms export embargo to China in view of the general situation surrounding this issue.

   The views expressed by Special Advisor Kawaguchi were in line with the Japanese Government's existing approach to this issue.

   Q: Did Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura raise this issue when he recently met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Michel Barnier of the French Republic?

   Mr. Takashima: Foreign Minister Machimura raised this issue and asked the French Government to take a cautious approach.

   Related Information (Japan-EU Relations)
   
6. Question concerning recent visit by Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of Bulgaria

   Q: Did Special Advisor Kawaguchi meet with Premier Wen Jiabao of China in Bulgaria?

   Mr. Takashima: I am not aware of it.

   Related Information (Japan-Bulgaria Relations)
   
7. Question concerning Six-Party Talks

   Q: What is the prospect of the Six-Party Talks?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has been urging North Korea through various channels the immediate resumption of the Six-Party Talks without any conditions, if possible, by the end of this year.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations Six-Party Talks on North Korean Issues)
   
8. Question concerning visit to Japan by Special Envoy for Six-Party Talks Joseph R. DeTrani of the United States of America

   Q: Special Envoy for Six-Party Talks and US Representative to Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) Joseph R. DeTrani of the United States of America is reportedly in Tokyo. Who will he meet?

   Mr. Takashima: Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of North Korean affairs will be meeting with Special Envoy DeTrani, and they will exchange their views.