Press Conference 2 March 2004

1. Food aid for Palestinian refugees
2. Upcoming visit to Japan by Prime Minister Göran Persson of the Kingdom of Sweden
3. Questions concerning meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic

1. Food aid for Palestinian refugees

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

   The first announcement is about food assistance for Palestinian refugees.

   The Government of Japan has decided to extend food aid of 500 million yen (US$4.6 million) for Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Notes to this effect were exchanged on 1 March at the UNRWA Headquarters in Gaza between Ambassador of Japan to Jordan Koichi Obata and Mr. Peter Hansen, Commissioner of the UNRWA.

   The continued clashes between the Israelis and Palestinians have severely affected the Palestinian economy, bringing great hardship to the Palestinian refugees.

   Under these conditions, the UNRWA, which is conducting aid activities including intensive food aid for the poor class of Palestinian refugees, has requested food aid from the Government of Japan. Taking into account the serious food shortage among the Palestinian refugees, Japan has decided to extend a fund to purchase flour through UNRWA, from a humanitarian point of view and with a view to alleviating the impact of the military operations in Iraq on the peace and stability of the Middle East.

   This project is expected to improve the food supply of the Palestinian refugees.

   Related Information (Food Aid for Palestinian Refugees)
   
2. Upcoming visit to Japan by Prime Minister Göran Persson of the Kingdom of Sweden

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Göran Persson of the Kingdom of Sweden.

   Prime Minister Persson will visit Tokyo from 8 to 9 March. During his stay, a meeting is planned between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Persson. This will be the first visit to Japan by Prime Minister Persson. The last visit to Japan by a Swedish Prime Minister was made by Mr. Carl Bildt in April 1993.

   Related Information (Mr. Goran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden, to Visit Japan (8th-9th))
   
3. Questions concerning meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic

   Q: What do you expect to come out of the meeting this evening between the foreign ministers of Japan and the French Republic?

   Mr. Takashima: This is a very important meeting between our two countries because our bilateral relations are very extensive and deep. During the course of the meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi is expected to discuss with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin various projects going on between Japan and France to further strengthen the friendly and cordial relations between our two countries. In addition to that, assistance to Iraq will be a main subject to be discussed. Japan and France are now discussing conducting joint assistance for Iraq in the area of culture as well as medical assistance. We hope that through this meeting something more concrete will emerge so that joint assistance between Japan and France for the people of Iraq will be materialized.

   Also, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will explain the current situation of the North Korean issues on which the recent six-party talks were held last week in Beijing, People' Republic of China. Those are the main points and there will be a meeting with the press by the two foreign ministers to be held at the Iikura Guest House this evening. All members of the press are cordially invited to attend and participate.

   Q: Do you think that the differences in position between the two countries in terms of the war on Iraq led by the United States of America would serve as a kind of setback in the planned cooperation between the two countries?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has been urging the Government of France to participate in the international effort to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country. In response to that Japanese request, the French side is now seriously considering joint assistance for Iraq with Japan, so a difference in views does not exist in terms of the necessity arising in the aftermath of the Iraqi military operations.

   Related Information (Japan-France Relations)