Press Conference 11 May 2004

1. Message of condolences by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi regarding the bombing incident in Grozny
2. Question concerning observer status of Taiwan
3. Question concerning inauguration ceremony of President of Taiwan

1. Message of condolences by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi regarding the bombing incident in Grozny

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

   Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message of condolences to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on the occasion of the terrorist bombing in Grozny of Chechnya that killed President Akhmad Kadyrov of Chechnya and others. In this message, Prime Minister Koizumi reiterated his strong determination to fight against terrorism in cooperation with the international community.

   Regarding this terrorist attack in Grozny, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi also sent a message of condolences to the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov yesterday in which Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that terrorism is unacceptable and unjustifiable whatever the reason attached to it.

   Related Information (Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and from Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation concerning the Terrorist Bombing)
   
2. Question concerning observer status of Taiwan

   Q. The World Health Assembly (WHA) is taking a vote on the observer status of Taiwan at the forthcoming General Committee Meeting on 20 May. What is the Japanese Government's position on this?

   Mr. Takashima. The Government of Japan supports the observer status of Taiwan at the World Health Organization (WHO) because the issue dealt by the World Health Organization, namely disease control and health care, universal issues in which Taiwan is also involved. However, at the time of actual voting, the Government of Japan has to see the terms and the condition of the agenda first before deciding what sort of voting Japan would cast. We have to wait.

   Q: It was reported that the United States of America had already made up its mind to vote affirmatively. Does not Japan follow the American cause?

   Mr. Takashima. Although Japan supports the observer status of Taiwan at the WHO, we have to study the agenda first before making the decision on the way of voting.

   Related Information (Taiwan)
   
3. Question concerning inauguration ceremony of President of Taiwan

   Q: The inauguration ceremony for the new President of Taiwan is scheduled for 20 May. Will the Government of Japan make any official comment or send a message on this occasion?

   Mr. Takashima. The Government of Japan recognizes that the recount of the vote of the recent presidential election in Taiwan is underway. We are paying attention to the outcome of this recount. We are aware that the inauguration ceremony will be held on 20 May, but since the relations between Japan and the People's Republic of China have been normalized, the Japanese Government's policy is to have full diplomatic relations with China and non-official relations with Taiwan. Therefore, I do not expect any official message or comment to be made by the Japanese Government on the occasion of the inauguration of the new president.

   Related Information (Taiwan)