• Register Email Updates

• >> Advanced Search
• Help

Press Conference 24 August 2004

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Central Asia and Mongolia
2. Visit to Japan by Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ong Keng Yong
3. Telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and US Secretary of State Colin Powell
4. Question concerning helicopter crash in Okinawa
5. Question concerning Japan and United Nations Security Council
6. Questions concerning Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Central Asia and Mongolia

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing which will start today. Today, I have three announcements to make before I take questions.

   The first announcement is about Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's visit to Central Asia and Mongolia.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi will visit four countries in Central Asia in addition to Mongolia. She will leave Tokyo on 25 August and will arrive in the Republic of Uzbekistan on 26 August. After that, she will visit the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Mongolia before she returns to Tokyo on 2 September.

   During her visit to the four Central Asian countries, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will try to further strengthen Japan's bilateral relations with each of the countries based upon Japan's existing policy program, Silk Road diplomacy.

   Furthermore, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will explore the possibility of establishing interregional relations between Japan and Central Asia as a group. As Central Asia is a geographically important area rich in natural resources, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi believes that economic and social development of this area can be achieved more successfully if they act together as a group of nations.

   To discuss this, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will participate in the Central Asia + Japan Dialogue to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan on 20 August which will be participated by foreign ministers of the four Central Asian countries as well as a representative from the Republic of Turkmenistan, the Central Asian country where Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will not visit this time.

   In Mongolia, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will reaffirm Japan's intentions to continue developing a comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

   Related Information (Japan-Asia Relations)
   
2. Visit to Japan by Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ong Keng Yong

   Mr. Takashima: Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ong Keng Yong will be meeting with Foreign Minister Kawaguchi this afternoon, in this building, to exchange views on the relations between Japan and ASEAN as well as on the concept of an East Asian community among others.

   Secretary-General Yong arrived to Japan on 22 August at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will be staying in Japan until 27 August.

   Related Information (Japan-ASEAN Relations)
   
3. Telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and US Secretary of State Colin Powell

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America last night.

   During the conversation, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed deep regret on the crash landing of the US Marine Corps helicopter that happened on 13 August in Okinawa and requested the United States to suspend the flight of the helicopter of that type until the cause of the crash is known and the necessary measures to prevent its recurrence are taken. Secretary of State Powell also expressed regret on that accident and responded that he will convey that message to the appropriate agencies.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
4. Question concerning helicopter crash in Okinawa

   Q: Do you think Japan has been taking the helicopter crash in Okinawa seriously enough?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has been taking this incident very seriously as the crash might have caused a lot of casualties among the residents of Okinawa if the crash landing was slightly closer to the housing areas or university buildings. When Foreign Minister Kawaguchi was informed of this accident in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, she swiftly instructed Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shogo Arai to go to Okinawa on her behalf and have the necessary inspections as well as discussion with the authorities of both Okinawa prefecture and US forces in Okinawa.

5. Question concerning Japan and United Nations Security Council

   Q: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi intends to raise the issue surrounding Japan becoming a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council in his speech at the next UN General Assembly meeting to be held next month in New York. What is behind Prime Minister Koizumi's intentions? Prime Minister Koizumi has been known for being unenthusiastic about Japan's participation in the UN Security Council as a permanent member. Has there been a change in heart on his part.

   Mr. Takashima: When Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi recently visited the Republic of India, she exchanged views on this issue with Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh of India and Indian government officials. Both agreed to support each other's candidature to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

   The position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Japan is a legitimate candidate to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We believe that Prime Minister Koizumi shares the same idea in view of the fact that Japan has been making contributions to the international community through the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq, for example, and other contributions through various organizations and agencies.

   Furthermore, the Government of Japan believes that Japan is eligible to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council with the so-called Peace Constitution which includes Article 9.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
   
6. Questions concerning Olympic Games in Athens, Greece

   Q: First of all, I would like to congratulate Japan for doing so well at the Olympics. What is the secret behind their success? Can you comment on their success?

   Mr. Takashima: The same question was asked to Foreign Minister Kawaguchi during her press conference this morning, and she responded that she is delighted to be hearing such wonderful news. It really brightened our hearts and minds. She took note of the fact that Japanese female athletes have been doing especially well. That was the comment made by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi. I share the same view as her. We believe that very rigorous training and a lot of preparation made this success possible, especially for Japanese female athletes but for male athletes as well. We hope that Japanese athletes will win more medals and set great records during the last remaining days of the Olympics.

   Q: Does this mean that in Japan, women are stronger than men?

   Mr. Takashima: That is a very good question. I am afraid that I am not in a very good position to answer that. Personally, I am inclined to say yes.