Press Conference 25 January 2005

1. Japan-Korea Friendship Year 2005
2. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
3. Questions concerning visit to Japan by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation
4. Questions concerning possible meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice of the US

1. Japan-Korea Friendship Year 2005

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

   The Japan-Korea Friendship Year 2005 will officially commence today at the opening ceremony and reception to be held in Tokyo this afternoon. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura will attend the reception.

   In the Republic of Korea (ROK), the opening reception for the Japan-Korea Friendship Year 2005 will be held in Seoul on 27 January at which President Roh Moo Hyun of the ROK will be present.

   This joint event is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and the ROK and to promote cultural and personnel exchanges between the two countries throughout the year, with more than 200 events to be held in both countries.

   In order to facilitate more visitors from the ROK to Japan, especially for the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, the Government of Japan decided to exempt entry visas for ROK visitors to Japan between 1 March and 30 September of this year. This visa waiver will apply to ROK visitors to Japan who intend to stay up to 90 days and have no intention of finding employment here in Japan. This visa waiver decision was notified to the ROK Government yesterday, and the ROK Government reciprocated this action by extending the duration of visa waiver for Japanese visitors to the ROK from 30 days to 90 days.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   
2. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

   Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about an international agreement.

   The Government of Japan deposited the instrument of ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography to Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan on 24 January (New York time).

   By this action, this Optional Protocol will become effective in Japan one month later on 24 February of this year. The Government of Japan sincerely hopes that the implementation of this Optional Protocol will further promote the protection of children, not only in Japan but also in every corner of the world through closer international cooperation to prevent such abuses as sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

   Related Information (Human Rights)
   
3. Questions concerning visit to Japan by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation

   Q: Can you confirm the report from this morning that Japan and the Russian Federation arranged the visit of President Vladimir Putin of Russia to Japan, possibly in early April?

   Mr. Takashima: During the course of the discussions between Foreign Minister Machimura and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov of Russia, it was arranged that Foreign Minister Lavrov will visit Japan in the first half of March 2005. One of the purposes of the visit of the Russian Foreign Minister to Japan is to make the arrangements for the proposed visit of President Putin to Japan. Until that visit, nothing will be finalized or decided by both sides, Japan and Russia, on the visit of President Putin. In other words, nothing has been decided yet.

   Q: I heard that there were exchanges between Foreign Minister Machimura and his Russian counterpart. Do you think there will be a major breakthrough when Russian President Putin comes to Japan regarding the territorial issue?

   Mr. Takashima: It was a preliminary exchange of views although it was a very frank and candid exchange of views from both sides. It was not designed to make any sort of breakthrough but rather for each side to become familiarized with each other's positions. For that purpose, the Japanese side believed that the recent meeting between the Japanese and Russian foreign ministers in Moscow was very useful and significant and helped both sides understand each other's position. Through these preliminary talks and other efforts, Japan and Russia will continue to discuss this issue. Hopefully, we will be able to reach agreement on the settlement of this territorial issue which actually has been outstanding for 60 years now.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
4. Questions concerning possible meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice of the US

   Q: Can you brief us on the latest situation of the bilateral talks between Japan and the US on when the two nations may hold a so-called two-plus-two on the realignment of US Forces in Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: Since the Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice of the US has not yet officially acquired that position, no arrangement has been made between our two countries about the meeting between the Japanese Foreign Minister and the US Secretary of State. Therefore, it is a bit too early to say when the two-plus-two meeting will be held. When Dr. Condoleezza Rice is officially appointed as the US Secretary of State, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State will hold the necessary consultations on the possible meeting between the two foreign ministers.

   Q: Is there even a possibility that Foreign Minister Machimura will visit Washington DC beforehand or in the near future to hold talks with US Secretary of State-designate Rice?

   Mr. Takashima: Foreign Minister Machimura already expressed his willingness to hold the meeting with Dr. Condoleezza Rice if and when she becomes the US Secretary of State at the earliest possible date, but nothing has been arranged yet.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)