Press Conference 4 November 2005
- Remarks by new Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso
- 2005 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals
- Telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Aso and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America
- Meeting of the Ambassador, Consuls-General of Japan and Japanese American Leaders
- Japan-Iran Consultation on Disarmament and Non-proliferation
- Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the Kingdom of Belgium
- Grant aid to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
- Cultural grant aid to Ukraine
- Questions concerning talks between Japan and North Korea
- Questions concerning remarks made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe
- Question concerning seizure of a Japanese boat by the Russian Federation
- Question concerning the upcoming visit of President George W. Bush of the US
- Question concerning remarks by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China regarding the Yasukuni Shrine issue
- Remarks by new Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: I would like to start by telling you what the new Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso had to say at his succession ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Aso said that "It was not without perplexity that I was told to switch from the interior minister to the exterior minister. There is a common perception in Japan today that diplomatic issues are concentrated in Northeast Asia. However, Japan has ties with 190 countries through diplomacy, trade, and the exchange of personnel. For such exchanges, the fewer problems there are in safety and health issues the better, and I truly feel that economic prosperity can bring about peace and development. This is what we have believed in for the past 60 years. The end of the Cold War gave us expectations that there would be no more problems. It turns out that conflicts related to religion, race, or borders seem to have increased. In such a world the least that we can do is to abide by the true national interests. Some say that former Minister for Foreign Affairs MACHIMURA Nobutaka and myself are right-wingers, but in fact we are moderate, middle-of-the-roaders. I would like to carry on my efforts with matters concerning foreign affairs." This is what Foreign Minister Aso told his new colleagues.
- 2005 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals
Mr. Chiba: Today happens to be the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Yesterday was Culture Day in Japan, and on that day, 3 November, the Government of Japan decided to confer decorations on 31 foreign nationals. Of the 31, seven are women.
- Telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Aso and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America
Mr. Chiba: The new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Aso had a telephone discussion with his counterpart from the United States of America (US), Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He took the initiative in calling, and the conversation was carried on for about 10 minutes. Foreign Minister Aso said that while it has only been about three days since he has been appointed the new foreign minister, he would like to meet Secretary of State Rice as soon as possible, like during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting that will be held in the Republic of Korea (ROK) later this month. He also said that it is a major achievement that the two countries could adopt a common document at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2 Meeting) that took place last week, which was instrumental in stabilizing the already concrete basis of the Japan-US security arrangement through the methods of deterrence and the alleviation of local burden at the same time. He said that he would like to go on with close consultations with the US so as to obtain a final result by next March concerning the realignment of US forces in Japan.
To this, Secretary of State Rice responded as follows, "I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Foreign Minister. I have heard a lot of good things about you and I am looking forward to working with you. US-Japan relations are extremely strong and, although there are many problems that we have to tackle, the basis for such cooperation is very firm. The joint document that we were able to announce last week is very important and I would like to continue my efforts to obtain the goal of realignment of the US forces in Japan. I am looking forward to meeting you at the APEC ministerial-level meeting and would like to have you visit the US in the near future."
- Meeting of the Ambassador, Consuls-General of Japan and Japanese American Leaders
Mr. Chiba: Another issue concerning Japan-US relations is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting of the Ambassador and Consuls-General of Japan in the US and Japanese American leaders on 6 and 7 November in San Francisco.
The meeting will be attended on the US side by US Senator Daniel Inouye and about 20 Japanese American community leader from ten regions of the US, and on the Japanese side by Japanese Ambassador to the US Ryozo Kato, and Consuls-General of nine consulates in the US, and other officials, and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Deputy Director-General Tomohiko Taniguchi of the Public Diplomacy Department and officials concerned of the department, and the North American Affairs Bureau. Relevant officials of the Japan Foundation's Center for Global Partnership will also attend the meeting. The meeting will exchange views on the task of strengthening the bonds between Japanese American communities and Japan and discuss the direction and a concrete action plan for establishing a network connecting Japan Americans and Japanese. The meeting, the third of its kind, is highly significant for both Japanese Americans and Japan.
- Japan-Iran Consultation on Disarmament and Non-proliferation
Mr. Chiba: The Japan-Iran Consultation on Disarmament and Non-proliferation will take place this weekend from tomorrow 5 November, in Tehran of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Director General (Ambassador) of the Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department Takeshi Nakane of the Foreign Ministry will attend the meeting from the Japanese side. The Iranian side will be represented by Director-General of the Political and International Affairs Bureau Hosseini of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran. A broad range of issues will be taken up during this consultation related to disarmament and non-proliferation; issues such as nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation and issues concerning biological and chemical weapons, missiles, and conventional weapons are all topics on which opinions will be exchanged.
- Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the Kingdom of Belgium
Mr. Chiba: Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of the Kingdom of Belgium will visit Japan from 8 to 9 November. This is his fourth visit to Japan; the first visit was made in 1989, followed by visits in 2001 and 2003 as Prime Minister. During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Verhofstadt will have a summit meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi. It is hoped that Prime Minister Verhofstadt's visit to Japan will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Belgium.
- Grant aid to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Mr. Chiba: A quick overview on Japanese aid to other places this week. Non-project type grant aid will be provided to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, amounting to approximately US$2.6 million. The exchange of notes was done yesterday in Port Moresby. The Government of Papua New Guinea has a governmental objective to attain good governance, export-led economic growth, and a third aim is the development of agriculture, reduction of poverty, and development of human resources. This grant aid is aimed at supporting the efforts taken by the Government of Papua New Guinea.
- Cultural grant aid to Ukraine
Mr. Chiba: The last announcement I would like to make today regards cultural grant aid provided to Ukraine. The Project for the Improvement of Musical Instruments of the Kyiv Specialized Secondary Music Boarding School named after Mr. Lysenko, which amounts to US$260,000, will be provided to Ukraine. The exchange of notes was done on 2 November between Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kishichiro Amae and Minister of Culture and Tourism Igor Likhovyy of Ukraine.
- Questions concerning talks between Japan and North Korea
Q: What is the status of the second day of talks in Beijing between Japan and North Korea?
Mr. Chiba: Yesterday there were talks concerning the standpoints of each country, and both sides have basically reiterated what they have been repeating to each other. Today we have not had any report yet, the talks are apparently going on. At this stage it is not known what has taken place today.
Q: But the talks are going on?
Mr. Chiba: Yes.
Q: Who is representing Japan?
Mr. Chiba: Japan is being represented by Deputy Director-General of the Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau Akitaka Saiki of the Foreign Ministry.
- Questions concerning remarks made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe
Q: My question concerns a Cabinet decision taken by the Government of Japan on 25 October on the issue of the war criminals in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal). It is reported that there is a Cabinet decision authorizing an official written response by the Government of Japan to a question in writing that was handed in from the Diet, and the response said that there are no war criminals in Japan, legally, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said there are no war criminals in Japan, can you confirm this?
Mr. Chiba: The official written response authorized in the Cabinet meeting merely states that the war criminals were sentenced according to the international tribunal and not by domestic laws, and that is where it stops. I am not aware of the statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe that you have just mentioned. I do not believe that that is the case since the official response decided by the Cabinet meeting is very authoritative.
Q: I would like to confirm if what the written response and what Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe said are different?
Mr. Chiba: I am not aware of what Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe said, but I do not believe that what he said is contradictory to the written response, since the official response is quite authoritative.
- Question concerning seizure of a Japanese boat by the Russian Federation
Q: Do you have any update on the seizure by the Russian Federation of the Japanese boat?
Mr. Chiba: The information that I have this morning was that they are in good health, they are not hurt. The Japanese side regards this as a violation of our territorial rights; the boat was captured within our territorial waters and we have made a protest against the Government of Russia.
- Question concerning the upcoming visit of President George W. Bush of the US
Q: Question about the upcoming trip of President George W. Bush of the US, is he going directly to Kyoto or is he coming to Tokyo first?
Mr. Chiba: It has not been decided what his schedule is going to look like, but it will be announced in due course.
- Question concerning remarks by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China regarding the Yasukuni Shrine issue
Q: My question concerns the meeting between State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China with three governors of Japan in which State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan is reported to have said that there exists a gentlemen's agreement between China and Japan to the effect that the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Chief Cabinet Secretary will not visit Yasukuni Shrine considering the feelings of the Chinese people. I would like to confirm whether or not such an agreement exists?
Mr. Chiba: No, there is no such agreement.
Related Information (Prime Minister's Visits to Yasukuni Shrine)
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