Press Conference 6 December 2005
- Upcoming appearances of Foreign Minister Aso at the Japan National Press Club and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the suicide bombing in Netanya in Central Israel
- Appointment of Ms. Kuniko Ozaki as a Director of Division for Treaty Affairs of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- Visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Middle East
- Visit by Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Visit to Japan by H.M. King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- Cultural grant aid to the Kingdom of Swaziland
- Follow-up question concerning Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the Middle East
- Question concerning overseas visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso
- Questions concerning appointment of Japanese ambassador for human rights
- Follow-up question concerning H.M. King Abdullah's visit
- Upcoming appearances of Foreign Minister Aso at the Japan National Press Club and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. First a reminder that Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso is going to deliver a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) at 14:00 tomorrow in English. Also, he is going to make another one at the Japan National Press Club-the content is going to be the same but it is going to be in Japanese. It will start at 13:00.
If you have time, do come and listen to the speech.
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the suicide bombing in Netanya in Central Israel
Mr. Taniguchi: First a couple of announcements.
On the terrorist attack in Netanya in Israel, the statement is as follows:
Japan strongly condemns the suicide bombing by a Palestinian extremist which occurred on 5 December in Netanya in central Israel. Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. Japan expresses its condolences to the bereaved families as well as deepest sympathy for the many who were injured.
This act of terrorism comes at a time when the concerned parties, in particular the Israeli and the Palestinian Authority officials, are making serious efforts for the reconstruction of the Palestinian economy such as the reopening of the Rafah Crossing on 25 November. This terrorist act thus constitutes a serious challenge to such peace efforts.
Japan urges the Palestinian Authority to make its utmost effort to control the extremists according to the Roadmap and, also, calls on the Israeli Government to exercise its self-restraint in dealing with this incident so that this terrorist incident will not ruin the achievements of peace efforts so far made by the two sides.
- Appointment of Ms. Kuniko Ozaki as a Director of Division for Treaty Affairs of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Mr. Taniguchi: Second, about the appointment of Ms. Kuniko Ozaki as a Director of Division for Treaty Affairs of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
On Monday, 5 December, the official announcement that Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi A. Annan approved the appointment of Ms. Kuniko Ozaki, Minister of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, as a Director of Division for Treaty Affairs of the UNODC at D-2 level, was issued by the UNODC. Based on this announcement, Minister Ozaki will be assuming her post after adjustment for a period of dispatch and other matters.
As a footnote, Ms. Ozaki has been the Minister of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna since March 2004. She entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979. She is a veteran of international legal matters and has taught once at Tohoku University's School of Law.
- Visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Middle East
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, about the visit of the Prime Minister to some of the Middle Eastern nations.
With regard to the visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Middle East next January, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe announced yesterday, 5 December that Prime Minister Koizumi will visit, if the circumstances permit, the State of Israel, the Palestinian territories and the Republic of Turkey in the first half of next January. Specific dates and schedules are currently under preparation. The purpose of this visit, in addition to the promotion of the bilateral relations with each party, is to encourage further efforts by the Israelis and the Palestinians to advance the Middle East Peace Process and to reaffirm Japan's willingness to continue assisting such efforts. As for the visit to Turkey, it is aimed at conducting a political dialogue towards the stability in the Middle East.
Also as a footnote, Prime Minister Koizumi is going to meet with the heads of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Mahmoud Abbas.
- Visit by Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Mr. Taniguchi: Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, with a view to contributing for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka will visit the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from 7 to 12 December. That will be his 11th visit since he was appointed as a Representative of the Government of Japan in November 2002.
Mr. Akashi, during his stay in Sri Lanka, will meet with H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, who was inaugurated as the new President of Sri Lanka as a result of the election conducted on 17 November and other figures of the Government of Sri Lanka to exchange several views concerning the Sri Lanka peace process.
- Visit to Japan by H.M. King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, H.M. King Abdullah Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will visit Japan from 8 to 10 December at the invitation of the Government of Japan. His Majesty's visit to Japan this time will be the fourth since his last visit in December 2004, and that will be his seventh visit in total since he took the throne.
During his stay in Japan, H.M. King Abdullah will be received by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan as well as meet with Prime Minister Koizumi. H.M. King Abdullah will exchange views with Prime Minister Koizumi on wide-ranging issues including the bilateral relations between Japan and Jordan and the regional issues such as the Middle East peace process and Iraq.
- Cultural grant aid to the Kingdom of Swaziland
Mr. Taniguchi: Lastly, the Government of Japan has decided to extend cultural grant aid of up to 38.1 million yen to the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland for the "Project for the Improvement of TV programs of the Swaziland Television Authority." The exchange of notes was conducted yesterday, 5 December.
- Follow-up question concerning Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to the Middle East
Q: On Prime Minister Koizumi's trip to the Middle East, is Foreign Minister Aso also going?
Mr. Taniguchi: No, it is only going to be the Prime Minister.
- Question concerning overseas visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso
Q: Does Foreign Minister Aso have any plans to go perhaps to Eastern Europe?
Mr. Taniguchi: Nothing has been decided yet.
- Questions concerning appointment of Japanese ambassador for human rights
Q: It has been reported that Japan has decided to appoint an ambassador for the human rights issue. Can you elaborate on this?
Mr. Taniguchi: At 15:30, Foreign Minister Aso is going to give a press conference, and that is going to be the occasion when you can hear who is going to be the ambassador.
Q: Is this a way to pressure North Korea?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well, it seems that the Government of Japan has long considered appointing such a person as Japan's representative so that he/she can join international conferences and other related activities. In addition, human rights as an issue has increased its importance, and it is all the more natural for Japan to have someone like an ambassador specifically in charge of human rights. That is the background.
Q: Would you happen to know how long Japan has been considering this?
Mr. Taniguchi: I cannot tell you exactly how long but for a long time.
- Follow-up question concerning H.M. King Abdullah's visit
Q: On the upcoming visit of the Jordanian king, is there any agreement between Japan and Jordan with regard to anti-terrorism?
Mr. Taniguchi: On concrete issues such as those, I should refrain from making any comment. There may be or may not be. Nothing concrete has been decided yet.
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