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Press Conference 11 March 2005

1. Visit to Japan by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic
2. Visit to Japan by President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Visit to Japan by Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America
4. Support for the consolidation of peace in Africa
5. Third emergency grant assistance for Liberia by Japan Platform (JPF)
6. Question concerning question during Diet session on exhibit in Chinese war memorial museums
7. Questions concerning Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan
8. Question concerning discussion agenda with US officials
9. Question concerning former chess champion, Mr. Bobby Fischer
10. Question concerning Okinotorishima Island

1. Visit to Japan by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic

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

   The first announcement is on the visit by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic.

   President and Mrs. Chirac will pay an official working visit to Japan and stay as a Guest from 26 to 28 March.

   During their stay in Japan, President and Mrs. Chirac will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will host a Court Luncheon in honor of the President and Mrs. Chirac.

   President Chirac plans to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of President and Mrs. Chirac, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and France.

   I understand that President and Mrs. Chirac will continue to stay in Japan after completing this official visit for a while for private purposes.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic and Mrs. Chirac)
   
2. Visit to Japan by President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is the visit to Japan by President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

   President Kabila will pay a visit to Japan as a Guest of the Government of Japan from 13 to 16 March. President Kabila will make a call on His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and hold a meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi.

   The Government of Japan hopes that this visit by President Kabila will further strengthen the friendly and cordial relations existing between our two countries.

   Related Information (H.E. Major General Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Visit Japan)
   
3. Visit to Japan by Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America

   Mr. Takashima: The third is about the visit to Japan by Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America.

   Secretary of State Dr. Rice will visit Japan on 18 and 19 March.

   During her stay in Tokyo, Secretary Rice will hold a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura.

   Prior to this visit by the U.S. Secretary of State, the foreign affairs and defense officials of the Governments of Japan and the United States will have a consultative meeting in Washington, DC on 15 March. They will exchange views on the security issues based upon the results of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (SCC) Meeting, or 2+2 Meeting, held last month in Washington, DC.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
4. Support for the consolidation of peace in Africa

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth is about the Japanese assistance to Africa.

   The Government of Japan today decided to extend emergency grant assistance of a total of about US$38.5 million to United Nations agencies to support the consolidation of peace in seven nations in Africa.

   Japan has set the consolidation of peace as one of the three pillars in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process. As in recent years especially, trends towards peace have accelerated in Sudan, West Africa and the Great Lakes Region, it is important to steadily facilitate these positive trends. This year, in particular, is called the "Year of Africa" when African issues receive high attention by the international community. Japan has decided on extending this support in this significant year to further contribute to the consolidation of peace in Africa.

   Of this US$38.5 million worth of grant assistance, US$9.2 will be given to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the emergency support for the internally displaced people in the Republic of Uganda, and US$3.6 million will be provided to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the return of the refugees to the Republic of Burundi.

   Related Information (Japan's Support for the Consolidation of Peace in Africa)
   
5. Third emergency grant assistance for Liberia by Japan Platform (JPF)

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement is about the assistance through the Japan Platform (JPF).

   The Japan Platform, established in cooperation with the Government of Japan, the Japanese business community and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), has decided to extend emergency assistance totaling about US$1.7 million funded by the Government for the activities carried out by two Japanese NGOs to support the full-scale repatriation of Liberian refugees and internally displaced persons, following the first and second assistance activities carried out from last April.

   In order to assist this and other activities of the Japan Platform, the Government of Japan today decided to provide US$5 million to the Japan Platform. This will be used for assistance in Sudan and the rehabilitation work for the aftermath of the big earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia and the tidal wave in the Indian Ocean as well as other activities.

   Related Information (Grant Aid to the Republic of Liberia for the Community-Based Reintegration Programmes to Support Peace Building and Reconciliation in Heavily-Impacted Returnee Areas in Liberia)
   
6. Question concerning question during Diet session on exhibit in Chinese war memorial museums

   Q: During the recent Diet session, the question was asked about the impropriety of the exhibit in Chinese war memorial museums. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs know about this and has it raised this issue with the Government of the People's Republic of China?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan wishes to have a better understanding of the history shared by both Japanese and Chinese people. In order to promote better understanding, both governments have been discussing this issue and non-governmental organizations in both countries have been doing research work of the content of school textbooks being used in both countries. With those efforts, I hope that the people of both countries will contemplate the lessons from the past to advance into the future.

   I would refrain from making comment on the propriety of exhibits at the Chinese war memorial museums. Also, I would rather refrain from going into the content of the diplomatic exchange between the officials.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
7. Questions concerning Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan

   Q: I have a few questions on the Aichi Expo. Have there been any developments regarding the Chinese request that the visa exemption arrangement be expanded to cover all of China?

   Mr. Takashima: The issue is still pending. In other words, we understand that the Chinese Government is still making a study. No decision has been made yet.

   Q: How about the reported request that the visa exemption be made permanent, instead of limited to the time of the Expo?

   Mr. Takashima: It has not been discussed yet.

   Q: Do you mean not discussed between Japan and China, or at all?

   Mr. Takashima: Between Japan and China, there are existing arrangements and we have proposed to extend that arrangement on a temporary basis, meaning during the time of Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan, to other parts of China, but the Chinese side has not come forward with their idea of whether they would accept that proposal, so nothing has been decided.

   Q: About Taiwan, what is the Japanese Government's stance on visits by senior officials from Taiwan and has the Taiwanese government made any request regarding a possible visit by its president?

   Mr. Takashima: Starting from today, short-term visitors from Taiwan will need no visa to come to Japan for the purpose of sightseeing during the time of the Aichi Expo. As for applications for a visit by high government officials and other dignitaries from Taiwan, we will consider the application on a case-by-case basis.

   Q: Is there a definition of who falls under these criteria of "high government officials and dignitaries"?

   Mr. Takashima: There are no set criteria nor a set list of persons, but we will consider it in due course.

   Q: One last question on the Expo, as the host country, how does the Japanese Government see this current situation that the Aichi Expo, the event himself, more or less become a stage or a political and diplomatic issue between Japan, and China and Taiwan?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not think that the Aichi Expo has become a political issue between Japan and China or between Japan and Taiwan or between other countries. Rather, the Aichi Expo is about to be opened, and it will become one of the most memorable events to commemorate humankind's wisdom to live with nature and that will lead human activities toward a better arrangement of living with nature for the 21st century.

   We expect to have many foreign dignitaries and tourists come to enjoy this Expo. Indeed, 121 nations will be represented at the Aichi Expo. We will have a national event for those nations almost every day during the Aichi Expo term. This will further promote the friendly and cordial relations between Japan and those countries.

   Related Information (Exemption of Visa Fee for Foreigners Visiting the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan)
   
8. Question concerning discussion agenda with US officials

   Q: I believe that yesterday when Foreign Minister Machimura met with US Ambassador in Seoul Christopher Hill, he expressed Japan's frustration at North Korea over the status quo of the North Korea Japanese abductee issues, that Japan cannot wait indefinitely for a breakthrough. Does he mean that if Japan cannot wait forever on this issue, it will impose economic sanctions against North Korea?

   Also, Secretary Rice will be flying into Tokyo next week, as you mentioned. Will these concerns be raised during his meeting with the US Secretary of State?

   Mr. Takashima: The abduction issue is a very serious and important issue for Japan and for the international community. We believe that this is the worst case of violation of human rights. Therefore, we are demanding North Korea to return those who are still alive and also to disclose full information about the abduction cases and name those who are responsible.

   We are very much unsatisfied and disappointed of the way so far that North Korea has been showing us their procedure and process of accommodating our strong request. This is the reason that we raise this abduction issue with the visitors from abroad to Japan when they meet with Prime Minister Koizumi or Foreign Minister Machimura. It is not unusual to raise this issue with Ambassador Hill when he visited Foreign Minister Machimura. Certainly this will be one of the agenda items to be discussed with Secretary of State Rice when she visits Japan.

   Q: To clarify, will economic sanctions be discussed specifically?

   Mr. Takashima: The abduction issue will be. Economic sanctions are one of the options we have if North Korea continues this kind of attitude and also what we might call wrong handling of the issue. We have to seriously consider very stringent measures to counter the situation. However, the Government of Japan has not decided whether we will implement such stringent measures.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
9. Question concerning former chess champion, Mr. Bobby Fischer

   Q: I have another question related to former chess champion, Mr. Bobby Fischer. He has now been under detention for eight months at a Japanese immigration detention center. In the latest development, I understand that the Government of Iceland has offered a residency and also has issued a passport. I understand that he is being placed under detention for traveling on an invalid passport. What is preventing Mr. Fischer from being released?

   Mr. Takashima: The case of Mr. Fischer is now with the Immigration Bureau. Also, the legal case has been pending, and it is now being considered by the court. Therefore, the Government is waiting for the decision by the court on the case. Until such time comes, we have to keep the situation going in that we have to keep Mr. Fischer detained. However, that is a matter handled by the Ministry of Justice and Immigration Bureau.

   Q: Just to confirm, has the Government of Iceland contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Government regarding Mr. Fischer and offering him residency and a passport? Has that message been delivered to the Japanese Government as well?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, I am aware of the press report that the Government of Iceland offered such things, but I do not have any official documentation, as far as I am concerned. As I said, this issue is handled by the Ministry of Justice, so I would refer you to them.

   Related Information (Japan-Iceland Relations)
   
10. Question concerning Okinotorishima Island

    Q: Does the Government of Japan have a plan to construct a lighthouse on Okinotorishima Island?

    Mr. Takashima: No decision has been made on to construct a lighthouse on Okinotorishima. The ministries and agencies concerned within the Japanese Government, along with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, have been discussing plans and projects to further utilize economically the island of Okinotorishima, which the Government has been using in various ways in an appropriate manner for many years.