Press Conference 25 March 2005

1. Situation in Kyrgyz Republic
2. Opening of Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan
3. Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Oluyemi Adeniji of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
4. Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution to establish UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
5. Appointment of Special Envoys for UN Reform
6. Grant assistance for Afghanistan
7. Grant assistance for Islamic Republic of Pakistan
8. Question concerning upcoming Japan-China directors-general meeting

1. Situation in Kyrgyz 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 situation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

   The Government of Japan is carefully observing the development of the situation in Kyrgyzstan and strongly hopes that the political situation in this country will be settled peacefully and promptly through the efforts of the Kyrgyz people that will refrain from using force or destructive acts.

   The Government of Japan expects that the endeavors in this Central Asian country for reform to establish democracy, rule of law and a market economy will continue to be promoted. The Japanese Government is ready to support and assist such efforts for reform by the Kyrgyz people as stipulated under the framework of the "Central Asia + Japan" dialogue which was launched last year on the occasion of the visit of then-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi in the region.

   Japan is also prepared to make as much a contribution as possible for the stability and prosperity in Central Asia.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic)
   
   
2. Opening of Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is on Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan.

   The World Exposition in Aichi was officially opened yesterday at the ceremony that was attended by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, under the theme "Nature's Wisdom" with emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development.

   The Expo, participated by 121 countries and four organizations, is open for public viewing from today and will last until 25 September.

   Starting from 31 March there will be national day events almost every weekday until the closing of the Expo that will feature one or a group of participating countries on the Expo site and will be attended by the dignitaries from the designated nations.

   There will be two national day events next week: Ireland on 31 March and Islamic Republic of Iran on 1 April. The Government of Japan is pleased to welcome Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy of Ireland and Mrs. Treacy as well as Minister of Commerce Mohammad Shariatmadari of Iran and his wife for each of the occasions.

   Related Information (2005 WORLD EXPOSITION, AICHI, JAPAN)
   
3. Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Oluyemi Adeniji of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is that apart from the Expo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oluyemi Adeniji of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will visit Japan from 27 to 29 March as Guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

   Foreign Minister Adeniji will have talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and other officials of the Government during his stay in Japan. As Nigeria is currently the chair country of the African Union, the meetings are expected not to focus exclusively on Japan-Nigeria bilateral relations but to cover wider-ranging topics including the reform of the United Nations Security Council and the strengthening of the relationship between Japan and the whole of Africa, which have been working closely in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process.

   Related Information (H.E. Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to Visit Japan)
   
4. Adoption of UN Security Council Resolution to establish UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

   The Government of Japan welcomes the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1590 that creates the UN Mission in Sudan by anonymous voting, to which Japan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council cast an affirmative vote. The Government of Japan has been strongly supporting the idea of the earliest possible establishment of peacekeeping operations (PKO) in Sudan which will strengthen the peace process in this country.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
   
5. Appointment of Special Envoys for UN Reform

   Mr. Takashima: The fifth announcement is about the appointment of Special Envoys for UN Reform.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today appointed the following six persons as Special Envoys for UN Reform to engage in matters related to the UN reform until around the end of this year: Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa (for Africa); Mr. Takaya Suto, Former Ambassador to Egypt (for the Middle East); Mr. Masateru Ito, Former Ambassador to Venezuela (for Latin America); Mr. Masaki Orita, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom (for Europe); Ms. Kyoko Nakayama, Former Ambassador to Uzbekistan (for Europe); and Mr. Kimio Fujita, Former Ambassador to Indonesia (for Asia and Oceania).

   The Special Envoys for UN Reform have been appointed in view of the need to work more closely with the regions concerned for the UN and Security Council reform, to which Japan attaches the highest priority in its diplomacy.

   The Government of Japan has been making its utmost efforts to achieve the UN and Security Council reform, and the dispatch of the Special Envoys for the UN Reform to the countries concerned is a part of such efforts.

   Related Information (Appointment of Special Envoys for UN Reform)
   
6. Grant assistance for Afghanistan

   Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about two grant assistances for Asian countries.

   The Government of Japan decided to provide grant assistance of 1.2 billion yen (US$12 million) to be used for the purchase of necessary equipment and goods for the improvement of economic structures and for the project of reintegration of ex-combatants and former refugees based upon the national development programs of Afghanistan, which has suffered from over 20 years of civil war.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
7. Grant assistance for Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Mr. Takashima: The other grant assistance for Asian countries is for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

   The Government of Japan also decided to provide 795 million yen (nearly US$8 million) worth of grant assistance to Pakistan for the purchase of necessary equipment for the project for the Enhancement of Educational Facilities at Allama Iqbal Open University.

   With this assistance, it is expected that the enrollment of the students for educational training courses would be increased to tackle the problem of illiteracy in Pakistan among others.

   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
   
8. Question concerning upcoming Japan-China directors-general meeting

   Q: It has been reported that a directors-general level consultation between Japan and the People's Republic of China will be held shortly. Is this true and, if it is, what will be discussed?

   Mr. Takashima: On 28 March, Director-General of the Department for Asian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai will visit Tokyo and have a consultation with Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

   Since this is a directors-general level meeting, I would rather refrain from going into the details of the agenda. I can only say that since Sino-Japan relations, especially on the economics side, achieved further advancement last year, namely the US$170 billion worth of trade and 4 million people traveling between our two countries, I expect that the Directors-General will discuss the general status of the relations between our two countries and measures to further promote the friendly and mutually beneficial relations for the future.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)