Press Conference 26 April 2005
- Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' Visit to Saipan Island
- Signing of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
- Intergovernmental conference on victims of abduction cases by North Korea
- FY2004 cultural grant aid
- Question concerning Japan-China parliamentary friendship association
- Follow-up questions concerning the intergovernmental conference
- Question concerning vice-ministerial level talks between Japan and the People's Republic of China
- Questions concerning possibility of Japan-China-Republic of Korea trilateral meeting in Moscow, Russian Federation
- Question concerning meeting between Foreign Minister Machimura and Governor Masahiro Ishii of Okayama Prefecture
- Question concerning anti-Japan demonstrations in China
- Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Their Majesties' Visit to Saipan Island
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Before taking questions, I would like to make a few announcements.
The first announcement is about the imperial visit to the Island of Saipan. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan will visit Saipan Island, a territory of the United States of America (US), to mourn and pay tribute to those who died in the war in this 60th year after the end of the war. On this visit, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today issued the following statement:
Their Majesties visited various regions in Japan to mourn and pay tribute to those who died in the war and to pray for peace in the 50th year after the end of the war. On this historic year of the passing of sixty years since the end of the war, the Government of Japan has advised Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to pay an overseas visit for the same purpose. Saipan Island was chosen as the destination of the visit, where in addition to military personnel, many civilians lost their lives, and where the Government of Japan has erected the Memorial Monument of the War Dead as one of the main overseas memorials.
Both the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands welcome the visit by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.
Their Majesties have long expressed the intent to mourn for those who died in the previous war, not to forget the sorrow of the bereaved families, and to continue to wish for world peace. I am extremely grateful for Their Majesties' thoughts.
I would like to express my sincere hope for Their Majesties' safe journey and return home.
This is the end of the statement issued by Prime Minister Koizumi. For your information, it is planned that Their Majesties' visit to Saipan will take place on 27 and 28 June this year.
- Signing of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the signing of a regional agreement on piracy.
The Government of Japan today decided to sign the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia and to deposit a letter of notification to the Government of the Republic of Singapore which is the designated depository of the Agreement.
This Agreement is intended to strengthen international cooperation in order to combat the ever increasing piracy cases, especially in the Malacca Strait. The Agreement was originally proposed by Prime Minister Koizumi at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Three (ASEAN+3) meeting in the year 2001. The negotiations to finalize the Agreement were vigorously carried out by 16 countries in Asia under the strong leadership of Japan, and the Agreement was concluded November last year.
The Government of Japan strongly hopes that other nations which participated in these negotiations will sign this Agreement as soon as possible so that it will come into force at the earliest possible date.
- Intergovernmental conference on victims of abduction cases by North Korea
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the new abduction case.
The Government of Japan decided to hold tomorrow an intergovernmental conference on the recognition of the victims of abduction cases by North Korea to examine the case of Mr. Minoru Tanaka, who disappeared in 1978 at the age of 28 when he was working at a noodle shop in Kobe.
The National Police Agency (NPA) has determined, based upon a set of evidence, that Mr. Tanaka was abducted by a North Korean agent. Upon receiving the approval of the recognition of the abduction case by Prime Minister Koizumi, after the intergovernmental conference of tomorrow, the Government of Japan will add Mr. Tanaka's name to the list of abductees and officially demand the North Korean Government to provide information on Mr. Tanaka and allow him to return to Japan immediately.
With this addition of Mr. Tanaka, the Government's list of abductees will have 16 names, of which five have already returned to Japan and are living in Japan with their families.
- FY2004 cultural grant aid
Mr. Takashima: The last announcement is about the Japanese cultural grant aid in FY2004.
The Government of Japan has finished the work of compiling the amount of cultural grant aid that was extended in FY2004.
As part of its international cooperation for cultural exchange, the Government of Japan, since FY1975, has extended cultural grant aids to developing countries to provide funding to purchase equipment for preserving and utilizing cultural assets and heritage, for staging performances and exhibitions, and for promoting education and research.
Cultural grant aid in FY2004 was provided for 38 projects in 38 countries, and the total amount extended was 1.6 billion yen or approximately US$15.0 million.
- Question concerning Japan-China parliamentary friendship association
Q: I have a question regarding Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura's status with respect to the Japan-China parliamentary friendship association. I understand that he still retains his position as vice -president of the association. Is there any initiative or movement to resign from that post? In a different case, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, who was the president of the abduction commission, resigned from this post when he became the Minister of State for Defense. Is there such a movement? If he does not, is there any reason why?
Mr. Takashima: He is still a member of the Japan-China parliamentary friendship association and still holds the title of vice-president of the association.
- Follow-up questions concerning the intergovernmental conference
Q: You said that the Government plans to hold an intergovernmental conference tomorrow. Could you tell us if Prime Minister Koizumi is also going to formally recognize the person you mentioned as an abduction victim tomorrow, shortly after the intergovernmental conference?
Mr. Takashima: We expect that the Prime Minister's approval will be given shortly after the intergovernmental conference, but I am not quite sure if it will be done on the same day or on the following days. It is a kind of procedure stipulated by law to assist the victims of abduction cases.
Q: Foreign Minister Machimura said this morning that he is going to tell North Korea about the recognition of the new abduction victim shortly after the intergovernmental conference. Do you think Foreign Minister Machimura is going to tell this to North Korea on the same day, meaning tomorrow, right after the intergovernmental conference?
Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan will notify North Korea and, as I have said, request the information as well as the immediate release of him and permission to return to Japan as soon as possible through diplomatic channels. Further than that, I do no have any detailed information at this point.
- Question concerning vice-ministerial level talks between Japan and the People's Republic of China
Q: Could you tell us the latest development regarding the bilateral talks between Japan and the People's Republic of China to arrange a sub-cabinet level meeting between Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi and his Chinese counterpart? There were reports earlier that the meeting might take place in April, but it seems rather difficult for the two Governments to coordinate by the end of this month. What is the latest development?
Mr. Takashima: Foreign Minister Machimura and Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing of China have already agreed to have a vice-ministerial level meeting between Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yachi and his counterpart in China. No date has been set yet, but since this decision was already made, I expect that the meeting will take place in due course.
- Questions concerning possibility of Japan-China-Republic of Korea trilateral meeting in Moscow, Russian Federation
Q: It has been reported that there might be a trilateral summit meeting between Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the occasion of the memorial ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the war to be held in Moscow, Russian Federation on 9 May. Do you have any further information?
Mr. Takashima: Based upon the information I know, the schedule for that day is very tight. The Japanese side does not anticipate at this moment that Prime Minister Koizumi will be engaged in extra activities other than attending the ceremony and participating in social functions and so forth. Therefore, at this moment, I cannot make any comment on whether there will be a trilateral summit meeting between Japan, China and the ROK.
Q: Are the three Governments trying to arrange trilateral talks in Moscow?
Mr. Takashima: I have no knowledge on that. I have not heard of it.
- Question concerning meeting between Foreign Minister Machimura and Governor Masahiro Ishii of Okayama Prefecture
Q: I understand that Foreign Minister Machimura met the Governor of Okayama Prefecture this morning. Did their discussion relate to the fishing problems in that area, like Tottori Prefecture or Shimane Prefecture?
Mr. Takashima: Actually, Okayama Prefecture is on the side of the inland sea or the Seto Inland Sea rather than the Sea of Japan. Therefore, I think it is not related to the fishing. Rather, I understand that the visitors from Okayama Prefecture tried to promote Okayama as a possible venue for the next Japan-ROK summit meeting.
- Question concerning anti-Japan demonstrations in China
Q: Is the Japanese Government still pursuing a formal apology and compensation from China? Or is it a finished case?
Mr. Takashima: We do not oppose any demonstrations if they are carried out in a peaceful manner and lawfully, even if they bear an anti-Japanese slogan because they are a part of the freedom of expression. However, if the demonstrations are illegal or violent, such as the ones that caused a lot of damage to the Japanese Embassy and the Consulate General's Office, we believe that the responsibility to protect those diplomatic installations lies with the Chinese Government. That is the reason why we are seeking an apology and compensation from the Chinese Government. Our position has not changed. Foreign Minister Machimura has repeatedly said that we will continue to discuss this issue with the Chinese Government.
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