Press Conference 6 May 2005
- Upcoming visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Russian Federation
- Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kyoto, Japan
- Exchange of notes between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria concerning visa exemption
- Exhibition commemorating the Japan-Central America Year 2005
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (7 - 13 May)
- Questions concerning Japan's policy towards Taiwan
- Follow-up question concerning Seventh ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting
- Question concerning election in the United Kingdom (UK)
- Question concerning report on possible nuclear experiments in North Korea
- Question concerning International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site
- Upcoming visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Russian Federation
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today, I would like to make a couple of announcements before I take questions.
The first announcement concerns the visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister Koizumi will be visiting Moscow, Russian Federation beginning this Sunday to attend the ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The ceremony will be held on 9 May.
Prime Minister Koizumi will attend this ceremony in the spirit of remembrance and reconciliation. The ceremony will be attended by leaders of about 50 countries in the world. This will be a very important occasion not only for Japan but also for the promotion of Japan-Russia relations.
- Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kyoto, Japan
Mr. Chiba: The second announcement concerns the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that is currently taking place in Kyoto, Japan.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura is currently hosting the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kyoto. The Meeting is attended by foreign ministers and other officials of the 38 ASEM partners and one organization. This includes 13 countries from Asia, which means 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, plus Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea (ROK); and also 25 European Union (EU) member states and the European Commission. The participants are exchanging views on dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe focusing on such topics as United Nations (UN) reform, regional issues including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East, environmental issues, energy security and cultural diversity.
Taking the opportunity of the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting, there will be other meetings at the outskirt like the Japan-EU Troika Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and the ROK) Foreign Ministers' Informal Meeting, and the Three-Party Committee of the People's Republic of China, Japan and the ROK.
During his stay in Kyoto, Foreign Minister Machimura will also have bilateral talks with representatives of some ASEM partners including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the ROK.
Related Information (The 7th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting) - Exchange of notes between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria concerning visa exemption
Mr. Chiba: The third announcement concerns an arrangement between Japan and the Republic of Bulgaria concerning visa exemption.
On 29 April, an exchange of notes concerning visa exemption between the two countries was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria Koichiro Fukui and Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Passy of Bulgaria.
Following the signing, those who wish to visit each others' countries for less than 90 days will be granted entry into the country without a visa starting from 1 May of this year. This visa will be granted to those who will be visiting the country with objectives apart from seeking jobs. Those people who are seeking jobs will need visas as usual.
This measure is expected to promote friendly bilateral relations between the two countries.
- Exhibition commemorating the Japan-Central America Year 2005
Mr. Chiba: The fourth announcement concerns an interesting exhibition that will be going on at the exhibition room in the annex building of the Diplomatic Record Office in Tokyo. This exhibition is called "Encounter with Central American Countries." The exhibition is in commemoration of the Japan-Central America Year 2005. You will be able to see displays of important documents such as those concerning the visit of the Japanese delegation in 1860 to the United States of America (US) or the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between Japan and the Republic of Panama, etc. The exhibition will be open from next Monday, 9 May, and will continue until 2 September.
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (7 - 13 May)
Mr. Chiba: My last announcement today is the usual announcement that we promised to make every Friday concerning the foreign dignitaries that will be visiting Japan on the occasion of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. We will have five dignitaries during this period from 7 to 13 May.
The first one is His Excellency Mr. Jacek Pichota, Minister of Economy and Labour of the Republic of Poland. He will be visiting from 8 to 11 May. The National Day event for Poland will be on 9 May.
Second, His Excellency Mr. Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, will be visiting Japan from 9 to 13 May. The National Day event will be on 10 May.
Third, His Excellency Mr. Kim Won Ki, Speaker of the National Assembly of the ROK, will be visiting Japan from 10 to 12 May. The National Day event will be on 11 May.
Fourth, His Excellency Mr. Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland, will be visiting Japan from 11 to 15 May. The National Day event will be on 12 May.
Fifth is His Excellency Mr. Angel Marin, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Dr. Svetla Toshkova, Head of the Office of the Vice-President, will be visiting Japan from 11 to 17 May. The National Day event will be on 13 May.
- Questions concerning Japan's policy towards Taiwan
Q: My question regards the speech made by Foreign Minister Machimura on 29 April at the gathering in New York City. In response to a question, Foreign Minister Machimura noted that Taiwan is included in the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America. Has Japan's policy towards Taiwan changed?
Mr. Chiba: We understand that the mentioning of Taiwan by Foreign Minister Machimura was an explanation of the notion of the Fareast as spelled out in Article 6 of the Japan-US Security Treaty, which was made clear in 1960. Japan's policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged.
Q: Was it the very first time that a Japanese minister clearly stated that the Japan-US Security Treaty includes Taiwan?
Mr. Chiba: This, as I said, was an explanation of the joint government position that was issued as early as 1960.
Q: My question concerns Japan's position on Taiwan in the context of the Japan-US Security Treaty. The Japanese Government has denied that the treaty covers any geographical notion. Has Japan's policy changed on this?
Mr. Chiba: As I have repeatedly said, what Foreign Minister Machimura said was an explanation of the Government's position that was explained in 1960. Concerning the issue of geographical notion, as far as I know, this is a different issue. I do believe that you are mixing up the two issues. At any rate, our policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged.
- Follow-up question concerning Seventh ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Q: My question concerns the meeting of the three Foreign Ministers from Japan, the People's Republic of China and the ROK to be held in Kyoto. Is the meeting in preparation for the reported meeting of the leaders of these three countries in Moscow?
Mr. Chiba: The meeting between the three Foreign Ministers is a regular meeting of the Three-Party Committee that is held between the three ministers.
As to the meeting of the three leaders in Moscow, we are still trying to finalize who the Prime Minister will meet in Moscow. So far, there is no news on this.
Related Information (The 7th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting) - Question concerning election in the United Kingdom (UK)
Q: Regarding the election in the United Kingdom (UK), it has been announced that the Labour Party has won a majority of seats and the opposition has conceded. Can you give the Japanese Government's reaction to a reelection of the Labour government led by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK?
Mr. Chiba: We are aware of the news. So far, we have not made any official reactions to this. We understand that if Prime Minister Blair is going to formulate a Cabinet, it has to be endorsed by the House of Commons. Our announcements will be made in due course.
- Question concerning report on possible nuclear experiments in North Korea
Q: My question concerns a New York Times report on the Internet which states that there are signs of underground nuclear experiments to be undertaken by North Korea and that the US is briefing relevant parties. Can you confirm this?
Mr. Chiba: We are aware of the reports. So far, we have not obtained any firsthand information to confirm the experiment itself. However, beyond that, since this issue concerns intelligence, I would like to refrain from making any further comments.
- Question concerning International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site
Q: This may not directly concern the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but there are reports that Japan is giving up on its bid to host the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) nuclear experiment project. Could you give us any comment on that?
Mr. Chiba: Concerning the site of ITER, we are still trying to finalize the results. We are still negotiating with the EU. No conclusion has been made on this issue yet.
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