Press Conference 1 July 2005
- Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on Their Majesties' Visit to Saipan
- Japanese contribution to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the decision on the construction site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
- Japan-Republic of India Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism
- Grant assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (2 - 8 July)
- Questions concerning translation of Japanese history textbooks
- Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary on Their Majesties' Visit to Saipan
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 about the statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda on Their Majesties' trip to Japan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda issued a statement on the recent visit to the Island of Saipan by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan which states as follows:
Their Majesties made a visit to Saipan, from 27 to 28 June, to mourn and pay tribute to those who died in the war and pray for world peace in this 60th year after the end of the war. Their Majesties have returned to Japan safe and sound.
In Saipan, Their Majesties, remembering the war dead and praying for peace, laid wreaths to the memorial monument erected by the Government of Japan, and to the monuments of war dead erected by the Governments of the United States of America (US) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Their Majesties also paid tribute to the memorial monument for people from Okinawa and the memorial monument for Koreans. Prior to these visits, Their Majesties met with the representatives of war-bereaved associations and veterans associations. It proved to be a truly significant visit.
I would like to express sincere appreciation of the Government of Japan to the Governments of the United States and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands which have extended cooperation in various ways for this visit and also to the people of Saipan who warmly welcomed Their Majesties.
- Japanese contribution to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)
Mr. Takashima: In order to strengthen the fight against three major deadly contagious diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the Government of Japan decided to contribute US$500 million in the coming years to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).
This landmark decision was announced by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the symposium held in Tokyo yesterday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Group of Eight (G8) Kyushu-Okinawa summit held in the year 2000 at which the concept of the Global Fund was initiated. Japan has already contributed US$327 million in total to the Fund since its creation, and newly pledged US$500 million will be added to it within a few years time.
In addition to that, Prime Minister Koizumi stated at yesterday's symposium that Japan will provide comprehensive assistance amounting to US$5 billion over the next five years from the year 2005 to improve the health in developing countries.
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the decision on the construction site of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the decision on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
On 28 June, at the Ministerial-level Meeting in Moscow to choose the site for the ITER, the participants-including Japan, the European Union (EU), the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the US-unanimously decided upon Cadarache, French Republic, which was proposed by Europe, as the ITER site. Japan failed to invite ITER and to fulfill the expectations of those who endeavored to bring ITER to this country, including the US and the ROK, which supported Japan as the ITER site. Japan, however, thinks that the present Meeting has a great significance in marking the first step toward realizing the ITER project.
Through negotiations with the EU, Japan has been trying to build up a relationship so that whichever side, Japan or the EU, which proposed an ITER site, won, both sides would in fact be winners. Japan came to agreement on the role-sharing of the host and non-host country. It has after all been decided that ITER will be built in Europe, but Japan thinks that it may keep its national interest by, for example, securing a "quasi-host" position.
Japan intends to promote the ITER project in international cooperation with the other participant countries, with a view to achieving nuclear fusion, the ultimate energy for the human race.
- Japan-Republic of India Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism
Mr. Takashima: The next statement is about the Japan-Republic of India Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism.
The first round of the Japan-India Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism Meeting is underway in this building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The Japanese side is headed by Ambassador in charge of International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Akio Shirota, while the Indian delegation is headed by Joint Secretary (East Asia) Shri Ashok K. Kantha of the Ministry of External Affairs of India. They are exchanging views on international terrorism, counterterrorism activities of each nation and the international cooperation to fight against terrorism.
- Grant assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Mr. Takashima: The next statement is about the grant assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Government of Japan today decided to provide up to 2 billion yen or US$18 million to Jordan for the project for the Improvement and Expansion of the Water Supply Networks in North/Middle Jordan Valley. It is expected that approximately 100,000 people in the region will be provided sufficient safe drinking water through this project.
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (2 - 8 July)
Mr. Takashima: Lastly, the following guests and national/special day events are expected during the period 2 to 8 July in connection with the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan.
His Excellency Mr. Tevita Va'inga Palu, Commissioner General of Section of the Kingdom of Tonga, will visit Japan from 2 to 6 July to attend the National Day event on 4 July at the Expo site. His Excellency Mr. Akel Eid Biltaji, Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will visit Japan from 3 to 7 July to attend the National Day event on 5 July at the Expo site. His Excellency Mr. Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, will visit Japan from 4 to 9 July to attend the National Day event on 6 July at the Expo site. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah of the Kingdom of Nepal, will visit Japan from 5 to 14 July to attend the National Day event on 7 July at the Expo site. His Excellency Mr. Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, will visit Japan from 6 to 12 July to attend the National Day event on 8 July at the Expo site. His Excellency Mr. Kessai H. Note, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, will visit Japan from 6 to 10 July to attend the National Day event on 8 July at the Expo site.
The Government of Japan is pleased to welcome the dignitaries who will visit Japan as Guests of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, to attend their own national/special days to be held at the Expo site.
- Questions concerning translation of Japanese history textbooks
Q: Could you tell us the current state of the Japanese Government's plan to make translations of history textbooks available in various languages?
Mr. Takashima: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering translating Japanese history textbooks, making them available in various languages including English, Chinese and Korean in order to promote better understanding of the Japanese history education amongst the people in other countries. However the final decision has not been reached, and therefore, I cannot give you any date or information about the scope of the project at this moment.
Q: Will it be possible to get a final decision by this summer?
Mr. Takashima: The inquiry on the possible translator or the form of translation and publication, including the uploading on the website, is still underway. Therefore, it is too early to give any exact date on the final decision or the possible nature of the decision itself.
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