Press Conference 12 July 2005
- Relations with the new Government of the Central African Republic
- Japan-ROK-US trilateral meeting on issues of North Korea
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the holding of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the adoption of amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the House of Representatives election in Burundi
- Economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the State of Brunei Darussalam, and the Republic of Indonesia
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa to the People's Republic of China and the US
- Japan's grant assistance
- Questions concerning Six-Party Talks
- Question concerning upcoming visit to Japan by President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine
- Question concerning talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the US
- Question concerning visit to Japan by US Secretary of State Rice
- Relations with the new Government of the Central African Republic
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Before taking questions, I would like to make several announcements.
First, the Government of Japan today decided to have the Japanese Embassy in the Republic of Cameroon, which concurrently covers the Central African Republic, inform by a note verbale the Foreign Ministry of the Central African Republic that Japan intends to continue its friendly relations with the Central African Republic.
In this country, a military coup d'état occurred on 15 March 2003, and in May 2005 a new administration came into being under President François Bozizé after the democratization process. Japan has been carefully watching and monitoring the developments in the Central African Republic since then and today decided that normal diplomatic relations would be reestablished with this nation.
- Japan-ROK-US trilateral meeting on issues of North Korea
Mr. Takashima: Secondly, the Governments of Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States of America (US) today decided to hold a trilateral meeting in Seoul on 14 July to discuss the issues of North Korea in the wake of the decision to hold the Six-Party Talks in the week of 25 July.
At this meeting, the Japanese side would be represented by Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon and Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill will represent the ROK delegation and the US delegation respectively.
They will exchange views on issues of North Korea and coordinate their positions toward the forthcoming fourth round of the Six-Party Talks.
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the holding of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the Six-Party Talks.
On the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on 10 July.
Japan welcomes the decision, after the contact between the US and North Korea on 9 July and the US-China Foreign Ministerial talks on 10 July, to hold the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks in the week of 25 July in Beijing. Japan highly appreciates the efforts made by the countries concerned for the resumption of the fourth round, especially by China, which as the Chair coordinated the efforts.
The Six-Party Talks are the best framework to bring about a peaceful solution to North Korean nuclear issues. Japan considers the probable resumption of the Six-Party Talks, which had been suspended for more than a year, as very important, from such viewpoints as peace and stability in Northeast Asia including Japan, and as an international non-proliferation effort.
The aim of the Six-Party Talks is not resumption itself but achieving substantial results. From this viewpoint, Japan expects North Korea to be sincere and constructive in the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks aimed at solving pending issues. Japan intends to continue its best diplomatic efforts to solve these issues as soon as possible in close cooperation with the US, the Republic of Korea, and the other countries concerned.
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the adoption of amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about a statement by the Press Secretary on the adoption of amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM).
The Government of Japan welcomes the adoption by consensus of the amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) on 8 July at the Conference to Consider and Adopt Proposed Amendments to the CPPNM held in Vienna.
The amendments to the CPPNM contribute to strengthening international efforts for the physical protection of nuclear material and facilities. Japan considers that this adoption is meaningful in demonstrating the attitude of the international community toward tackling in complete solidarity such issues as strengthening measures against nuclear terrorism.
Following the adoption of the amendments to the CPPNM, Japan intends to proceed with necessary examinations toward the conclusion of the adopted amendments to the CPPNM, and expects that each State Party will also exert efforts toward that goal.
- Statement by the Press Secretary on the House of Representatives election in Burundi
Mr. Takashima: The following is another statement by the Press Secretary on the election in the Republic of Burundi.
Japan welcomes the news that on 4 July the House of Representatives election in Burundi was conducted in a peaceful manner with fairness and transparency and that the peace process in the country has made a great advance.
Japan has been extending steady assistance to Burundi from the viewpoint that its sustainable peacemaking is extremely important for peace and stability not only in Burundi but also in Africa as a whole.
Japan strongly hopes that the Senate election and the presidential election to be held in Burundi in the near future will be also conducted in a transparent and democratic manner and that the new government elected by the will of the people will exert its efforts for national reconciliation and reconstruction of the country.
- Economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the State of Brunei Darussalam, and the Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the negotiations on economic partnership agreements (EPA) between Japan and various countries.
Within the framework of the negotiations on a Japan-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprehensive EPA, Japan will hold bilateral talks with the Lao People's Democratic Republic today, 12 July, in Vientiane, and with the State of Brunei Darussalam on 14 July in Bandar Seri Begawan.
In addition, the first round of negotiations for a Japan-Republic of Indonesia EPA will be held on 14 and 15 July in Jakarta. These negotiations will be held under the agreement that was reached between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia on 2 June.
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa to the People's Republic of China and the US
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the visit of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa to the People's Republic of China and the US.
Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Aisawa is visiting Dalian, China, to attend the World Trade Organization (WTO) unofficial-ministerial meeting which is being held today and tomorrow. After this visit, Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa will go to New York to oversee the Japanese delegation's efforts to adopt the draft framework resolution on the expansion of the Security Council.
Related Information (WTO)
Related Information (United Nations Reform) - Japan's grant assistance
Mr. Takashima: The last announcement is about Japan's grant assistance to various countries.
First, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of US$11.6 million to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to be used for school construction and water supply projects. With this grant assistance, 57 schools will be built and a water supply system will be built in 47 villages in this country.
Secondly, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of US$7.0 million to Serbia Montenegro to be used for a water supply project in the capital city of Belgrade.
Thirdly, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of US$4.7 million to the Republic of Kiribati for the rehabilitation and renovation work of the Betio port in this country.
Fourthly, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of US$4.0 million to the Republic of the Philippines as scholarship money for young government officials to have advanced studies in Japanese graduate schools as part of an empowerment program for human resources in this country.
Lastly, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of US$3.0 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be used for a water supply system, and 86,000 people in this country will benefit from this grant assistance.
- Questions concerning Six-Party Talks
Q: When will the Six-Party Talks be held?
Mr. Takashima: The Six-Party Talks will be held in the week of 25 July, but an official announcement will be made by China, the host nation. We have to wait and see until China makes its announcement.
Q: Will the Six-Party Talks be held in Beijing?
Mr. Takashima: Our understanding is that the Six-Party Talks will be held in the week of 25 July in Beijing.
Q: Will Japan raise the abduction issue at the Six-Party Talks despite the fact that the ROK and other countries are opposed to that?
Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan believes that the abduction issue is one of the most serious issues of North Korea. The Government of Japan believes that it is absolutely necessary to resolve this issue before we normalize our relations with North Korea. Therefore, the Government of Japan will raise the abduction issue on the occasion of the Six-Party Talks. However, the discussion will not be limited to the Six-Party Talks as such but will be incorporated into bilateral discussions, making use of the opportunity of the Six-Party Talks.
- Question concerning upcoming visit to Japan by President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine
Q: What is the purpose of President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine's visit to Japan on 19 July?
Mr. Takashima: President Yushchenko will be visiting Japan as a guest of the Government, and we are looking forward to having an exchange of views on the promotion of the friendly relations between our two countries in various areas, especially in trade. Since Ukraine, which experienced denuclearization after its independence from the Soviet Union, has an in-depth knowledge on denuclearization, we would like to have an extensive exchange of views on this issue. At the same time, we are very much interested in hearing the words of President Yushchenko about the state of democratization in his nation, through which the President was recently elected in a very democratic election. Another subject to be discussed will be Iraq because Ukraine is one of the major nations contributing to Iraq's reconstruction and rehabilitation by sending troops. We would like to have a thorough discussion on this issue as well.
- Question concerning talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the US
Q: What did Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the US discuss during their meeting?
Mr. Takashima: Foreign Minister Machimura and Secretary Rice held a very useful discussion on various issues.
On North Korea, they welcomed the resumption of the Six-Party Talks and expressed appreciation especially for the efforts of the Chinese Government.
On the Six-Party Talks, Foreign Minister Machimura and Secretary Rice agreed that it is important not only to resume the Six-Party Talks but that the forthcoming fourth round of the Six-Party Talks should produce concrete results on the issue of dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear program and also make progress in such issues as North Korea's missile development and human rights including the abduction issue.
Foreign Minister Machimura said that Japan intends to raise the abduction issue as well as the nuclear and missile issues at the Six-Party Talks as a necessary step toward the effort to normalize relations between Japan and North Korea.
On United Nations (UN) reform, Foreign Minister Machimura and Secretary Rice agreed that not only should the Security Council be expanded but also that a wide range of UN reform should be tackled in order to make the UN a viable and effective body to cope with various international agendas.
On Security Council reform, the two foreign ministers agreed that there are various proposals on the future shape of the Security Council. They agreed to have close contact and constant exchange of views on this issue.
- Question concerning visit to Japan by US Secretary of State Rice
Q: Will Secretary Rice be meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi?
Mr. Takashima: Secretary Rice is scheduled to meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda and Prime Minister Koizumi today following her meeting with Foreign Minister Machimura.
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