Press Conference 9 September 2005
- Assistance in response to damages caused by Hurricane Katrina
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the submission of the definitive report by the Independent Inquiry Committee on alleged corruption in the United Nations "Oil-For-Food" Programme
- Grant aid
- The Third Dispatch of Japan-Middle East Cultural Exchanges and Dialogue Mission
- The 46th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (10 to 16 September)
- Question concerning meeting between Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi and US Ambassador to Japan John Thomas Schieffer
- Question concerning Bill O'Reilly's remarks
- Follow-up question concerning 46th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
- Assistance in response to damages caused by Hurricane Katrina
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me just start today's conference by introducing what Bill O'Reilly said about Japan. I am actually always interested in Bill O'Reilly and his show, The O'Reilly Factor which he calls the No-Spin Zone, and I know he is very straightforward. He referred to the assistance proposed by the Government of Japan to the United States of America (US) saying that that is too small, and I quote, "That is just insulting." This is what he said about Japan's offer to help support the devastated areas of the US. Well, that is just insulting to us. Because if you think about it, in a similar situation, would the Carnegies have sent a check to the Rockefellers? So that is the kind of situation in which we find ourselves.
What is most important in these situations is to express condolences, first of all, and then compassion, and friendship to the people of the US. That is exactly what the Japanese Government and citizens of Japan are doing right now to the citizens of the US. Indeed, in the aftermath of 9/11 the entrance area of the US Embassy in Tokyo was literally filled with thousands of bouquets of flowers, and former US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker said that he felt tears in his eyes upon seeing those flowers after coming back from the US. What is going on now is that several US consulate offices in Japan, such as the Hokkaido and Nagoya consulate offices, have been receiving donations from Japanese citizens. So if you go to the website for the consulate office in Nagoya you will see that the Mayor of Nagoya has sent quite a large amount of money to the Consulate General.
In addition to these it goes without saying that good "corporate citizens" in the US such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, and Canon are all donating an enormous amount of money to the American Red Cross. What the Japanese Government is doing should be viewed in this context, and I am very troubled by what Bill O'Reilly said about this.
In addition to this I have to say that just a few moments ago a bilateral meeting took place between US Ambassador to Japan John Thomas Schieffer and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi, and the single purpose for his visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was to express gratitude toward the help and friendship that the Japanese Government and people showed toward the US and he was very much grateful for the friendship. He said that having a friend like Japan was a comfort for the US in these kinds of situations.
If I can touch a little bit upon the details of the request that came from the US, the Japanese Government is going to send emergency supply goods that are stored in Miami, Florida to Walker, Louisiana and Montgomery, Alabama, and they will be handed to the American Red Cross.
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the submission of the definitive report by the Independent Inquiry Committee on alleged corruption in the United Nations "Oil-For-Food" Programme
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about the so-called Volcker Commission, which has been looking into the "Oil-for-Food" scandal of the United Nations (UN). There is a statement issued by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations that you can see on the website, so I would rather not read out this statement.
- Grant aid
Mr. Taniguchi: This should be followed by pretty much straightforward announcements about Japanese Government's aid. The first one of those is humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Niger through the World Food Programme (WFP).
In addition, a non-project grant aid was extended to the Government of Samoa.
- The Third Dispatch of Japan-Middle East Cultural Exchanges and Dialogue Mission
Mr. Taniguchi: Another one, which is also pretty much straightforward, is about the dispatch of scholars and opinion leaders to the Republic of Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Tunisia as part of a mission called the Third Dispatch of Japan-Middle East Cultural Exchanges and Dialogue Mission. This is the third such attempt, and this time the delegation is going to be headed by an academic called Mr. Masayuki Yamauchi, who is a professor at the University of Tokyo. Indeed I will be one of the members so I am afraid I cannot give you press conferences for the next four consecutive times, and in the interim Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba will replace me.
- The 46th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
Mr. Taniguchi: Let me end my announcements by introducing two rather interesting events.
The first is The 46th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad. It is remarkable that this is the 46th convention and that it will take place on 13 and 14 September in Tokyo. The opening ceremony will be in attendance by Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino.
Let me end by introducing that Mr. Hayao Miyazaki, the well-known director of animation films, is going to be awarded the Japan Foundation Award. It is a happy coincidence that Mr. Miyazaki is going to be awarded the Golden Lion Award at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival that is going on in the Italian Republic right now.
- Guests and national/special days of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan (10 to 16 September)
Mr. Taniguchi: I cannot close my announcements without introducing some of the foreign dignitaries who are scheduled to visit the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan.
First, Mr. Protais Nteziriba, Director-General of the National Office of Tourism, Ministry of Land Planning, Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Burundi will attend the National Day event on 12 September. From the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Khakim Houseinovich Soliev, Minister of Economy and Trade, is going to visit the Aichi Expo on 13 September. On 14 September, from the Republic of Congo, Minister for Commerce, Consumption, and Procurement Yvonne Adelaide Moundele-Ngollo will be visiting. On the following day, 15 September, from the United Mexican States Secretary of the Environment and Nature Resources Jose Luis Luege Tamargo will be visiting. Finally on 16 September from Papa New Guinea, Minister for Trade & Industry Paul Tiensten is going to visit.
- Question concerning meeting between Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi and US Ambassador to Japan John Thomas Schieffer
Q: Regarding the meeting you mentioned earlier with Ambassador Schieffer, I was wondering if this was the first time that he has come here to personally express his gratitude to the Foreign Minister?
Mr. Taniguchi: I have a scant memory of whether this was the first time, but I would be surprised if Mr. Baker had not done the same after 9/11 to the Foreign Minister.
- Questions concerning Bill O'Reilly's remarks
Q: You mentioned the statement by Mr. Bill O'Reilly. Does the Foreign Ministry have any response?
Mr. Taniguchi: It is a short statement, his statements are always short. This is not a complete translation, but he said something like "I should pay respect to what Japan does, but that is just insulting," in reference to the amount of money. What the Japanese Government is doing is not sending cash per se, it is sending supplies like blankets and so forth that would amount to a certain amount, so this is doubly inappropriate.
Q: But does the Foreign Ministry have any plans to protest or issue a statement?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well I am protesting, but this is not a protest of any official kind from the Japanese Government. I am saying this because I am personally troubled by this statement.
- Follow-up question concerning 46th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
Q: About the 46th Convention, what will the nature of the event be?
Mr. Taniguchi: Obviously this is not anything new. If you are interested I would be happy to give you leaflets and flyers.
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