Press Conference 17 January 2006
- Anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake
- Dispatch of Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the State of Kuwait to offer condolences on the demise of H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
- Visit to Beijing by Senior-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki to participate in the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza
- Dispatch of Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, Dr Tatsuo Arima, to La Paz, the Republic of Bolivia, on the inauguration ceremony of the New Bolivian President, Mr. Juan Evo Morales Aima
- Japan-EU High-level Consultations
- Appointment of the Vice-President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Etsuo Kitahara as the new Executive Director of the International Grains Council (IGC)
- Grant aid to the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Cape Verde
- Questions concerning Islamic Republic of Iran's plans for uranium enrichment
- Question concerning statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) regarding Yasukuni Shrine
- Question concerning United States Air Force crash in Okinawa area
- Anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me start the conference.
Eleven years ago today "a big one" hit the Kobe area, in the western part of Japan. I remember, as a reporter at the time I biked around Kobe as public transportation was not available--actually, biking was the only means of getting around. The degree of devastation was such that everything looked like a nightmare than reality. And precisely one year before the earthquake, on the same day, California had been hit by a big earthquake as well. Based on this experience, the United States of America (US) Seventh Fleet was among the most rapid and efficient in rushing to the Kobe area to provide the victims with help. People were touched by the generous support offered and given by the international community. May I take this opportunity to once again note that ever since we all have been thankful for the help.
Now let me make a couple of announcements before opening the floor.
- Dispatch of Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the State of Kuwait to offer condolences on the demise of H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Mr. Taniguchi: Firstly, on the demise of the Head of the State of Kuwait H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on 15 January, the Government of Japan has dispatched Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso, as Ambassador on Special Mission to the State of Kuwait to offer condolences. He left Japan yesterday, and is due back in early afternoon tomorrow.
Later today, he is to meet members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) stationed in Kuwait.
Prior to all this, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi delivered a statement to offer condolences to the State of Kuwait. He also sent a telegraph to the new Head of State, H.H. the Crown Prince, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Foreign Minister Aso also telegraphed his counterpart, Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
- Visit to Beijing by Senior-Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki to participate in the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, from 17 to 19 January, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki will visit Beijing to participate in the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Influenza, after visiting the Republic of Indonesia from 15 to 16 January.
- Dispatch of Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, Dr Tatsuo Arima, to La Paz, the Republic of Bolivia, on the inauguration ceremony of the New Bolivian President, Mr. Juan Evo Morales Aima
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, the Government of Japan decided to dispatch Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, Dr. Tatsuo Arima, to La Paz, the Republic of Bolivia, on the inauguration ceremony of the New Bolivian President, Mr. Juan Evo Morales Aima to be held on 22 January.
Japan and Bolivia have traditionally maintained amicable relations, not to mention the presence of an estimated 14,000 Nikkei Bolivians and Japan's economic assistance to Bolivia.
It should be noted that Japan's decision to dispatch the Special Envoy this time is to further develop the existing amicable relations between the two countries.
- Japan-EU High-level Consultations
Mr. Taniguchi: Next item is about the Japan-EU High-level Consultations, to be held on 24 January in Tokyo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Consultations will be attended on the Japanese side by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, and on the European Union (EU) side by Director-General of the External Relations Directorate General Eneko Landaburu of the European Commission, among others.
At the Consultations, the participants will take up such topics as the economic relations between Japan and the EU and global issues, and will exchange views on the progress of cooperation and dialogues in wide-ranging areas.
The Japan-EU High-level Consultations have been held since 1973, in which extensive policy dialogues on matters of mutual interest have been conducted from a broad standpoint.
- Appointment of the Vice-President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Etsuo Kitahara as the new Executive Director of the International Grains Council (IGC)
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, the Government of Japan welcomes the appointment of Vice-President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Etsuo Kitahara as the new Executive Director of the International Grains Council (IGC) at the 22nd Session of the Council held in London on 16 January.
While the Executive Directors of the IGC have been appointed from grains-exporting countries, Japan is of the view that a person with deep understanding of grains-importing countries contributing in a leading position would have much significance. Ever since Mr. Kitahara stood for the new Executive Director with the full support of the Government of Japan last September, the Government sought support of the IGC member countries on Mr. Kitahara's candidature.
With Mr. Kitahara's official appointment as the Executive Director of the IGC, the Government of Japan would like to further cooperate with the IGC for the establishment of the international food security.
Mr. Kitahara is originally from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery and he has extensive experience in international dealings as Minister at the Japan Embassy in Italy. He has also handled General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) issues.
- Grant aid to the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Cape Verde
Mr. Taniguchi: Lastly, let me touch on some of the grant aid decisions we have made since last time.
To the Republic of Madagascar, three kinds of grant aid will be extended, the total amount of which is about US$17.4 million.
The first one, about US$4.5 million, is for The Project for the Improvement of Mahajanga Province's Mother and Child Health Care Facility.
The second, about US$9.4 million, is for a non-project type grant aid and the third, about US$9.4 million, is for food aid.
Also to the Republic of Cape Verde, which is a nation of islands in the Atlantic, food aid up to US$1.49 million will be extended.
Related Information (Japan-Madagascar Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Cape Verde Relations) - Questions concerning Islamic Republic of Iran's plans for uranium enrichment
Q: I have read some reports that Japan was going to engage itself in what was termed as "elevation with Iran" to try to solve the problem there. At the same time, I believe it was this morning that there was a joint statement by a number of countries, including the US, Russian Federation, and the People's Republic of China as a way of condemning Iran's nuclear aspirations. What can you tell us post-New Year what Japan is doing, where it stands, and what Japan wants to see done in regards to these developments in Iran?
Mr. Taniguchi: Let me tell you a couple of things. First, if things continue as they have in terms of the resumption of their attempt to enrich uranium, the Japanese Government holds the views that to bring this issue to the United Nations (UN) Security Council is inevitable.
Japan does have an official diplomatic relationship with Iran. Is this a weakness or a leverage? I can tell you that it is not by any means a weakness but a leverage. So by maintaining the official diplomatic relations with Iran there is and there should be a number of ways for Japan to express its deep concerns that are widely held by the countries that you mentioned directly to Iran. I can not tell you how we are doing that, or when, or other details, but generally speaking the Japanese Government has been closely in touch with Iran and we have told them a number of times that they should stop doing what they are doing, namely, the process of enriching uranium.
So that is the overall answer to your question.
Q: Can you tell us anything about a report which states that according to a Japanese Government source, as part of Japan's efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, it is considering to invite the former Iranian Ambassador to Japan to talk it over?
Mr. Taniguchi: I do not think it was directly related to the uranium enrichment plan, it should have been arranged well before that. But I can not tell you further details on whether this will happen, or when it will happen.
- Question concerning statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) regarding Yasukuni Shrine
Q: On another subject, there was a statement yesterday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea that a visit to Japan this year by President Roh Moo Hyun would not be possible as long as Prime Minister Koizumi is in office or as long as Japan maintains its stance on Yasukuni visits. Has there been any reaction from the Japanese Government or by Foreign Minister Aso to that statement by his counterpart?
Mr. Taniguchi: About Yasukuni Shrine, I do not really want to repeat what I have told you here many times so far, but, let me tell you about a couple of responses that the Japanese Government expressed about this point. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said, in response to questions concerning what he thinks about the statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon, that we would like to solve some of the misunderstandings on the side of the ROK, and even if we have lingering problems, including Yasukuni, it is all the more important for both nations to have high-level meetings. This is what Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe said in answering questions raised by members of the press.
Similarly, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also said that for him, ROK is a very important neighbor and the door is always open. If there are one or two problems or differences in opinions, or even confrontations, it is important to maintain dialogues and exchanges of views. He said that he cannot understand why one point is brought forth to separate the two nations. This is something that Prime Minister Koizumi cannot understand. So those are the things that Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe and Prime Minister Koizumi said today in response to questions from the press.
Related Information (Prime Minister's Visits to Yasukuni Shrine) - Question concerning United States Air Force crash in Okinawa area
Q: Concerning today's crash in the Okinawa area, is the Japanese Government going to make any statements or launch protests concerning this accident? Can it influence in any way the talks about to be held with the Minister of Defense of Japan and his counterpart in Washington?
Mr. Taniguchi: Yes, I understand your interest, and also, this issue should interest a lot of people. However, if I can tell you one thing, this is not really uncommon. Crashes of this sort have been happening, not necessarily in Japan perhaps, but in a lot of places. So in order to maintain the skill level, I have to say, with militaries such as the US Air Force, two, three, or four accidents per year are inevitable. It was just unfortunate that it happened in Japan.
It is true that the Japanese Government noted that and made a request to the US counterpart that great care should be taken so that incidents like this do not happen. Whether this is going to affect the transformation, and especially the base realignment issue, I personally do not think so.
Foreign Minister Aso and other people have been visiting the local areas and prefectural governments that host the US military installments in Japan, and we have been hearing their concerns very carefully. It is true that the degree of opposition is still visibly high, but we would like to maintain good alliance relationships with the US. It is as important an issue as any other. So we will continue our efforts in saying what we have to say to those people.
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