Press Conference 20 January 2006
- Visit to Japan of United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State, Robert B. Zoellick from 21 to 23 January
- Arrest of persons concerned with political parties in the Kingdom of Nepal
- Elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on 25 January
- The Situation in Côte d'Ivoire
- The Second Public Forum concerning United Nations (UN) reform
- Symposium on "Recent Trend of the Management of Marine Living Resources: Sustainable Use and Application of Precautionary Approach"
- Visit to the United Mexican States by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan
- The sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit)
- Signing of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK)
- The first round in formal negotiations to revise the convention concerning avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion of income tax between the Government of Japan and the Government of French Republic
- Visit to Japan by Vice-President and Chairman of the Golkar Party H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, of the Republic of Indonesia from 22 to 26 January
- Visit to Japan by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut
- Japan's Grant Aid to the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of Guatemala and the Republic of Zambia
- Question concerning Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's policy speech at the Diet
- Visit to Japan of United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State, Robert B. Zoellick from 21 to 23 January
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. I will be brief because the Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso is addressing the Diet anytime soon.
Mr. Taniguchi: US Deputy Secretary of State, Robert B. Zoellick will visit Japan from 21 to 13 January.
Mr. Zoellick will pay a courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso, on 23 January and exchange views on Japan-US relations and matters of common concern to both Japan and the United States (US), including the situation in East Asia.
- Arrest of persons concerned with political parties in the Kingdom of Nepal
Mr. Taniguchi: Japan is gravely concerned over the arrest of persons concerned with political parties in the Kingdom of Nepal, and strongly urges that these political leaders be released and that the freedom guaranteed by the constitution restored promptly.
What Nepal now needs is for the Government, political parties and citizens to pursue peace through unity, and Japan hopes that the Government and political parties will reach out to one another to this end.
Japan also urges the Maoists to achieve peace through dialogue.
- Elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on 25 January
Mr. Taniguchi: Japan appreciates that the Palestinian Authority announced its determination to conduct the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on 25 January as scheduled, and welcomes that the Israeli Government decided on 15 January to take necessary steps to enable the elections, including voting by Palestinians in eastern Jerusalem.
The elections are an important step towards building a democratic Palestinian state. Japan strongly expects that the elections will be held in a free and fair manner. In this regard, Japan has disbursed the assistance of about US$720 thousand for the successful implementation of the elections and will also dispatch an election monitoring mission.
- The Situation in Côte d'Ivoire
Mr. Taniguchi: Japan is deeply concerned about the civil disorder happening in Abidjan and other parts of Côte d'Ivoire since 16 January.
Japan calls for all the parties concerned to show restraint and seek to ease the tension.
Japan strongly urges each party to take necessary actions for peaceful resolution of the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.
- The Second Public Forum concerning United Nations (UN) reform
Mr. Taniguchi: On 19 January the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to hold the Second Public Forum concerning United Nations (UN) reform at Mita Kyoyo Kaigisho.
- Symposium on "Recent Trend of the Management of Marine Living Resources: Sustainable Use and Application of Precautionary Approach"
Mr. Taniguchi: The symposium will be held under auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Association for Comparative Study of Legal Culture on 16 February at Mita Kyoyo Kaigisho.
The symposium aims to share with the audience information of the recent efforts elaborating a new management concept emerging in international issues such as the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach, and it is expected to discuss the possible approaches for enhancement of effectiveness of conservation and management of marine living resources.
There will also be a session in which the audience may participate in discussions with the panelists.
- Visit to the United Mexican States by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan
Mr. Taniguchi: As you may have heard that the Government of Japan is now considering His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito's visit to the United Mexican States in March to attend the fourth World Water Forum.
- The sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit)
Mr. Taniguchi: The next is about the sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit)
Special Envoy for UN Reform and Ambassador in Charge of Peace Building in Africa Keitaro Sato, and others will attend as observers from the Government of Japan the sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit) to be held on 23 and 24 January the Republic of Sudan.
The Japanese observers will meet African leaders attending the Summit to exchange views on issues such as bilateral relations, Japan's policy on cooperation for Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process, multilateral cooperation between Japan and Africa such as for the United Nations Security Council reform, and others.
- Signing of a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK)
Mr. Taniguchi: Next is about the signing of the treaty between Japan and the ROK on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Japan-ROK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty) which is scheduled to take place between the Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and ROK Ambassador to Japan Ra Jong-yil, on 20 January in Tokyo at the Foreign Ministry.
The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty stipulates that each party shall, upon request by the other, provide mutual legal assistance in connection with investigations, prosecutions and other proceedings in criminal matters, and as a framework for that purpose, that each party shall designate the central authority (for Japan, the central authority is the Minister of Justice or the National Public Safety Commission, and for the ROK the Minister of Justice), which shall communicate directly with one another.
It is expected that the conclusion of this treaty ensures that requests for legal assistance made by Japan to the ROK will be implemented with increased certainty, and that mutual legal assistance will be provided in a speedier manner through direct communication between the central authorities.
- The first round in formal negotiations to revise the convention concerning avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion of income tax between the Government of Japan and the Government of French Republic
Mr. Taniguchi: The first round of formal negotiations to revise the Convention between the Government of Japan and the Government of French Republic for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income will be held from 25 to 27 January in Paris.
- Visit to Japan by Vice President and Chairman of the Golkar Party H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla of the Republic of Indonesia from 22 to 26 January
Mr. Taniguchi: The next is about a visit to Japan by Vice President H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, of the Republic of Indonesia, and Chairman of the Golkar Party from 22 to 26 January.
During his stay in Japan, H.E M. Jusuf Kalla will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and other leading figures of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), to exchange views on wide-ranging issues, including the relations between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia and the East-Asian situations.
- Visit to Japan by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut
Mr. Taniguchi: Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut will visit Japan from 24 to 28 January at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his stay in Japan, the Secretary General will meet with government officials, concerned intellectuals, and experts to exchange views on wide-ranging current issues concerning security.
This will be the first visit of an OSCE Secretary General for five years since the then Secretary General Jan Kubis visited Japan in 2001.
The upcoming visit is expected to further promote the cooperative relationship between Japan and the OSCE.
- Japan's Grant Aid to the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of Guatemala and the Republic of Zambia
Mr. Taniguchi: Firstly, the Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid of up to US$2.43 million, or 280 million yen to the Republic of Zambia, for underprivileged farmers.
Secondly, the Government of Japan also decided to extend grant aid of up to US$3.48 million, or 400 million yen to the Republic of Guatemala, for underprivileged farmers.
Thirdly, the Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid of up to 49 million yen to the Republic of Ecuador, for "Project for improvement of water supply system of Huaquillas city and Arenillas city".
Related Information (Japan-Ecuador Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Guatemala Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Zambia Relations) - Question concerning Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's policy speech at the Diet
Q: What do you think will be the major points in Minister Aso's Diet policy speech?
Mr. Taniguchi: It is being delivered very shortly so you will what he has to say soon afterwards.
However, one of the characteristics of the speech, I would say, is that it is one of the shortest and most concise speeches that Foreign Ministers have ever given for many years.
He will emphasize some of the basic principles that guide Japan's foreign policies, such as enhancing democracy, open markets, human rights.
He will also touch on the relationships that Japan has with neighboring nations, and emphasize that the Japan-US alliance remains key to Japan's foreign policy. Those are some of the points he will touch upon, but you should check the text, which will soon be available.
Back to Index
