Internet Press Chat Conference, 26 October 2006

Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Ambassador Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, to Attend the 18th Post-Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
Visit of Mr. Rodolphe Adada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Relations with Francophone Countries of the Republic of Congo, to Japan
Questions concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Development
Question concerning the Six-Party Talks

I. Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Assistant Press Secretary Noriyuki Shikata: Let me start today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. I would like to make several announcements before taking questions.

H.E. Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the First Lady will visit Japan from Monday 30 October to Friday 3 November at the invitation of the Government of Japan.

During his stay, President Kikwete will be received by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress and have a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. President Kikwete is also scheduled to have various talks with those in the private sector and others.

It is expected that the visit to Japan by President Kikwete and the First Lady will further enhance the friendly relations between the two countries.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Ambassador Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, to Attend the 18th Post-Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Mr. Shikata: Ambassador Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, is attending the 18th Post-Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Fiji from 26-28 October. At the meeting between Japan and PIF, both sides will discuss how to follow up on the "Okinawa Partnership for a More Robust and Prosperous Pacific Region" adopted at the PALM Summit 2006.

III. Visit of Mr. Rodolphe Adada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Relations with Francophone Countries of the Republic of Congo, to Japan

Mr. Shikata: Mr. Rodolphe Adada, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Relations with Francophone Countries of the Republic of Congo, will visit Japan from 29 October 29 to 1 November as the guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

During his visit, Mr. Adada will have talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and other Government leaders to have a wide-ranging exchange of views on such matters as Japan-Republic of Congo relations and peace and development in Africa. (The Republic of Congo is the chair country of the AU (African Union) in 2006.)

It is expected that the forthcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Adada will further enhance the friendly and cooperative relations existing between the two countries. Mr. Adada, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the Third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III) in 2003. This will be his fourth visit to Japan.

IV. Questions concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Development

Q: There is a recent report from the official Iranian Student's News Agency that the Islamic Republic of Iran will start feeding uranium gas into a second network of centrifuges in its Natanz pilot enrichment plant in a matter of days. Is the Japanese Government aware of this? Has the Iranian Government relayed this to Japan via diplomatic channels?

Mr. Shikata: I am not aware of the specific report that you mention. However, as for the Iranian nuclear program, we have been following the situation very closely, and we expect that this issue will be taken up in the UN Security Council not far in the future.

Q: Sir, a follow-up question on the Iranian nuclear issue. How "not far in the future" is this? Would this be sometime within this week? Also, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the French Republic have circulated a draft sanctions resolution on Iran to the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, which warns Tehran of additional sanctions to imposed under Article 41 of the UN Charter's Chapter 7. How effective does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs see this kind of action in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue?

Mr. Shikata: As for the specific timing of the discussion at the UN Security Council, since this will take place based on prior consultations among the major members concerned, it is hard for me to mention specifically. The international community is united in preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities and Japan hopes that we will proceed with concrete deliberations at the UN Security Council in due course.

Q: In relation to the North Korean and Iranian nuclear issues, do you feel that if Japan does not take strong actions on North Korea, it will embolden Iran to pursue its nuclear ambitions? How seriously concerned is Japan over the Iranian nuclear issue compared to that of North Korea (given that Iran has not yet developed nuclear capability while North Korea has claimed to have such capability)?

Mr. Shikata: First, let me point out that Japan is against the nuclear development of both North Korea and Iran. Of course, given the proximity of North Korea to Japan, we feel a direct threat from North Korean nuclear or missile developments. At the same time, we are concerned about Iran's possible nuclear weapons program, and we are united with the rest of the international community to prevent it from realization. In addition, since we import approximately 90% of our crude oil from the Gulf region, we are concerned about possible implications it has upon the Middle Eastern security environment.

V. Question concerning the Six-Party Talks

Q: In relation to North Korea again. There are talks for five of the six-party countries, excluding North Korea, to meet. China seems to be reluctant but Japan and the United States are reportedly working hard to persuade China to agree to talks also including Russia and the Republic of Korea (ROK). What are the prospects of such five-way talks happening and from the standpoint of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would this be good/meaningful or counterproductive to moving forward the North Korean nuclear issue?

Mr. Shikata: I am aware of the Kyodo report to that effect, however, there is no such plan. Of course, in order to realize the return of North Korea to the Six-Party Talks without conditions and to let North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program and to address other issues of grave concern, such as missiles and humanitarian issues, the Government of Japan will continue to closely work with other Governments of the Six-Party Talks.

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