Internet Press Chat Conference 9 February 2006
- Second "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
- Visit to Japan by Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Acting Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea), and Mrs. Namaliu
- Additional assistance to emergency grant aid to Pakistan through international organizations for large-scale earthquake disaster
- Joint Study for Enhancing Economic Relations between Japan and Australia (including the Feasibility or Pros and Cons of Free Trade Agreement) Meeting No. 2
- Grassroots cultural grant aid to the Bulgarian Sumo Federation (presentation of donation list by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to Ozeki Koto-oshu)
- Panel discussion: Talking about International Exchange with the Foreign Ministry
- Question concerning visit to the Middle East by Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for the Middle East
- Questions concerning Japan-North Korea Comprehensive and Parallel Talks in Beijing
- Question concerning caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad
- Questions concerning the Fourth Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
- Question concerning Japan-China relations
- Second "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me start today's Regular Internet Press Chat Conference. Today, I would like to make several announcements before I take questions.
Second "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
On 8 February, the Second "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held in Asthana, Republic of Kazakhstan. The delegates from Japan and five Central Asian nations, namely, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, participated in the meeting.
The meeting is the Senior Officials Meeting represented by the under-secretary level from the Central Asian nations, and is organized under the framework of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue, launched by the Foreign Ministers' meeting held in Asthana in 2004. The areas such as terrorism, drug trafficking, landmines, poverty reduction, health and welfare were touched upon during the meeting. The participants confirmed the importance of holding the second foreign ministerial meeting of the "Central Asia plus Japan" Dialogue, and agreed to coordinate on the timing and venue of the dialogue.
- Visit to Japan by Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Acting Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea), and Mrs. Namaliu
Mr. Taniguchi: Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Acting Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea), will visit Japan from 11 to 16 February as Guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
During his stay in Japan, Sir Rabbie will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sadako Ogata to exchange views on the preparations for the Fourth Japan-PIF Summit Meeting (Pacific Islands Summit) to be held on 26 and 27 May 2006 in Okinawa, cooperative relations between Japan and the Pacific Island region, and bilateral relations between Japan and Papua New Guinea.
The Government of Japan has invited the PIF Chairman every year to promote regional dialogue and cooperation in the Pacific and strengthen dialogue with the PIF.
- Additional assistance to emergency grant aid to Pakistan through international organizations for large-scale earthquake disaster
Mr. Taniguchi: Taking into account the continued needs for emergency humanitarian assistance in the afflicted areas in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which sustained a large-scale earthquake disaster, Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso announced Japan's additional assistance of US$20 million through international organizations when he visited the country in January this year.
Following the passage of the supplementary budget in the Diet, the Government of Japan decided on 3 February to extend the following assistance through eight international organizations. The disbursement for the organizations will be made promptly.
a. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): US$5.0 million
b. World Food Programme (WFP): US$2.45 million
c. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): US$2.0 million
d. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): US$1.3 million
e. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): US$1.3 million
f. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT): US$150,000
g. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): US$5.0 million
h. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): US$2.8 millionFor a large-scale earthquake disaster in Pakistan, Japan provided on 18 October last year emergency grant aid of US$8 million in total through five international organizations. With this aid and other recovery and reconstruction assistance, Japan's total assistance amounts to about US$200 million.
- Joint Study for Enhancing Economic Relations between Japan and Australia (including the Feasibility or Pros and Cons of Free Trade Agreement) Meeting No. 2
Mr. Taniguchi: The Joint Study for Enhancing Economic Relations between Japan and Australia Meeting No. 2 will be held on both 9 and 10 February at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Commonwealth of Australia, in Canberra. This meeting will be held based on the agreement reached between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia at their summit meeting held last April. The leaders agreed to consider the modality of economic partnership appropriate for conclusion between developed countries with a view to further developing the existing amicable favorable Japan-Australia relations, and to conduct an intergovernmental joint study by around the spring of 2007.
- Grassroots cultural grant aid to the Bulgarian Sumo Federation (presentation of donation list by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to Ozeki Koto-oshu)
Mr. Taniguchi: The Government of Japan has decided to give a grassroots cultural grant aid of about US$59,000 (about 6.3 million yen) in total to the Bulgarian Sumo Federation, to supply Sumo equipment (dohyo rings, mawashi belts, tatami mats, video cameras, etc.). On 8 February, Foreign Minister Aso ceremonially presented the donation list to Ozeki Koto-oshu, an honorary member of the Bulgarian Sumo Federation.
This assistance is to further spread Sumo in the Republic of Bulgaria by donating Sumo equipment to the Federation, which now practices with homemade dohyo consisting of sponge on plastic mats with the circle marked by a rope. Japan hopes that this aid will facilitate Bulgarian people to increase their understanding of Japanese culture.
- Panel discussion: Talking about International Exchange with the Foreign Ministry
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about a panel discussion "Talking about International Exchange with the Foreign Ministry" which will be held on 10 February in Tokyo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). For conducting effective public diplomacy, it is necessary for not only the central government but also such diverse actors as local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), media and academic organizations, which have emerged in the forefront of international exchange in the wake of globalization, to actively exchange views and work in concert. This is the second panel discussion to be held following the first one in FY2005 with a view to building a network for this purpose. Members of the media may access this event (in Japanese only).
- Question concerning visit to the Middle East by Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for the Middle East
Q: Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for the Middle East, visited the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Palestinian Territories, and the State of Israel. Could you tell us the outcome of his visit? How is the Japanese Government going to deal with Hamas? Is there any possibility that Japan will freeze aid in the future unless Hamas stops violence?
Mr. Taniguchi: Thank you for your question regarding Ambassador Arima's visit to the Middle East. At this point I cannot say much about the outcomes except that as Japan's special envoy he has been going back and forth between the region and Japan.
As for Hamas, we have been saying that as a product of the democratic process itself, it has to cherish democracy and give up violence. We are watching with the keenest interest as to what positions Hamas will hold about the State of Israel.
- Questions concerning Japan-North Korea Comprehensive and Parallel Talks in Beijing
Q: I have questions on the Japan-North Korea talks in Beijing. The Japanese media says that there has been no progress during the five-day discussions. Is this how you perceive it? Would you explain why or why not? On the abduction issue, did North Korean officials again say the cases have been settled? Or were there any signs of willingness to go a step further in the kidnapping cases?
Mr. Taniguchi: Thank you for your questions about Japan-North Korea talks. We think that our talks with the North Korean side for over 20 hours themselves were good, yet I have to admit no progress has been made on the abduction issue and other important issues of our concern. It has been very much regrettable that the North Korean side even raised such irrelevant points as the activities of human rights advocates operating in the region. That said, the North Korean side has recognized the importance of both sides continuing to discuss issues dealt in the last round of talks. Whether or not we will hold another round-and, if so, when-will be discussed in the coming days and weeks. Lastly, as has been the case we are talking with the North Korean side with the principle of "dialogue and pressure."
Q: What is the next step Japan wishes to take after the meetings just held?
Mr. Taniguchi: As for your question let me repeat what I have just said. We will be discussing what steps we should take next.
- Question concerning caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad
Q: There has been widespread Muslim outrage in Europe over the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in newspapers. Given the sensitivity of the issue, what is the Japanese Foreign Ministry's position with regard to the Japanese media printing the prophet's caricature? Is the Foreign Ministry calling for restraint on the Japanese media?
Mr. Taniguchi: I think it has been proven already that carrying the caricatures would do no good to anyone. I would be very much surprised if I saw members of the Japanese press attempting to carry the caricatures.
- Questions concerning the Fourth Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
Q: Sir, with regard to the visit to Japan by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of the People's Republic of China, I understand that the agenda of his talks with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi is not disclosed to enable candid exchange of ideas by both parties. But from a logical point of view, given the current circumstances, the Yasukuni Shrine issue is likely to be taken up. How do you see the Dai-Yachi talks playing a role in Japan's efforts to mend its strained ties with China over the Yasukuni issue?
Mr. Taniguchi: Last night Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki met representatives from the Chinese Government who are in charge of cultural public diplomacy. The talks and dinner were held in a very friendly atmosphere. I was a member of the reception so I can tell you that both sides were in full agreement about how important it is for us to continue to hold as many meetings as possible and to enhance people-to-people contacts, especially among the young on both sides. I believe the discussions that Mr. Yachi is going to have with Mr. Dai will be constructive and will be conducted in a very cordial atmosphere. On Yasukuni, by definition I am not in a position to make any comments because as you know the meeting will be between them only.
Q: Just a follow-up on minute details concerning Mr. Shiozaki's meeting with Chinese Government representatives. You mean the delegation from Beijing accompanying Mr. Dai Bingguo? Foreign Minister Aso was not part of this reception?
Mr. Taniguchi: My apologies for confusing you. I was talking about a separate mission that came from the Culture Department.
The Chinese dignitary whom Mr. Shiozaki met last night was Ms. Meng Xiao Si, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture.
- Question concerning Japan-China relations
Q: On Japan-China ties you just mentioned that last night's mood was good. But Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said that there is no chance that ties between Japan and China can be improved while Prime Minister Koizumi is in office. How do you react to this comment?
Mr. Taniguchi: Perhaps I can repeat what Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said. If indeed one of the important Chinese leaders did say what you quoted, it would be fair to say that it was very much inappropriate. Our doors have been, are, and will continue to be wide open for them. They do not even have to knock the door.
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