Press Conference 17 February 2006
- Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks of the Republic of Latvia
- Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Briz Abularach of the Republic of Guatemala
- The first meeting of the joint study group on the negotiations for the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement
- The first scoping consultation meeting with a view to starting negotiations for the Japan-Brunei Economic Partnership Agreement
- Signing of the Japan-Canada Social Security Agreement
- Assistance for "The African Millennium Villages Initiative" Project
- Assistance for consolidation of peace in Africa
- The Ninth Meeting of the Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology
- Follow-up question concerning visits of the foreign ministers of Latvia and Guatemala
- Questions concerning the 13th Asian Export Control Seminar
- Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks of the Republic of Latvia
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon.
The first announcement is about the visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks of Latvia will visit Japan from 19 to 25 February as Guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
During his stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Pabriks will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to exchange views on bilateral relations and the international situation.
- Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Briz Abularach of the Republic of Guatemala
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, about the visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Briz Abularach of Guatemala will visit Japan from 21 to 26 February as Guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
During his stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Briz will have talks with Foreign Minister Aso and exchange views with government-related organizations.
- The first meeting of the joint study group on the negotiations for the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement
Mr. Taniguchi: The third item is about a meeting of the joint study group on the negotiations for the Japan-Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The meeting will be from 16 to 18 February in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The objective is to start the negotiations for the Japan-Viet Nam EPA through an exchange of information and opinions.
Related Information (Japan-Viet Nam Relations)
Related Information (FTA and EPA) - The first scoping consultation meeting with a view to starting negotiations for the Japan-Brunei Economic Partnership Agreement
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, there is going to be the first scoping consultation meeting with a view to starting negotiations for the Japan-State of Brunei Darussalam EPA. The meeting will be on 20 and 21 February in Tokyo. The objective is to start the negotiations for the Japan-Brunei EPA.
Related Information (Japan-Brunei Relations)
Related Information (FTA and EPA) - Signing of the Japan-Canada Social Security Agreement
Mr. Taniguchi: There was the signing of the Japan-Canada Social Security Agreement. The Agreement between Japan and Canada on Social Security was signed on 15 February at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Tokyo between Foreign Minister Aso and Canadian Ambassador to Japan Joseph Caron.
- Assistance for "The African Millennium Villages Initiative" Project
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about the assistance for "The African Millennium Villages Initiative" Project.
On 16 February, the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN) decided to extend assistance of approximately US$9.2 million through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the first phase of "The African Millennium Villages Initiative" that will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for a duration of two years.
- Assistance for consolidation of peace in Africa
Mr. Taniguchi: Also, on 14 February, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid to eight projects amounting to approximately US$33 million through UN agencies and other organizations to support peace consolidation in five African countries, which are the Republic of the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Liberia, and the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The Government of Japan extends this emergency grant aid in line with its commitment at the Gleneagles Summit and in the hope that measures such as promoting of reintegration and resettlement of conflict affected people, community rehabilitation, and mine action will contribute to peace consolidation in Africa.
- The Ninth Meeting of the Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology
Mr. Taniguchi: The last item is about the Ninth Meeting of the Japan-Russia Committee on Cooperation in Science and Technology. The meeting will be on 22 and 23 February in Tokyo.
From Japan, Deputy Director General of the European Affairs Bureau Takeshi Yagi of the Foreign Ministry will lead the team, and from the Russian Federation, Director of the International Cooperation Department Vladislav V. Nichkov will lead the team.
- Follow-up question concerning visits of the foreign ministers of Latvia and Guatemala
Q: Regarding the visits of the foreign ministers of Latvia and Guatemala, what issues will be taken up?
Mr. Taniguchi: These visits have been planned for a long time, and in that sense they are long overdue visits. The visits are, overall, to further dialogues between Japan and relevant nations, in this case Latvia and Guatemala.
In terms of Guatemala, needless to say Japan has been one of the largest donors to the nation so it has been important for both nations to exchange views from time to time. You should also remember that last year Japan celebrated with countries like Guatemala the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and five Central American countries. So it is against that backdrop that the visit of the Foreign Minister from Guatemala has been made possible. Foreign Minister Briz is going to meet Foreign Minister Aso as well as officials who are in charge of official development assistance (ODA) policies and other government leaders.
In terms of the Latvian Foreign Minister, it is to exchange views about the bilateral relationship between Japan and Latvia. They will also talk about international affairs, in this case those which are relevant to European affairs. Basically the objective is to cement the bilateral ties.
As a footnote, in July 1996, then Foreign Minister of Latvia came to Japan.
- Questions concerning the 13th Asian Export Control Seminar
Q: Sir, I think you announced the 13th Asian Export Control Seminar the other day. I was wondering if the issue of Chinese arms export will be discussed.
Mr. Taniguchi: Certainly they will be discussing issues of relevance, but let me stress that that seminar is mostly to pull together officials who are actually in charge of policy-implementations, I mean, not the people who are writing policies. It is very much a working-level meeting, and it has been a part of a longstanding program, not an ad hoc meeting in that sense.
Q: Is the Foreign Ministry planning to table any proposals?
Mr. Taniguchi: Not that I know of.
Back to Index