Press Conference 7 March 2006
- Signing of Agreement between the Government of Japan and UNESCO concerning the Establishment of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) under the auspices of UNESCO
- Visit to Japan by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan of the Republic of Korea (ROK)
- Visit to Japan by Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brunson McKinley
- Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation
- Japan-Russia Eminent Persons' Council
- Visit by Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kiyohiko Toyama to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the International Symposium Asia 2015
- Visit by Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office Taimei Yamaguchi to the Portuguese Republic
- Visit by Mr. Hidenao Nakagawa, member of the House of Representatives, to the Republic of Chile
- Emergency grant aid to the Organization of American States (OAS)
- Grant aid to UNICEF for the Project for Improving Maternal and Child Health Care in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
- Grant aid to the Republic of Moldova
- Sector program grant aid to Moldova
- Non-project grant aid to the United Republic of Tanzania
- Questions concerning report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Follow-up questions concerning ROK Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan's visit to Japan
- Follow-up question concerning telephone conversation between Japanese and Russian foreign ministers
- Signing of Agreement between the Government of Japan and UNESCO concerning the Establishment of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) under the auspices of UNESCO
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I would like to kick off by making a couple of announcements.
First, about what has been taking place in Tokyo. A lot has been taking place in Tokyo.
The first announcement is about the establishment of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). There was a signing of agreement between the Government of Japan and UNESCO concerning the establishment of this centre. The centre is expected to be opened in Tsukuba City-sorry, this is not Tokyo but close to Tokyo. The signing was done in Paris between Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO Teiichi Sato and Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura. The centre will study and exchange information concerning water hazards around the world.
- Visit to Japan by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan of the Republic of Korea (ROK)
Mr. Chiba: A series of announcements will concern visits by foreign dignitaries. The first one is about the visit of Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan of the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The second Japan-ROK Vice-Ministerial Strategic Dialogue was held yesterday, on 6 March in Tokyo. From Japan, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi attended, and from the ROK, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan took part in the dialogue.
In the meeting, views on how to further develop the bilateral relations were exchanged, and both sides confirmed that it is extremely important to develop, as well as to maintain, the existing cordial and cooperative relations between the two countries, which share the idea of liberal democracy and market economy and are also allies of the United States of America (US). Issues such as Korean residents in Sakhalin, history issues, promotion of youth exchange programs were also touched upon during the dialogue.
Firmly grounded on such basic understandings, both sides frankly discussed from a broad perspective how the two countries can cooperate in constructing peace and stability in Northeast Asia, in achieving early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, and in terms of the respective relations with the US. Other various international issues were also discussed.
Mr. Yu paid a courtesy call to Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. In the exchange of views which took place, Mr. Yu expressed his sincere thanks to Japan's permanent visa exemption measure for the nationals of the ROK which was put effective on 1 March. With regard to North Korea, both sides confirmed their close cooperation with a view to resolve various issues of concern including early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and the abduction issue.
- Visit to Japan by Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brunson McKinley
Mr. Chiba: Another visit of a foreign dignitary, the visit to Japan by Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Brunson McKinley.
Mr. Brunson McKinley, Director General of the IOM, has arrived in Japan last Sunday, 5 March, and will stay on until 10 March.
During his stay, Mr. McKinley will meet with Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki and other officials of the Government of Japan to exchange views on wide-ranging issues, including cooperation from Japan in such fields as support for the peace agreement of Aceh and combating human trafficking.
The day after tomorrow, on 9 March, Mr. McKinley will attend a symposium, co-sponsored by the United Nations University, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IOM, titled "Symposium on How Should Japan Respond to the Issues of Foreigners? Towards the Integration of Foreigners into Japanese Society."
- Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation
Mr. Chiba: The fourth announcement concerns the telephone conference held between the foreign ministers of Japan and the Russian Federation.
From 23:00 last night, Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso spoke with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov of Russia, who is currently visiting Canada, on the telephone. On this occasion both sides mainly discussed Iran's nuclear issue and the Middle East peace process. The two ministers agreed to continue to exchange views closely.
On Japan-Russia bilateral relations, the two ministers confirmed the importance of continuing the follow-up on the results of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan in November 2005.
On Iran's nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Aso highly valued Russia's constructive engagement to resolve the matter diplomatically and stressed the importance of tenaciously continuing the dialogue with Iran, referring to his meeting with Foreign Minster Manuchehr Mottaki of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 27 February, in which Foreign Minister Aso strongly urged Iran to find solutions through its consultations with Russia. Minister Lavrov responded by valuing Japan's diplomatic efforts and stated that Russia also stresses the importance of continued diplomatic efforts and that the issue would be discussed in a weeklong International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Directors meeting starting from 6 March.
On the Middle East peace process, Foreign Minister Lavrov explained briefly about the exchange of views with the leaders of Hamas in Moscow on 3 March. Foreign Minister Aso said that Hamas, which became the first party through a democratic process, must become fully aware of its responsibility and Japan strongly hopes that it will peacefully coexist and prosper with Israel.
- Japan-Russia Eminent Persons' Council
Mr. Chiba: Another announcement concerning Russia. The third Japan-Russia Eminent Persons' Council will be held on Monday, 27 March, in Moscow. The Japanese side will be attended by Mr. Yoshiro Mori, former Prime Minister of Japan; Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Nippon Keidanren; Mr. Nobuo Shimotomai, Professor of Hosei University; and among others, Mr. Yasuhiro Yamashita, a gold medalist in judo who is now a Professor of Tokai University. The Russian side will be chaired by Mr. Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow, and among other distinguished members, there will be Madame Valentina Vladmirovna Tereshkova, a very famous scientist in Russia.
The theme of the third round of talks is going to be bilateral relations and cooperation towards the St. Petersburg G8 Summit, especially concentrating on education and energy fields. Both sides are expected to freely exchange opinions on these issues.
- Visit by Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kiyohiko Toyama to the United Kingdom (UK) to attend the International Symposium Asia 2015
Mr. Chiba: Now visits from Japan to foreign countries. Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kiyohiko Toyama is visiting London to attend the International Symposium Asia 2015.
Development issues tend to concentrate on Africa but Asia also has a poverty population of 0.7 billion. Japan has been cooperating with the United Kingdom (UK) in the field of development concerning issues in Asia. This meeting being held in London will see attendance from 16 Asian countries, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and will discuss issues that Asia faces in order to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- Visit by Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office Taimei Yamaguchi to the Portuguese Republic
Mr. Chiba: Another dignitary will be visiting the Portuguese Republic to attend the inauguration ceremony for President-elect Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva. Senior Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office Taimei Yamaguchi will be visiting Lisbon.
- Visit by Mr. Hidenao Nakagawa, member of the House of Representatives, to the Republic of Chile
Mr. Chiba: For another presidential inauguration ceremony, Mr. Hidenao Nakagawa, member of the House of Representatives of Japan, will visit the Republic of Chile to attend the inauguration ceremony for President-elect Michelle Bachelet of Chile.
- Emergency grant aid to the Organization of American States (OAS)
Mr. Chiba: Another announcement concerning elections, the Japanese Government decided to provide approximately US$90,000 to the Organization of American States (OAS) to assist the promotion of fair elections in the Republic of Peru. These concern the presidential elections as well as the parliament elections. Through this assistance we expect that democracy in Peru will see progress.
- Grant aid to UNICEF for the Project for Improving Maternal and Child Health Care in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Mr. Chiba: Now, for the usual announcements concerning official development assistance (ODA). The first one I have just made right now concerning the Peruvian elections.
Japan is also providing funds through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the Project for Improving Maternal and Child Health Care in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
- Grant aid to the Republic of Moldova
Mr. Chiba: The second is about a grant aid going to the Republic of Moldova. Approximately US$1.9 million will be provided to assist farmers who are suffering from poverty in Moldova. The signing ceremony was held last Friday, 3 March, in Chisinau.
- Sector program grant aid to Moldova
Mr. Chiba: Another project to Moldova, approximately US$3.4 million in the form of sector program grant aid was provided to Moldova in order to contribute to the economic adjustment of that country.
- Non-project grant aid to the United Republic of Tanzania
Mr. Chiba: The last announcement concerns non-project grant aid to the United Republic of Tanzania. Japan will provide US$5.1 million to Tanzania, and the signing ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, 6 March.
- Questions concerning report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Q: I understand this afternoon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be holding hearings with several Japan-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focusing on human rights and rights of minorities. Regarding the report by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I was wondering what the Foreign Ministry hopes to attain from these hearings.
Mr. Chiba: A meeting is going to be held today at 15:00. However, this is an unofficial meeting mainly consisting of officials concerned. The ministries concerned are the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Ministry of Justice; and from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the director in charge of human rights will attend the meeting to exchange views as to how to respond to the report that was issued earlier. Since it is just one chain in the series of businesses that will be undertaken on this issue, I have no further announcements to make.
Q: What is the Japanese Government's stance on the report?
Mr. Chiba: I believe you can find that on our website. Still at the very early stage, the Government already gave a response to that. At any rate, Japan cherishes human rights and if there are any matters concerning human rights that the Japanese Government needs to improve, Japan will put in as much effort as possible to straighten out the issue.
- Follow-up questions concerning ROK Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan's visit to Japan
Q: Speaking about the visit of Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-Hwan from the ROK, there were several reports in the Japanese press about his very harsh words or comments about the possibility of meetings between the leaders of Japan and the ROK while Prime Minister Koizumi is still in power. Can you comment or give some details about this?
Mr. Chiba: I am aware of the reports. However, I wish to refrain from giving you the details of what actually took place during the exchange of views. At any rate, both sides were aware that this is a very important relationship, and both sides agreed to promote the relationship which is already on very good terms.
Q: In relation to that, it was also reported that Minister Yu renewed his call for Prime Minister Koizumi not to visit Yasukuni Shrine. Is this true?
Mr. Chiba: Again, I would like to refrain from giving you the details of what was discussed. This is supposed to be a free exchange of views. What we are ready to announce has just been announced in my previous statement.
- Follow-up question concerning telephone conversation between Japanese and Russian foreign ministers
Q: During the telephone talks between Foreign Minister Aso and Foreign Minister Lavrov, did the Russian side bring up the issue of Foreign Minister Aso's so-called controversial remarks on the disputed islands?
Mr. Chiba: Concerning the bilateral relations, I repeat, the two ministers confirmed the importance of the follow-up of President Putin's visit to Japan last November. Most of the conversation was about Iran and the Middle East.
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