Press Conference 14 March 2006
- Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
- Letters from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Mr. Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jafari, and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Hajim Al-Hasani of the Iraqi Transitional Government
- Congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Koizumi to President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda
- Visit to Japan of Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki to Switzerland and the United Kingdom
- Grant aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Grant aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Signing of agreement on technical cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Grant aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Grant aid to the Republic of Benin
- Opening of Tokyo Anime Center
- Follow-up question concerning Tokyo Anime Center
- Questions concerning visit to Japan by Director for Policy Planning Chun Yungwoo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea
- Question concerning talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Mr. Frank L. Ellsworth, President of the Japan Society
- Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Thank you very much for coming. Good morning. I would like to make a couple of announcements before taking questions.
First is the statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
On March 10 (Fri), the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam deposited its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) with the United Nations. As the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is one of the eleven countries whose ratification is required for the entry into force of the Treaty, Japan highly values and welcomes Viet Nam's ratification as an action to give impetus to the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
To facilitate the early entry-into-force of the Treaty, Japan has made active approaches to the non-ratified countries, whose ratifications are required for the entry into force of the Treaty, including Viet Nam. At the Japan-Vietnam Summit Meeting in June 2004, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to promptly ratify the CTBT, and in April 2005 then Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura sent letters to Foreign Ministers of eleven countries including Viet Nam, requesting early ratification of the CTBT. In early March 2006, Japan also invited Vietnamese officials who were in charge of the CTBT, and they visited international monitoring facilities in Japan and exchanged views with relevant Japanese counterparts. Japan regards the recent ratification by Viet Nam as a reflection of Japan's such enduring diplomatic efforts.
Japan intends to continue to urge the other remaining ten countries to ratify the Treaty as early as possible following Viet Nam's decision for the early entry-into-force of the Treaty, and Japan will also continuously make its diplomatic efforts to further promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
- Letters from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Mr. Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jafari, and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Hajim Al-Hasani of the Iraqi Transitional Government
Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns letters from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to President Mr. Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jafari, and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Hajim Al-Hasani of the Iraqi Transitional Government.
On 10 March, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent letters to President Mr. Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jafari, and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Hajim Al-Hasani of the Iraqi Transitional Government. The gist of the letters is as follows:
Following the bombing of the Shiite Holy Mosque in Samarra on 22 February, several incidents against a backdrop of religious conflicts have been taking place in some parts of Iraq. Therefore, the move towards forming a new government seems to be stagnated.
I strongly hope that Iraq will overcome these difficulties and that the Iraqi citizens, respecting each ethnic group and religious party, will promptly inaugurate a stable government based on national reconciliation. I also hope for the acceleration of the movement of setting up a new government.
Japan intends to continue active support for the efforts of the Government of Iraq and its people.
- Congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Koizumi to President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda
Mr. Chiba: The next is about a congratulatory letter sent from Prime Minister Koizumi to President Yoweri Museveni of the Republic of Uganda.
In the presidential election held in Uganda on 23 February, the incumbent President Museveni was reelected as President. Accordingly, the Prime Minister of Japan sent a congratulatory letter to President Museveni on 13 March.
Japan appreciates that the said election, the first multiparty election in roughly 25 years, was held without much violence or confusion. We hope that under the leadership of President Museveni, Uganda will promote democratization and economic and social development.
- Visit to Japan of Japanese American Leadership Delegation
Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns the visit to Japan of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on a joint program with the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, is inviting from 11 to 18 March, 15 young Japanese American leaders who are actively working in such fields as economic circles, academia, public institutions and mass media in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Honolulu, Denver, Chicago, Houston, New York City, Boston, Miami and Washington, D.C. Ms. Irene Hirano, Executive Director & President, Japanese American National Museum, will lead the delegation.
During their stay in Japan, after visiting Kyoto, the young leaders took part in a symposium held on 13 March at the Nagoya International Center and gave a presentation on the theme of "From Arts to Business: Japanese Americans in the Professional Arena." After that, in Tokyo, they will be received by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and will exchange views with members of the Diet, government, economic circles, institutions for global exchange and other organizations and also with Japanese Americans residing in Japan. On 16 March, they will have a symposium with Forum 21, that is young leaders of economic circles, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there will be a press occasion for this event.
This invitation is intended to promote the understanding of Japanese people about the historical experiences and present situation of Japanese Americans in the United States (U.S.), to enable the young Japanese American leaders to have direct contact with Japanese politics, economy, society, culture, etc., to promote their understanding of Japan through talks with knowledgeable Japanese people, and to give opportunities to form a network with Japan. This is the sixth invitation of its kind.
It is our hope that this program will strengthen the ties between the Japanese American community and Japan in the future, thus leading to further enhanced Japan-U.S. relations.
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki to Switzerland and the United Kingdom
Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns the visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki to Switzerland and the United Kingdom (U.K.).
Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit Switzerland and the United Kingdom from March 14 (Tue) to 18 (Sat).
In Switzerland, Mr. Shiozaki will have talks with Mr. Malcolm Knight, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and other senior officials of the organization.
In the United Kingdom, he will pay courtesy calls on Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw, and will attend the 22nd Annual Conference of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group as Co-Chairman.
- Grant aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Mr. Chiba: Now the regular announcements concerning official development assistance (ODA) from Japan to all over the world.
The Government of Japan decided to extend non-project grant aid of 4 billion yen (approximately US$34 million) to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for earthquake reconstruction in Pakistan. The signing ceremony was held on 13 March in Islamabad between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Nobuaki Tanaka and Mr. Khalid Saeed, Secretary to the Government of Pakistan, Economic Affaires Division.
It is expected that the implementation of this grant aid will allow the reconstruction of hospitals, schools and other buildings in the North West Frontier Province and will make necessary education and medical services available for the victims of the earthquake.
- Grant aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Mr. Chiba: The Government of Japan decided to extend grant aid of up to 9.89 million yen (approximately US$85,000) to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for assistance to a Japanese NGO in Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony was held on 13 March in Colombo between Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akio Suda and President of Urban Disaster Research Institute Shigeru Ito.
The Urban Disaster Research Institute will educate administrative officials, local residents and local NGOs in Galle district, which suffered a massive damage from the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in 2004, on disaster prevention. It is expected that the project will improve the disaster prevention ability of the Galle community.
- Signing of agreement on technical cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Republic of Azerbaijan
Mr. Chiba: The signing of agreement on technical cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held on 10 March in Tokyo between Ambassador of Japan to Azerbaijan Tadahiro Abe and Mr. Heydar Babayev, Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan, with the attendance of Prime Minister Koizumi and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
- Grant aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Chiba: The Government of Japan decided to extend grant aid of up to 600 million yen (approximately US$5.1 million) to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to implement the Project for Infectious Disease Prevention for Children through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The signing ceremony was held on 10 March in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, between Ambassador of Japan to Congo Toshinori Yanagiya and Representative of UNICEF in Congo Anthony Bloomberg.
This grant aid is expected to help lower the infection rates of malaria and measles and lower the incidence rate of anemia in the country.
Related Information (Japan- Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations) - Grant aid to the Republic of Benin
Mr. Chiba: Lastly, the Government of Japan decided to extend grant aid of up to 140 million yen (approximately US$1.2 million) to the Republic of Benin for assistance of underprivileged farmers in the country. The signing ceremony was held on 10 March in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, between Ambassador of Japan to Benin Tetsuro Shioguchi, who is based in Ivory Coast, and Charge d'Affaires a.i. of Benin to Ivory Coast Christophe Gbegbo.
With the implementation of this grant aid, it is expected that food production by small-scale farmers in Benin will increase, thereby contributing to improving the food self-sufficiency rate of the country.
- Opening of Tokyo Anime Center
Mr. Chiba: Just for your information, the Tokyo Anime Center will open tomorrow in Akihabara. This is an undertaking with the Association of Japanese Animations, a non-profit organization (NPO), at the core, and aims to provide you with access to comprehensive information about Japanese anime. You can consult their website at www.animecenter.jp/home_en.html for details in English.
- Follow-up question concerning Tokyo Anime Center
Q: Sir, you mentioned the Tokyo Anime Center. Is the Foreign Ministry involved in this?
Mr. Chiba: No, the Foreign Ministry is not involved. It is just for information. It is done by an NPO, and it is very keen on providing the foreign press with information concerning Japanese anime.
- Questions concerning visit to Japan by Director for Policy Planning Chun Yungwoo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea
Q: I understand Mr. Chun Yungwoo, the Republic of Korea (ROK) representative to the Six-Party Talks, is here in Japan and is going to be holding talks with Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae of the Foreign Ministry. I was wondering if there is any information on the talks.
Mr. Chiba: Yes, Director for Policy Planning Chun Yungwoo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the ROK is visiting Japan to hold talks today with Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae of the Foreign Ministry to discuss North Korean affairs including the Six-Party Talks. He is also scheduled to hold talks with other officials of the Government. Since the talks are going on right now, I do not have any concrete information.
Q: Will the talks be held at the Foreign Ministry?
Mr. Chiba: I am sorry, I cannot disclose that information.
- Question concerning talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Mr. Frank L. Ellsworth, President of the Japan Society
Q: I saw on the schedule for today that Foreign Minister Aso is meeting the President of the Japan Society in New York. I was wondering what they will be talking about.
Mr. Chiba: From 16:50 today, Foreign Minister Aso will be meeting Mr. Frank L. Ellsworth, President of the Japan Society in New York. The results of the talks will be announced in due course today.
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