Press Conference, 12 September 2006

Announcements and Documents Available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website
Appointment of the First Representative of the Government of Japan to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Visit by Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to New York, Havana, and Irkutsk
Japan's Non-project Grant Aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Question concerning the Reports of a Proposal by Mr. Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to Proceed with Discussion of the Nuclear Issue with or without North Korea

I. Announcements and Documents Available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon.

Since the last press conference there have been several materials uploaded already on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. First are documents about the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

There is also a document about Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka, and what he is doing for the Sri Lankan peace process.

There is also actually a US-based think tank called Center for Global Development (CDG) that has released a report about developed nations' aid policies. The Japanese Government has responded to the report, and you can see the position paper of the Japanese Government on the website.

In addition to these, I have just a couple of new remarks that I should make here today.

II. Appointment of the First Representative of the Government of Japan to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Mr. Taniguchi: Number one: Today's cabinet meeting decided to appoint the following person as the first Representative of the Government of Japan to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). His name is Mr. Koichiro Seki, currently Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM was established as a regional organization in August 1973 in Georgetown, the capital of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It is a regional group, and the Government of Japan has been in close touch with this organization, but it is to be hoped that the sending of this gentleman, Mr. Seki, to CARICOM as the first Representative of the Japanese Government is going to further cement the ties between the group and Japan.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Visit by Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to New York, Havana, and Irkutsk

Mr. Taniguchi: The other release is about Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and his visits to New York, Havana, and Irkutsk. Dr. Toyama is visiting New York, Havana, and Irkutsk from 13 September to 22 September. In New York, he will attend the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, which will be held from Thursday 14 September to Friday 15 September. That is a UN-hosted meeting. Then in Havana, Dr. Toyama is scheduled to attend the summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which will be held from 15 to 16 September in Havana. Then in Russia in Irkutsk, he is scheduled to attend the 4th Baikal Economic Forum. That is scheduled to be held from 19 to 21 September. He will make a brief speech there, so it is a rather long trip.

Related Information (Press Release)

IV. Japan's Non-project Grant Aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Mr. Taniguchi: The only other thing is about Japan's non-project grant aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. That is up to 1,300 million yen. It is a non-project aid, so it is up to the Jordanian Government to effectively use that money.

V. Question concerning Reports of a Proposal by Mr. Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to Proceed with Discussion of the Nuclear Issue with or without North Korea

Q: There have been reports from the Republic of Korea (ROK) saying that Mr. Christopher Hill, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, is proposing to go on with the multilateral talks without North Korea on the nuclear issue. At the same time, on the other hand, he is also saying that he is going to step up efforts for economic sanctions on the North Korea issue. Can you tell me what is going on here, and also what Japan's position is?

Mr. Taniguchi: According to the report that you perhaps have seen already, Mr. Hill is reported to have made a proposal to the ROK Government that a meeting would be necessary, with or without the involvement of the North Korean side. We certainly are aware of that report, but I am afraid I cannot make any comment on that; the Japanese Government has formed no position as of yet about the proposal, which may or may not exist. I cannot confirm that report.

Back to Index