Internet Press Chat Conference, 28 September 2006

Acceptance of a patient from Etorofu Island
Visit to Japan by Mr. James T. Morris, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
Questions concerning the arrangement of summit meetings with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the People's Republic of China
Question concerning Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's measures regarding the abduction issue
Question concerning the Northern Territories

I. Acceptance of a patient from Etorofu Island

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me start today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. Today, I would like to make several announcements before I take questions.

As part of Assistance for the Residents of the Four Northern Islands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to accept one patient from Etorofu Island and give the patient medical treatment at the Nemuro Hospital from Thursday, 28 September to Tuesday, 17 October. The Acceptance of Patients from Northern Islands started in 1998 and so far 35 patients have been accepted as of 2005. In this fiscal year 15 patients from the Northern Islands have been accepted.

II. Visit to Japan by Mr. James T. Morris, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Mr. Taniguchi: Mr. James T. Morris, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will visit Japan from Wednesday, 4 October to Friday, 6 October. During his stay in Japan, he will meet officials from the Government of Japan and the members of the WFP Parliamentary League to exchange views on policy on food assistance and cooperation between Japan and WFP. Also, he will attend the opening of the panel exhibition, 'Feeding for a Better Future in Africa' and exchange views with advisors of the Japan Association for the UN WFP and engage in public relation activities.

III. Questions concerning the arrangement of summit meetings with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the People's Republic of China

Q: Good afternoon Sir. New Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki just said today that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Roh Moo Hyun of the Republic of Korea (ROK) agreed to hold their summit at an early date, possibly on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. It seems to me that a Japan-ROK summit will take place earlier than a Japan-People's Republic of China summit. If that is the case, do you see a gap in the way Japan is arranging its summit with China and the ROK - do you see that negotiations with the ROK are speeding up, unlike with China, and that Japan is more willing to work with a democracy like the ROK?

Mr. Taniguchi: Thanks for your question. It does seem that the bilateral leader summit meeting between the ROK and Japan will take place. In terms of the venue and scheduling I can say nothing at the moment and it is impossible for me to answer whether the Japan-ROK summit will take place before or after the one with China, which we are seeking in earnest at the moment as well. That the ROK is a democracy is a truism.

Q: Thank you Sir. Just to follow up on my Japan-China question, so it is not true that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is somehow dealing differently with China and the ROK? That a Japan-ROK summit is moving at a faster pace compared to a Japan-China summit?

Mr. Taniguchi: Do not rush. What is important is that both the new prime minister and the not-so-new foreign minister have made it clear repeatedly that having summit meetings with BOTH the ROK and China is among the top priorities for Japan's diplomacy.

IV. Question concerning Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's measures regarding the abduction issue

Q: The prime minister's office seems to be stepping up its efforts to resolve the abduction with the creation of more posts for this purpose. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) feel threatened that such stepped-up efforts on the abduction issue under the prime minister's leadership will overlap with the ministry's jurisdiction?

Mr. Taniguchi: No way! This is more than welcome.

V. Question concerning the Northern Territories

Q: On a different issue concerning the disputed islands off Hokkaido, I would like to reconfirm the stance of MOFA and the Japanese Government. The Russian Federation has said it wants to resolve the issue by returning two of the four islands, while Japan wants all four back. Is that correct?

Mr. Taniguchi: You may perhaps have heard from Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the solution has to be one that is acceptable both for Moscow and Tokyo. That is as much as I can say to you now.

Back to Index