Press Conference, 16 January 2007

Visit to Japan by Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic
First Meeting of the General Assembly for Japan-Brazil Exchange Year
Question concerning Changes in the Wine Procurement Budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

I. Visit to Japan by Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon.

I have got only two straightforward announcements to make. Number one, from the Italian Republic, Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to come to Japan and stay between Wednesday, 31 January and Sunday, 4 February.

II. First Meeting of the General Assembly for Japan-Brazil Exchange Year

Number two, there is going to be the First Meeting of the General Assembly for what is called Japan-Brazil Exchange Year 2008 on Thursday, 18 January, here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso is slated to appear at the first General Assembly.

III. Question concerning Changes in the Wine Procurement Budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Q: Since the budget for buying wine has been cut, I would like to know to what source the Ministry is shifting its procurement. For example, would it go from buying French wines to buying wines from someplace else? If yes, I would like to know as much in detail as possible exactly where the Ministry will shift its procurement.

Mr. Taniguchi: The Ministry's position on this matter is "we only buy what it needed". It is hard to say that we become more interested in buying what kind of wine or less interested in buying particular type of wine.

Anything else that you want to ask? Thank you very much.

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