Press Conference, 12 October 2007

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary's statement about the Union of Myanmar
Questions concerning North Korea
Questions concerning the visits to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin of the Russian Federation
Questions concerning the People's Republic of China
Question concerning the tripartite joint maritime exercise
Question concerning the Six-Party Talks
Questions concerning the Union of Myanmar
Question concerning Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force activities in the Indian Ocean
Question concerning the Democratic Party of Japan's position regarding Japan's involvement in ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

I. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary's statement about the Union of Myanmar

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon, thanks very much for coming.

What I should say at the outset is a short remark on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary's statement about (the Union of) Myanmar.

Japan welcomes the United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement on the situation in Myanmar issued yesterday, 11 October, New York time.

Japan hopes that the Myanmar authorities will respond to the UN Secretary-General's good offices efforts including the mission by Mr. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, and move to a peaceful transition to democracy and improve the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

So that is the gist of the Press Secretary's statement issued this morning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is it. Any questions please?

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Questions concerning North Korea

Q: There is a report in today's newspaper saying Japan has started considering fresh aid to North Korea on the condition that North Korea resumes its research on the abduction issue. Is it true?

Mr. Taniguchi: That is not something that is correct.

Q: In which way is it not correct?

Mr. Taniguchi: We have discussed a number of times about how best to have the normalization of the diplomatic relationship between Pyongyang and Tokyo, but there are many, many conditions to be filled before that happens. So it is too early for us to talk anything about that.

III. Questions concerning the visits to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin of the Russian Federation

Q: My question is about forthcoming visits this month by the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov and the next one by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Naryshkin. Can you please clear up their agenda, and is it now decided with which Japanese officials meetings are scheduled?

Mr. Taniguchi: In terms of the schedules it is very much difficult for me to clarify or be specific on those, on where, when, and who is to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs and others from Russia.

In terms of the agenda, they are going to endorse, once again, the partnership agreement forged between the two nations, in which both nations agreed on the importance of enhancing the bilateral relationship, especially in the field of economy and business. So those are the points, obviously, the two nations are going to discuss again.

In terms of the territorial issue, it is a pending issue, of course. There is also an agreement that they will be looking at this issue seriously in the hope that they can have an agreement that can be acceptable for both nations, Russia and Japan.

Q: If I understand correctly the territorial issue will be discussed?

Mr. Taniguchi: The Japanese Government is very much interested in discussing that.

IV. Questions concerning the People's Republic of China

Q: When exactly is Prime Minister Fukuda scheduled to visit Beijing? Given that the Japanese Diet is still in session, what will actually bring Prime Minister Fukuda to China and what does he want to achieve by visiting China?

Mr. Taniguchi: In terms of the schedule of Prime Minister Fukuda's visit, there is nothing, I am afraid, I can say at the moment. The answer is: nothing has actually been decided on the schedule for Prime Minister Fukuda's visit to Beijing. That is the answer to the first part of your question.

The second part: the visit of Prime Minister Fukuda to Beijing actually follows the already agreed visit that was supposed to be made by former Prime Minister Abe to Beijing. It was also agreed by both nations, China and Japan, that the next prime ministerial visit of Japan to Beijing will be followed next year by President Hu Jintao's corresponding visit to Japan sometime in the springtime. Therefore, this upcoming visit of Prime Minister Fukuda's is going to be an important step in order for Japan to welcome President Hu Jintao from China to Japan.

In addition, if you look at the bilateral relationship between China and Japan, that is advancing in a very constructive manner. Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese leaders are going to discuss how best to further give a boost to the relationship that is advancing smoothly and constructively.

One of the pending issues is about the joint development in the East China Sea, of its oil and gas resources. There is a considerable gulf to be filled between the two nations, and the Japanese Government has repeatedly requested that a high-level political decision be made on the Chinese side about the way in which the East China Sea gas field should be developed jointly between China and Japan.

V. Question concerning the tripartite joint maritime exercise

Q: The tripartite joint maritime exercise is being scheduled between Japan, Australia and the United States. Is this aimed at giving any deterrence to China?

Mr. Taniguchi: These sorts of joint exercises between and among nations that involve Japan target no specific country whatsoever.

Related Information (PSI)

VI. Question concerning the Six-Party Talks

Q: The South Korean Ambassador to the United States has called, in an interview with The Washington Times, for a visit by Secretary Rice to North Korea, and he said that this was the appropriate time to deepen the agreement to the Six-Party Talks in the last round. What does Japan think about this request by South Korea?

Mr. Taniguchi: I do not think it is appropriate to make any comment from my side to the remarks made by members of the South Korean Foreign Ministry, so I should refrain from making further comment on that.

VII. Questions concerning the Union of Myanmar

Q: The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that he is sending Special Envoy Mr. Gambari to Myanmar and the Asian region again. He mentioned a visit to Japan also. Can you give us some details on when he is coming and who he is going to meet?

Mr. Taniguchi: No information is available at the moment, but I should hasten to add that the Japanese Government is firmly backing all the goodwill efforts being made by Special Advisor Gambari. There are many, many things to be discussed, I am sure, between Mr. Gambari and the Japanese members of the Foreign Ministry.

Q: Is the Japanese Government or the Foreign Ministry going to ask Mr. Gambari to negotiate with the Myanmar Government regarding the video-camera?

Mr. Taniguchi: I am not sure. The Japanese Government has continued to request those things, including the video-camera and the content of it, be returned to Japan as soon as possible. I am not so sure about if that request is going to be raised from the Japanese side to Mr. Gambari.

VIII. Question concerning Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force activities in the Indian Ocean

Q: Given what is going on in the Japanese Diet, what is the prospect for the continuation of the activities, in the Indian Ocean, that the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships are engaged in, refueling ships from countries like NATO, and the United States, and Pakistan? Is that going to be continued?

Mr. Taniguchi: It is not appropriate for me to make a comment on what can and what cannot happen in the Japanese Diet.

The hope and expectation of the Japanese Government is that because this activity has been, for the last six years or more, very much appreciated by the naval forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, this can continue without any discontinuation.

IX. Question concerning the Democratic Party of Japan's position regarding Japan's involvement in ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Q: Mr. Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan, is making an argument that Japan should be taking part in the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) activities in Afghanistan. What do you think about that?

Mr. Taniguchi: It is not appropriate for a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make a comment on what the head of a political party is saying.

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