Press Conference, 15 June 2007

Statement on the bombing of the Al-Askary Mosque in the Republic of Iraq
Meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Royal Government of Cambodia
GUAM+Japan Meeting
Japan-India High-Level Policy Consultations on Economic Development
Dispatch of an election observer mission to Timor Leste for National Assembly elections
Question concerning reports on the possible transfer of North Korean funds from Macau
Questions concerning the upcoming visit to Japan by Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin of the Russian Federation
Questions concerning the situation in the Palestinian Territories
Follow-up question concerning the bombing of the Al-Askary Mosque
Question concerning the situation in Lebanon

I. Statement on the bombing of the Al-Askary Mosque in the Republic of Iraq

Assistant Press Secretary Noriyuki Shikata: Thank you for coming. Let me start my press conference with five initial statements. One is on the bombing of the Shiite Al-Askary Mosque in the Republic of Iraq on Wednesday, 13 June. The Shiite Al-Askary Mosque in Samarra, a city to the north of Baghdad was bombed on Wednesday. It was the second attack to the mosque following the bombing in February last year, which fomented sectarian tensions in Iraq, and the Government of Japan is deeply concerned about this incident. The Government of Japan sincerely hopes that the incident will not lead to further escalation of sectarian tensions, and strongly expects that Iraqi people make unified efforts for national reconciliation aimed at the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.

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II. Meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Royal Government of Cambodia

Mr. Shikata: Next of Cambodia Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Royal Government of Cambodia. They met each other yesterday and come up with a joint statement on the new partnership between Japan and Cambodia. Some of the salient points are as follows.

The Japanese Government reaffirmed its intention to continue assistance to strengthen democracy in Cambodia. We welcome the official establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia for prosecuting crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international humanitarian law during the period of Democratic Kampuchea. The Cambodian side appreciated Japan's contribution to the trials by providing more than US$21 million and sending a judge to the Supreme Court Chamber.

They also touched on the issue of the signing of the Agreement between Japan and Cambodia for the Liberalization, Promotion, and Protection of Investment. Japanese investment to Cambodia is expected to be promoted by this agreement that was signed after the summit meeting between the two leaders.

There was also a reference to the Cambodian side's high appreciation for Japan's support for the Mekong Region's development. The Japanese side expressed its intention to invite more than 1,000 Cambodian youth to Japan in the coming five years. This is part of our effort to promote mutual understanding between Japan and Cambodia. The Japanese side appreciated Cambodia's continued support for Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

They also touched on the issue of global environmental issues, particularly climate change, and the Cambodian side appreciated Japan's recent proposal on climate change, titled "Cool Earth 50."

III. GUAM+Japan Meeting

Mr. Shikata: On 18 June, the first GUAM+Japan Meeting will be held in Baku, capital of the Azerbaijani Republic, and the Foreign Ministers and high officials of the member states of the "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development -- GUAM." GUAM stands for the names of the member states of the organization: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. This meeting is going to be attended from the Japanese Government by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka. The meeting will be held on the occasion of the Second Summit of the "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM", to be held on 18 and 19 June, and they will exchange views on prospects of cooperation between GUAM countries and Japan.

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IV. Japan-India High-Level Policy Consultations on Economic Development

Mr. Shikata: The first Japan-India High-Level Policy Consultations on Economic Development is being held today at the Finance Ministry of the Republic of India in New Delhi. The consultation will be led on the Japanese side by Director General of the International Cooperation of Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koro Bessho, and attended by other officials from relevant ministries. On the Indian side, it will be attended by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of India Mr. Kumar Sanjay Krishna and other officials concerned.

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V. Dispatch of an election observer mission to Timor Leste for National Assembly elections

Mr. Shikata: Lastly, let me mention that the Japanese Cabinet decided today to dispatch election observer mission to Timor Leste for observation of their National Assembly election to be held on 30 June. After this election, a new prime minister is expected to be appointed, and we regard this as a very important step for Timor Leste to create a democratic country. The Japanese Government has also dispatched our election observer mission on the occasion of the presidential election in April, and also the presidential run-off that was held in May.

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VI. Question concerning reports on the possible transfer of North Korean funds from Macau

Q: Could you please comment about the transfer of money from Macau to Russia? What Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso said recently was that Japan has not received any confirmation or this transaction from Macau, Russia, or the United States. Is there anything new by now?

Mr. Shikata: We have been following various reports from Macau and other places, but as far as our Government is concerned, we have not officially confirmed that the transfer of money has been completed as of now. As far as the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) issue is concerned, since we are not a direct party to the issue, we are not in a position to characterize the current status of the issue itself. The mid-April deadline for implementation of measures at the initial stage is long overdue, and so it is essential that North Korea implement these measures at the initial stage as soon as possible.

VII. Questions concerning the upcoming visit to Japan by Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin of the Russian Federation

Q: I heard that the Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Naryshkin of the Russian Federation is to visit Japan in the beginning of July. Do you have any information about this possible visit?

Mr. Shikata: As you know well, at the Japan-Russia summit meeting that was held on the margins of the Heiligendamm Summit, there was agreement between the two leaders that in order to follow up the summit meeting Deputy Prime Minister Naryshkin will visit later this year, before autumn, and also Foreign Minister Sergei Labrov is also expected to visit Japan. We have not finalized that coordination to announce specific dates.

VIII. Questions concerning the situation in the Palestinian Territories

Q: I think you are following the developments in the Palestinian Territories, especially in Gaza, and I am wondering if you have any comment on what has happened yesterday.

Mr. Shikata: I understand that the situation is rapidly developing as of today. We are gravely concerned about the situation of rising tensions between Fatah and Hamas, and the dissolution of the Cabinet. We are following the situation with much attention. The Japanese Government is extremely concerned that the recent development will have a negative impact upon the efforts for the resumption of the peace process, and we strongly request that all the Palestinian parties and groups stop the fighting within the Palestinian side, and that the situation be settled as early as possible.

Q: There are some reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has disbanded the government and announced an emergency government. What is Japan's position on this issue?

Mr. Shikata: I have seen that report, and we may come up with a statement from our Government later on, but as I mentioned at the outset, we are following the situation with much interest, and we are very concerned about the situation, and we strongly hope that the situation, especially in terms of fighting, stops as soon as possible.

Q: Is Japan prepared to deal with whoever controls Gaza, namely, with Hamas? I think they already control that area. Are you going to deal with them?

Mr. Shikata: Since the situation is developing rapidly, we will consider what we can do to contribute to reducing tensions in the region. I am not prepared to explain to you what we could do at this particular juncture, but from the viewpoint of the Japanese Government, we wish to take steps to contribute to calming down the tensions.

Q: You said you want to take steps to contribute to calming down the tension. Many reports and even officials from the Palestinian side blamed the boycott and the siege against the Palestinians on your and the West's policy of not dealing with a democratically elected Hamas. In other words, because you refused to recognize the Hamas government and stopped and froze all their assistance, the situation ? the social situation, economic situation, political situation -- in that area deteriorated and led to this situation now. It is kind of blaming the West and other countries for what is happening now. Can you take this blame, and do you think you should basically change your policy in dealing with democratically elected governments, regardless of their policies?

Mr. Shikata: First of all, let me just say that as far as a group or organization resorts to measures that involve violence, that is something which should not be accepted. We are calling for a peaceful means of settling differences, if there are any, and we have taken measures from our viewpoint with much concern about the situation of the Palestinian people to extend humanitarian aid as much as possible, making use of international organizations. There could be different views, but I do not accept the causality of Western policy vis-a-vis Hamas leading to the current situation in the region.

Q: Let me get back to this situation. I mean, recently the Foreign Minister of he Palestinian Authority came and met Foreign Minister Aso, and it was a very good meeting according to the reports. Japan is a leading supporter, traditionally and historically, for the Palestinians, so nobody is disputing this, but there are some parties concerned that Japan might come under pressure to deal with the Palestinians according to the Western way of thinking, namely, the American or Israeli way of thinking. Do you think you will be able to deal with social and economic situation of all the Palestinian Territories regardless of who is in control there on the Palestinian side?

Mr. Shikata: As I mentioned, we are very concerned about the situation surrounding the Palestinian people, and we wish to make utmost efforts to assist their welfare. At the same time, there are constraints, due to the situation surrounding, for example, Hamas, and we will continue to seek opportunities to see progress in the Middle Eastern peace process. That is why we came up with the concept of creating the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity, which we will continue to seek. However, when there is continued violence and fighting in the region, it is obviously very difficult to promote that, and in order to create a foundation for our proposal, we will continue to make diplomatic efforts along with our own way of assisting the people in the region.

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IX. Follow-up question concerning the bombing of the Al-Askary Mosque

Q: Another question, about the Iraqi situation. It is very understandable that Japan expressed concern and dismay about the destroying of the mosque, but if we go back to the era before the invasion, nobody was destroying anybody's mosque at that time. People were living peacefully, and there was a lot of intermarriage between Iraqis, regardless of their sex. That is why many commentators in the West, not only in Islamic countries, and even in Japan, are saying that the invasion of Iraq has triggered this kind of sectarian violence, and it is time for those who supported the invasion to admit this and adopt matching policies. Do you agree with this analysis?

Mr. Shikata: As far as those people who conduct acts of terrorism, such as bombing a mosque, that is something which is driven by those people who are trying to commit crimes. If you are relating this with the overall policy toward Iraq, I think it is a bit too far stretched. What I am trying to say is that there are elements in Iraq who may be taking advantage of the situation or are trying to destabilize the country, which is against the welfare and benefit of the Iraqi population in general. What we should make an effort at is to try to eliminate the environment that enables the activities of those terrorists.

At the same time, when there exist sectarian tensions, we need to promote our efforts for national reconciliation. That is some thing that all countries in the West and also many surrounding countries in the Middle East could agree on. We should continue to do that, to reduce or to fight against terrorism and also to seek for ways for national reconciliation.

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X. Question concerning the situation in Lebanon

Q: My last question is on the developments in Lebanon. Two days ago a Member of Parliament was assassinated, and there are still some clashes in the Palestinian camp, and unfortunately Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had to postpone his trip to Japan for the second time. How does Japan evaluate the situation in the Republic of Lebanon now, and what is your support for Prime Minister Siniora's government?

Mr. Shikata: As you pointed out, we wanted to see Prime Minister Siniora in town. Prime Minister Abe was very much looking forward to seeing him, and that visit could have been an occasion for us to deepen cooperation with Lebanon. However, as you stated, the internal politics in Lebanon have elements of uncertainty, and we certainly hope that the situation in Lebanon will become more stable and we wish to promote our bilateral cooperation with Lebanon. Lebanon has traditionally a very rich culture with ethnic diversity representing a very important model in the region. Therefore, we are hoping that the situation in Lebanon will improve.

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