Press Conference, 21 October 2008

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Japan
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs attends Georgia Donor's Conference in Brussels
Fourth Conference for Confidence-Building between Israelis and the Palestinians
Japan elected as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
Japan provides grant aid to assist the Zambian presidential election
Taijiro Kimura dispatched as Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific
Japan notifies the ASEAN of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement going into effect
Seventh Japan-China Economic Partnership Consultation to be held in Shanghai
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen to visit Japan
Questions regarding the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Japan
Questions regarding Japan-India EPA negotiations
Questions regarding Japan's position on the US-India nuclear agreement
Questions Regarding Japan's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
Questions regarding joint documents released at the summit meeting between the Prime Minister of India and Japan
Questions regarding Japan's expectations for the Asia-Europe Meeting
Questions regarding the Conference for Confidence-Building between Israelis and the Palestinians

I. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Japan

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon. Thank you very much for your attendance.

First of all, I have a series of announcements today. First, dignitaries' visit to Japan.

I would like to quickly remind you that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India is starting his visit to Japan today, Tuesday, the 21st. Prime Minister Aso will meet with Prime Minister Singh tomorrow, and later in the afternoon the two Prime Ministers are expected to issue a joint declaration. Prime Minister Singh and Mrs. Kaur, his wife, will stay in Japan until Thursday, the 23rd.

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II. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs attends Georgia Donor's Conference in Brussels

Next, about Georgia. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs is now visiting Brussels. He is there to attend the Georgia Donors' Conference to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, the 22nd. The international community's assistance is vital for Georgia's recovery and stability. From this perspective, Japan, tomorrow, at the conference, will announce an appropriate amount of assistance for Georgia.

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III. Fourth Conference for Confidence-Building between Israelis and the Palestinians

Next, about the Fourth Conference of Confidence-Building between Israelis and the Palestinians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the Fourth Conference for Confidence-Building between the Israelis and the Palestinians from October 22, which is tomorrow, Wednesday, to the 23, Thursday, in Tokyo.

The Conference will be participated in by Mr. Meir Sheetrit, Minister of the Interior, as the chief delegate of Israel, and by Dr. Sa'eb Erekat, Head of the Negotiations Affairs of the PLO, as the chief delegate of the Palestinians. In addition to these representatives, government officials and academic experts from both sides, who are familiar with the Middle East Peace Process and the local situation, will also participate in the Conference.

From the Japanese side, Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan (for the Middle East), Mr. Ryoji Tateyama, Professor of the National Defense Academy, and other specialists will participate in the Conference to exchange views on the current situation of the Middle East Peace Process, the prospect for the development of the Palestinian economy, the perspectives of the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative, and the prospect of comprehensive Middle East peace, and other topics, aiming at peaceful coexistence between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

This Conference, which follows the Third Conference held in March 2007, will be a part of Japan's initiative for confidence-building between the Israelis and the Palestinians, one of Japan's policy pillars for promoting the Middle East Peace Process.

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IV. Japan elected as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council

The next three announcements are all related to the United Nations. Last Friday, the 17th, New York local time, Japan was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the elections held during the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly. This would make Japan assume non-permanent membership for the tenth time, the most frequent among all the members of the United Nations. Japan remains committed to making proactive and constructive contributions to the work of the Council.

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V. Japan provides grant aid to assist the Zambian presidential election

Next, Zambian presidential election. Japan decided to provide emergency grant aid totaling about 1.2 million dollars through the UNDP. This aid is to be used for the fair and smooth implementation of the Zambian presidential election which is scheduled on Thursday, 30th, following the unexpected sudden death of H.E. Mr. Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia.

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VI. Taijiro Kimura dispatched as Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific

Japan has also decided to dispatch Taijiro Kimura, the Foreign Ministry's Special Assistant for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues, as the Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific. The Centre's office was relocated from New York to Kathmandu in Nepal this past August. Mr. Kimura will serve as the first Director at the Kathmandu office. Japan will continue to exert leadership for disarmament and non-proliferation in the Asia-Pacific region, in cooperation with Director Kimura and the Centre.

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VII. Japan notifies the ASEAN of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement going into effect

Moving on to the ASEAN front, tomorrow, Wednesday, the 22nd, Japan will notify the ASEAN in order to put the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement into effect on December 1st, 2008.

Considering the importance of the ASEAN, last Friday, the 17th, Foreign Ministry of Japan, for the first time, appointed Yoshinori Katori, the former Japanese Ambassador to Israel, as Ambassador for the ASEAN. Japan attaches importance to the ASEAN in its diplomacy and hopes to further strengthen the existing Japan-ASEAN relations.

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VIII. Seventh Japan-China Economic Partnership Consultation to be held in Shanghai

Next, on a bilateral issue, Japan and China will hold the Seventh Economic Partnership Consultation next Monday, the 27th, in Shanghai. Masaharu Kono, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, will lead the Japanese delegation and Mr. Chen Jian, Vice-Minister of Commerce of China, will head the Chinese side. We will discuss such issues as bilateral economic relations and cooperation in East Asia and the multilateral frameworks.

IX. Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen to visit Japan

Another visit by a foreign dignitary to Japan, from the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Maxime Jacques Marcel Verhagen will visit Japan from Saturday, the 25th, to Tuesday, the 28th. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. We hope that this timely visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Verhagen will further enhance our friendly relations.

That's all I have for you today in the beginning. Thank you very much for your endurance. Now I would like to get your questions.

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X. Questions regarding the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Japan

Q: My questions are regarding Prime Minister Singh's visit to Tokyo. Can you mention what are some of the highlights of this visit? What is on top of his agenda, and what is the status of the EPA?

Mr. Kawamura: I expected your question. Thank you very much. The major mission of this time's visit by Prime Minister Singh to Japan is to enhance the global partnership relations between the two countries. Prior to the current Japanese administration, Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Abe built a good foundation for this strategic relationship between Japan and India. We are now entering into the second phase, so to speak, to enhance and substantiate the relationship.

In terms of business, we only have a ten billion dollar level of trade between the two countries. We need to further enhance and develop this rather limited economic and trade relations even further.

That is one of the major aspects of this time's visit, but also it will reflect more comprehensive aspects of the bilateral relationship, not limited on trade and economic issues but also other regional and multilateral context as well.

And probably if my memory is correct the second part of your question, the current status of the EPA negotiations? The current status of the EPA is we are still on the negotiation phase. The negotiation is going on and we will continue to discuss it further with the Indian side. Tomorrow's summit meeting between the two Prime Ministers, of course, both of them will review the current situation of negotiations concerning the EPA, and will make extensive reviews on that. But we haven't decided on a plan to conclude it during the summit meeting but we will continue to discuss it and at the summit meeting we will review what the current state of affairs are.

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XI. Questions regarding Japan-India EPA negotiations

Q: What are the biggest hurdles for Japan in order to be able to conclude this EPA?

Mr. Kawamura: we have made a good progress up to the quite recent bilateral meeting and we are encouraged to move further from now on. On concrete details of the negotiations, on which part we cannot agree on, which part we have agreed, at this particular moment we cannot make clear because we are under negotiations still. At a later stage we will be clearer on what the situation will be.

XII. Questions regarding Japan's position on the US-India nuclear agreement

Q: What is the official Japanese position of India being accepted by the United States with regards to the nuclear development aid. The Americans concluded to support Indian private nuclear development even though it is not part of the NPT. What is Japan's official position to this development?

Mr. Kawamura: On the issue of the deal between the two countries, United States and India, in terms of civilian nuclear technologies, it is a matter of the bilateral relations between the United States and India. So, of course, we will see with interest that the two countries conclude an agreement and how they will implement the agreement, but as an official position of Japan we regard it as a bilateral exercise. In our relations with India, we have already made clear that the previous arrangement in the NSG, we appreciate the recent agreement in NSG context (in the sense that India is expected to re-strengthen the nonproliferation measures). When coming down to the US-Indian relations I have no comments on that.

Q: Can I follow-up on that? I was wondering if the Japan side and the Indian side intend to talk about nuclear power development and cooperation.

Mr. Kawamura: Are your questions related to tomorrow's meeting?

Q: Tomorrow's, sorry, yes.

Mr. Kawamura: At this moment we cannot prejudge whether such issues will be discussed at tomorrow's Prime Ministers' meeting. We haven't decided yet. The basic stance on the issue, the Japan-Indian agreement, if you say about the civilian use of nuclear technologies, at this particular moment, Japan does not have a plan to initiate negotiations on that particular agreement with India. This is the case, irrespective of the agenda of tomorrow's two Prime Minister's meeting.

Q: Can I just follow-up on your comments? You mentioned that because the nuclear cooperation between India and the United States is a bilateral issue, you have no comment. Does that apply to other countries? If there is nuclear cooperation between Iran or Korea or any other country is that the same?

Mr. Kawamura: The issue of bilateral deals or the country in focus relating to nuclear technology usage, we have to see the situations on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the past conduct and the environment where those particular countries have been conducting nuclear activities. So, in a general sense, we cannot say whether this is okay or this is not, we have to see on a case by case basis.

XIII. Questions Regarding Japan's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council

Q: Regarding the Japan's election to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member, after being elected does the Government of Japan have any specific plans? For example, to increase ODA or increase the peacekeeping forces or anything that may impress Japan's role at the United Nations and the international arena?

Mr. Kawamura: We see that after the election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations, we understand that the inter-governmental negotiations concerning the reform of the United Nations Security Council will start by the end of February next year. We hope that this process will reinvigorate the momentum for the reform. As you mentioned, Japan will continue to be committed to realizing the United Nations Security Council's reform at an early date and hopefully achieve the permanent membership by meeting the expectations of the international communities, which might include (the level of) international assistance as well.

At this moment we cannot disclose any particular amount of aid or increased aid to the developing countries. We generally, at this moment, it would be correct to say that we will continue to be committed to the reform of the United Nations Security Council. We will do our utmost to meet with the expectations of the international community and the United Nations. Through those interactions, Japan will hope to achieve the permanent membership of the Security Council.

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XIV. Questions regarding joint documents released at the summit meeting between the Prime Minister of India and Japan

Q: Back to the Indian Prime Minister's visit. You mentioned that the two leaders will issue a joint declaration. Are there any other documents that we can be expecting? Also, what is Japan's strategy to draw out cooperation from India on the climate change issue?

Mr. Kawamura: Could you repeat the fist part?

Q: Separate from the joint declaration that you mentioned, can we be expecting any other kinds of documents from the summit? A security cooperation, or climate change, or other issues?

Mr. Kawamura: My understanding is that both sides are now discussing what kind of final announcement will be made at the end of the summit meeting which is planned for tomorrow. Ideally, I will see that the joint declaration will be issued, but we cannot make specific whether in addition to this a separate statement or announcement or whether it might be included in the joint declaration. We haven't decided yet, so we need to wait for the actual summit meeting is finished.

When regarding the issues, the two leaders will discuss a broad range of issues affecting Japan's relations with India in a bilateral context as well as the international and regional contexts. So, it might include other topics than just trade and investment, like political and regional issues as well.

XV. Questions regarding Japan's expectations for the Asia-Europe Meeting

Q: On the Asia-Europe Meeting that is going to be held in Beijing later this week, what kind of role does Japan hope to play there? What kind of achievements will be considered a success, especially given that Japan holds presidency of the Group of Eight this year?

Mr. Kawamura: As the chair of the Group of Eight Countries, Japan is expected to play a leading role especially in the context of the international financial crisis. In the Asia-Europe meeting as well, irrespective of the level of representation at the meeting, we will try our best to meet with the expectations which reside with the international community.

Japan's financial institutions, generally speaking, are safe from the shockwaves of the current international financial crisis. From those rather neutral and better positions in international financial situations, Japan will be in a good position to show leadership in that context. Further technical details we need to discuss with our Asian partners. To meet with those expectations, Japan is prepared to play a leading role at this meeting.

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XVI. Questions regarding the Conference for Confidence-Building between Israelis and the Palestinians

Q: Just on the conference between Palestinians and Israelis, you said its starts tomorrow. I thought it is held after tomorrow, on the 23rd, so could you please tell us what are the activities of tomorrow?

Mr. Kawamura: It is to start tomorrow, the 22nd up until to 23rd, Thursday.

Q: Are the activities tomorrow open for the media?

Mr. Kawamura: Tomorrow is the informal session and it is not open to the press. But, on the session on the 23rd, Thursday, it is most welcome for you to come.

Q: Thank you.

Mr. Kawamura: Any other questions? Thank you very much.

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