Press Conference, 19 February 2009

Visit to Japan by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the United States
Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement
Visit to Japan by Director-General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization
Visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde of the Republic of Peru
Statement on the Khmer Rouge trials in the Kingdom of Cambodia
Visit to Japan by nine young people under the Invitation Program of Young People for Sri Lanka's Peace Process Promotion
Statement on the submittal of the Candidature File of Tokyo for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Questions concerning the invitation to Washington DC by President Barack Obama of the United States to Prime Minister Taro Aso
Questions concerning the status of negotiations on the Northern Territories

I. Visit to Japan by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the United States

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon.

I have seven announcements to begin with.

First, US Secretary of State Mrs. Hillary Clinton concluded her trip to Japan yesterday and flew to Indonesia. In the joint press conference with the Secretary, Foreign Minister Nakasone announced that Prime Minister Aso was invited to the White House by President Obama on February 24th. Prime Minister Aso will be the first foreign leader President Obama will be meeting at the White House.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement

Second, Foreign Minister Nakasone will sign the Agreement on Free Trade and Economic Partnership, a so-called EPA, between Japan and the Swiss Confederation this evening. In addition to signing this Agreement, Foreign Minister Nakasone, with Mrs. Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor, Vice-President of the Government of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, will also sign its Implementing Agreement and Joint Statement.

Taking this occasion to review and foresee the significance of the EPA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the Symposium on the EPA this afternoon.

Last year, the year 2008, in terms of its policy regarding EPAs, Japan made steady progress. EPAs with ASEAN as well as with the Philippines entered into force; the EPA with Vietnam was signed; and this evening as I already mentioned, an agreement will be signed with Switzerland. So far, Japan had signed agreements with nine countries and ASEAN (combined), and is negotiating with three countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Corporation or GCC.

III. Visit to Japan by Director-General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization

Third, Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, or WTO, will visit Japan next week from Tuesday, the 24th, to Thursday, the 26th. Director-General Lamy will be here to meet with Prime Minister Aso, Foreign Minister Nakasone and other leaders to discuss how we deal with the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations and discuss the issue of protectionism. Japan takes its position that the free flow of trade and investment should be maintained, and that we will continue to fight protectionism. Japan will also act in cooperation with other countries towards the early conclusion of the WTO Doha Round negotiations.

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IV. Visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde of the Republic of Peru

Fourth, Japan will welcome Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde from Peru from Monday, the 23rd, to Friday, the 27th. In addition to holding a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Nakasone, Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde will attend the opening ceremony of the "Peru Exhibition" and a meeting of the Japan-Peru Economic Council. This year marks the 110th anniversary of the first Japanese immigration to Peru.

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V. Statement on the Khmer Rouge trials in the Kingdom of Cambodia

Fifth, on the initial hearing of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge trials, Japan heartily welcomes the holding of this hearing. Japan has sent Mr. Motoo Noguchi, Professor and Senior Prosecutor of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and Senior Attorney of the International Legal Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as an international judge of the Supreme Court Chamber. Japan has also been making active diplomatic efforts for the realization of the Khmer Rouge Trials, and especially, made a voluntary contribution of US$21.6 million, which accounts for approximately half of the original United Nations component of the budget, for the Trials.

Japan strongly hopes that the trials, which will render justice to the serious crimes perpetrated under the former regime of the Khmer Rouge, will be carried out properly and promptly without delay, as all the detained leaders of the former regime are aged persons.

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VI. Visit to Japan by nine young people under the Invitation Program of Young People for Sri Lanka's Peace Process Promotion

Sixth, upon an invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nine Sri Lankan young men and women, three Tamils, three Sinhalese, and three Muslims, are now visiting Japan from eastern Sri Lanka. They will stay here for a week until next Tuesday, the 24th, through the Invitation Program of Young People for Sri Lanka's Peace Process Promotion.

By participating in this program, these future leaders of Sri Lanka will learn the nation-building process by deepening their understanding of local governance in Japan and build mutual confidence among the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.

This invitation program is implemented as part of the program which will invite a total of 500 young Sri Lankans to Japan in five years. Former Prime Minister Fukuda proposed this idea to his Sri Lankan counterpart, President Rajapaksa, when he visited Japan in December 2007. The invitation programs in this kind were carried out in November 2004 and February 2006, and this is the fourth time in the series.

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VII. Statement on the submittal of the Candidature File of Tokyo for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Seventh and last, the City of Tokyo submitted the Candidature File of Tokyo for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the International Olympic Committee on the 12th of this month. The vision of "Tokyo 2016" is "Uniting Our Words" with the concept of "Setting the Stage for Heroes." "Tokyo 2016" will be the most compact and efficient Olympics where all the facilities except the shooting range and the soccer stadium are to be located within 8 km of the main stadium. Tokyo 2016 will be the first carbon-minus Olympic Games in history by fully utilizing leading-edge Japanese eco-technology. The Government of Japan fully supports Tokyo's candidature and hopes that it will be accepted.

VIII. Questions concerning the invitation to Washington DC by President Barack Obama of the United States to Prime Minister Taro Aso

Q: Regarding President Obama's invitation for Prime Minister Aso to visit Washington on February 24th, what is the significance, from Japan's point of view, that firstly, there was such an invitation, and then secondly, that, as you said, the Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House.

Mr. Kawamura: The significance of Mr. Obama's invitation to Mr. Aso to the United States next week is that the invitation signifies the view of the United States, the perception of Japan. I mean, they place, the Obama administration places high importance on the Japan-US Alliance in terms of global cooperation as well as bilateral joint endeavors. We have to address a series of challenges ranging from climate change, North Korea, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific, and on the economic front, we have to address the deteriorating world economic conditions as well. So, after the meeting between Foreign Minister Nakasone and Secretary Clinton, the invitation extended to Mr. Aso for what will be the first summit meeting to be held in the White House is quite significant for both of us.

Q: As you mentioned a number of topics there that are challenges faced between Japan and the US, and the world, what would be on the top of the agenda at the meeting?

Mr. Kawamura: First of all, I have to say that for the Summit meeting, the Prime Minister should get the approval of the National Diet for the visit. If we suppose that he will have a meeting with President Obama, the main mission will be to enhance the Japan-US Alliance. Under that framework, the two leaders will touch upon subjects; one, bilateral endeavors; and two, global issues. Under the global issues, first they will discuss how to enhance the Japan-US collaborations to attain and secure peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Afghanistan and Pakistan will be included in that context as well. The North Korean issue will also be discussed. Concerning the issue of GHG emissions, as the Minister and the Secretary discussed the day before yesterday, Prime Minister and the President will also talk about climate change. Additional focus will be on the world financial and economic situations.

IX. Questions concerning the status of negotiations on the Northern Territories

Q: And with Prime Minister Aso's visit to Sakhalin yesterday and his meeting with President Medvedev, can you update us on the status of negotiations on the Northern Territories?

Mr. Kawamura: At the meeting between the two leaders, Prime Minister Aso and President Medvedev, both leaders agreed on the way to handle the territorial issues in the coming months. They agreed on a couple of principles to deal with it. The first is that the issue should be resolved by their generation. Second, the future works should be based upon previous bilateral agreements and documents. Third, the new works will be carried out under the framework, the so-called "New Approach" proposed by Mr. Medvedev. And fourth, the leaders will give additional instructions to the people of both governments so that those works lead to the final resolution of the sovereignty issues of those islands. Those four points are the main agreements concerning the conduct of the works (from now on) towards the resolution of the territory issues.

Q: But is there a specific timeframe that Japan is hoping to reach a certain stage at a certain time?

Mr. Kawamura: Both sides are hoping to resolve the issue at an early timing, but we have conducted negotiations on this difficult issue over decades. So we will take a pragmatic approach to see a real progress. In this context I would like to call your attention that the leaders agreed to accelerate their dialogue on the summit level. A good example of this is what they already agreed yesterday, that Prime Minister Putin will visit Japan in May. This means that high-level involvement, a summit-level involvement in the political dialogue concerning the issue, should be expected. And the two sides also confirmed a strong commitment for the final resolution of the territory issues.

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