Press Conference, 5 March 2009

Statement on the attack in Pakistan against members of the Sri Lankan national cricket team
Visit to Japan by Toke Tufukia Talagi, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum
Visit to Japan by Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste
Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts international food security conference
Questions concerning the upcoming events in Tokyo and Hokkaido
Questions concerning the attacks in Pakistan
Further questions concerning the upcoming events
Questions concerning the visit of Mr. Steven Bosworth, U.S. Special Representative to North Korea

I. Statement on the attack in Pakistan against members of the Sri Lankan national cricket team

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Welcome. Let me start with the four announcements.

First, on the attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Pakistan, Japan strongly condemns this despicable act of targeting athletes who gathered in a peaceful manner.

Japan extends sincere condolences to the families of the victims and those who were injured. Japan will also continue to support the efforts by the Government of Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Visit to Japan by Toke Tufukia Talagi, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum

Second, on foreign dignitary visits of the week, Hon. Toke Tufukia Talagi, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum or PIF, is now visiting Japan. Last night, Prime Minister Aso met with the Chair. The Prime Minister and the Chair discussed the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting or PALM 5 to be held on the 22nd and 23rd of May in Tomamu Town in Hokkaido, and agreed upon its catchword: "We are islanders towards the environmentally rich Pacific." They also agreed on the main agenda: Environment and climate change; human security, and personnel exchanges between Japan and the Pacific islands; and island countries.

Related Information (PALM5)

III. Visit to Japan by Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste

Third, Japan will welcome His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, who is scheduled to arrive in Japan this weekend. Prime Minister Aso will meet with Prime Minister Gusmão on Monday, the 9th. Japan, as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council this year, is leading discussions on Timor-Leste at the Council and will continue to support its nation-building efforts at both the bilateral and multilateral levels.

Related Information (Press Release)

IV. Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts international food security conference

Fourth and last, today, Thursday, the 5th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting an international forum entitled "Revisiting Food Security: Toward the Realization of the Global Partnership." At this symposium, the panelists from five countries, international organizations, NGOs and the private sector will discuss themes of Japan's food security, global food security and the challenges ahead.

That is all from me. I would like to take your questions, please.

V. Questions concerning the upcoming events in Tokyo and Hokkaido

Q: Where is it happening?

Mr. Kawamura: Today.

Q: Today? In Hokkaido?

Mr. Kawamura: The last one is the symposium on food security which is now being held in Tokyo.

Q: I see. From today?

Mr. Kawamura: The Pacific Islanders Summit Meeting will be held in May on the 22nd and the 23rd of May in Hokkaido.

Q: Is there a one-day seminar in Tokyo?

Mr. Kawamura: In Tokyo, it is a one-day seminar.

Q: Only today?

Mr. Kawamura: Yes, only today.

Q: And, where is it happening?

Mr. Kawamura: The Grand Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa. They have an international attachment called "Pamille." It will be held in the room "Hakuun," on the third floor. It will last up until 5:45 according to the schedule. There will be a service of simultaneous translation in three languages; Japanese, English and Portuguese. Admission is free.

VI. Questions concerning the attacks in Pakistan

Q: About the happening in Pakistan, the killing of people; I think it is due to a lack of the latest equipment for the security personnel. What I gathered from seeing the television was that they were not equipped with the latest kind of equipment which is much-needed for such kinds of events. Do you think the international community should help Pakistan by providing such kinds of equipment?

Mr. Kawamura: On this specific question of the attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team, we do not have details why this happened or what the main cause of the incident was. We cannot make a specific response to this particular case at this moment. We need information which will be available afterwards. I guess that will be from the investigation that is going on. So, we will wait for the final outcome of the investigation.

Having said that, in general, as I said in the beginning, Japan will continue to support Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and if their efforts involve some increase of the equipment, and if they request, then in the course of our continued support to Pakistan we will discuss and think about what would be the appropriate measures to cope with the situation.

Q: I do not actually know the position of the Pakistan government, but what I have been seeing on the local television is commentators and experts and according to them, the equipment of the security authorities was not sufficient, and the attackers were well-equipped and had more sophisticated equipment than the security people. So, this is what the media and the security experts are saying on television.

Mr. Kawamura: Yes, again, we will continue to work closely with the government of Pakistan in its efforts to fight against terrorism and Japan will be ready to cooperate with them.

Related Information (Press Release)

VII. Further questions concerning the upcoming events

Q: The date of this seminar to be held in Hokkaido, you said in May, the dates are not yet decided?

Mr. Kawamura: The dates are decided. The 22nd and 23rd of May. This is not a seminar; it is a summit meeting of the leaders of the Pacific island nations and Japan. Prime Minister Aso and the Chair of the PIF, Mr. Talagi, will function as co-chairs of this summit meeting in May.

Related Information (PALM5)

VIII. Questions concerning the visit of Mr. Steven Bosworth, U.S. Special Representative to North Korea

Q: Regarding the visit by the new U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Mr. Steven Bosworth, what does Japan aim to achieve through the talks Thursday in Tokyo with Mr. Saiki, the Foreign Minister and other officials?

Mr. Kawamura: I would like to wait until they finish the meeting between Mr. Saiki and Mr. Bosworth, the new Special Representative to North Korea from the United States. The main mission, as I understand, of Mr. Bosworth's visit to Japan is to discuss the management of the Six-Party Talks on North Korea. Further details will be discussed between the two representatives and we will come up with some announcement and briefing by the Japanese side. Mr. Bosworth is also expecting to pay a courtesy call to Foreign Minister Nakasone this evening.

Q: Will he meet Mr. Nakasone today or tomorrow?

Mr. Kawamura: Tomorrow, sorry, tomorrow at 5:30.

Q: And who else is he meeting during these two days? Is he going to meet with the abductees' families?

Mr. Kawamura: Are you talking about the families?

Q: Yes, families of the abductees.

Mr. Kawamura: I cannot confirm it. Let me find out. As far as I understand, the fixed schedule for Mr. Bosworth is that he is meeting with Mr. Saiki today and a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Nakasone tomorrow.

Alright, thank you very much.

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