(* This is a provisional translation by "WIP ジャパン" for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Aso

Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006, 9.25 a.m.
Place: in front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

Six-Party Talks
Disclosure of Cabinet ministers' assets

1. Six-Party Talks

Question:
Concerning the Six-Party Talks, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has devised concrete proposals such as the scrapping of nuclear facilities and IAEA inspections. What kind of proposals is Japan preparing and what policies is it formulating at this time?

Minister:
In the case of Japan, we have already taken our own independent measures, and have no intention of suddenly changing or softening them just because the Six-Party Talks are resuming.

Question:
Ban Ki-moon, the Republic of Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has made pronouncements that Japan and the United States should move towards normalization of relations with North Korea.

Minister:
At the very least, we can not even consider direct talks between Japan and North Korea in the present situation.

2. Disclosure of Cabinet ministers' assets

(See Japanese Version)

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