(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 8:52 p.m.
Place: Iikura State Guest House

Main topics:

Cyclone Disaster in Myanmar
Earthquake in Western China

1. Cyclone Disaster in Myanmar

Minister:
Japan has decided to send relief goods for the third time for the damage resulting from the cyclone in Myanmar. We will send goods equivalent to approximately 43 million yen, and if the Diet grants its approval, Senior Vice-Minister Kimura will be dispatched to attend the ceremony to hand over these materials. In that case, he will attend the ceremony together with the Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of Myanmar. If it turns out that the Senior Vice-Minister does go then naturally there will arise the very urgent issue of acceptance of personnel assistance from the international community, and that is why I am certain that a request in that regard will be made by Senior Vice-Minister Kimura.

Question:
Regarding this 43 million yen of assistance in kind. You are saying that it is the third time that assistance is being provided, but can you tell us exactly what kind of goods will be handed over to Myanmar?

Minister:
It will include plastic canteens, water tanks, and other objects of that nature. Given that sanitation is becoming a serious issue right now, we are thinking along those lines.

Question:
You have described this as the third time that assistance is being provided. Can you explain to us the background on why a third round of assistance was decided upon?

Minister:
As the damage is expected to spread even more widely, we see sanitation problems surfacing. At the same time, since the Myanmar side will accept Senior Vice-Minister Kimura, if the approval can be granted from the Diet we very much would like to have Senior Vice-Minister Kimura go.

Question:
Myanmar made a decision to accept Senior Vice-Minister Kimura. However, no decision has yet been made on accepting rescue personnel in Myanmar. Can you state your views as Foreign Minister on this matter and what kind of response you intend to take going forward.

Minister:
That is why I very much want Senior Vice-Minister Kimura to go there and urge the Government of Myanmar to act on things in that direction.

Question:
When do you think he would go there and how long would he stay?

Minister:
This coming Saturday and Sunday.

Question:
Is the hand-over ceremony to take place on Sunday?

Minister:
The ceremony will take place on Sunday 18 May.

Question:
Are these goods from Japan, or are they going to come from Singapore?

Minister:
I have not confirmed such details, but at any rate this is assistance in kind from Japan.

2. Earthquake in Western China

Question:
Regarding the disaster in China, I understand that the first team of personnel departed for China from Narita. Could you give us a background to how this happened and what response will be taken going forward?

Minister:
This team of 31 people will arrive in the affected area late tonight or early tomorrow morning via Beijing. Since this is the first time that the Chinese side has accepted personnel assistance from abroad, Japan took immediate action on this dispatch for which it was already prepared. A second team of 30 people is also going to be sent, which will bring the number to 61 who will be undertaking rescue activities.

Question:
Is that second team going to depart Japan some time tomorrow?

Minister:
The second team will aim to arrive in Chengdu tomorrow afternoon.

Question:
Japan is dispatching a first team and then a second team. Is any thought being given to a further response beyond that?

Minister:
It depends on how situation goes. First of all, 61 personnel will be engaged in rescue activities.

Question:
Are you saying that there is a possibility of additional dispatches of personnel?

Minister:
Yes, naturally that could happen. Given the scale of damage, I suppose that as many professionals as possible will certainly be needed. However, it is not easy to prepare to receive personnel, and in fact at the time of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, Japan itself was not able to accept all of the offers of relief personnel. It is indeed quite difficult, but given that the Japanese relief rescue teams have quite significant experience, I do believe that they will be quite useful on the ground.

Question:
This time China made a decision to accept the dispatch of personnel, but at the outset, it seemed to be negative about receiving personnel from abroad. How do you view the background for China switching its view on this?

Minister:
I think that China was able to put in place proper preparations to receive personnel, and judged that the Japanese rescue teams would be helpful.

Question:
Are you saying that China made a decision to accept Japan because they judged that the Japanese rescue teams would be helpful?

Minister:
Yes, I believe that that is the case. If they judged that the Japanese rescue teams would not be helpful, then they certainly would not have decided to accept them.

Question:
Will the rescue teams begin rescue activities as soon as they arrive?

Minister:
Yes. At the outset, they will be involved in rescue activities.

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