(* 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: Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 9:45 a.m.
Place: Press Briefing Room in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Kidnapping of Japanese National in Iran
North Korean Issues
Japan-China Consultations on Gas Fields in the East China Sea
Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement
Incident Involving the Provision of Gifts when Using Taxis Late at Night
Acquisition by Civil Servants of the Mileage Points Accrued During Their Business Trips
Collision Between a Japan Coast Guard Patrol Vessel and a Fishing Vessel from Taiwan

1. Kidnapping of Japanese National in Iran

Minister:
Regarding the safe release of Mr. Nakamura who was kidnapped and held hostage in Iran, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Iran for their efforts in this regard. Immediately after this incident occurred I made a call to Iranian Foreign Minister Motaki and asked him to devote his efforts to ensuring the safe and early resolution of this incident. At that time, Foreign Minister Motaki asked me which was more important: that he be safely released, or that this be resolved quickly. I said to him that safety is absolutely more important. Although this did take time, I am extremely grateful that he was safely released. Furthermore, I would like once again to call on the people of Japan to be sure to avoid traveling to places where Travel Warnings, especially recommended self-restraint on all travel, have been issued.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
Now that the results of the Japan-North Korea Consultations are out, what is your outlook for the next round of talks and other developments?

Minister:
Currently, coordination is being undertaken regarding the schedules and other details behind closed doors. But at this point in time, I cannot make any concrete statement. As far as the Government of Japan is concerned, we will take a thorough look at whether or not North Korea is keeping its promise to make steps toward resolving the abductions issue and whether or not it is truly cooperating to secure the extradition of the criminals involved in the Yodo-go hijacking incident. Based on our evaluation of that, we will take a decision to lift some of the sanctions.

Question:
You are saying that after thoroughly evaluating the situation the sanctions will partially be lifted, but from the perspective of the family members of the abductees, this may not necessarily be acceptable, and they are saying that they are disappointed with this outcome. How do you react to that?

Minister:
I am fully aware that based on what has happened in the past, neither the family members of the abductees nor most of the people of Japan can truly trust anything if it is only said by North Korea. That is why we will thoroughly examine whether or not a sincere approach is being taken to everything that has been promised, and only after thoroughly ensuring that will we take any action.

Question:
Regarding the issue of removing North Korea from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, until now, Japan has called on the US to maintain a cautious attitude. Will anything change in that stance as a result of this agreement reached between Japan and North Korea?

Minister:
We will continue to maintain close coordination. In other words, whether to keep North Korea on the list of states sponsoring terrorism or to remove it from the list, that itself is not the object we are pursuing. For example, from the perspective of the US, using the removal from the list of states sponsoring terrorism as a negotiating tool may be one way that it aims to advance denuclearization. From the perspective of Japan, given that the US holds such a card as being able to remove North Korea from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, for our part, we have been coordinating with the US, asking it to share that card with us in the Japan-North Korea relations, in particular in advancing the abductions issue, the important issue in the Japan-North Korea relations. There were many media reports alleging that North Korea would be removed from the list already in the period of last year. However, as a result of coordination between Japan and the US, though it would not be correct to claim that it was entirely as a result of that, North Korea still has not been removed from that list. That is why we will continue to coordinate. As much as possible, we will aim for progress, although there are many ways to define progress. That is why as much as possible, in seeking progress, the Government of Japan has been asking the US to share the card with us through our continuous course of coordinating with the US.

3. Japan-China Consultations on Gas Fields in the East China Sea

Question:
Regarding the Japan-China Consultations on Gas Fields in the East China Sea, what is the outlook for reaching an agreement?

Minister:
We are currently discussing the finer points. As such, I cannot make any concrete comments.

Question:
China has protested to Japan at times regarding the gas field consultations. Why is it that you have been able to come to this stage where it appears that you will be able to reach an agreement?

Minister:
At times in the past, that might have happened, but as we have listened to our respective positions, China seems to have come to realize that there was some degree of reason in the position put forth by Japan. Furthermore, for our part, Japan has also realized that there is some logic in what the Chinese side is saying. Through such a process we have come to understand our respective positions. It is very clear that finally settling this matter is to the benefit of both parties. Therefore, when both parties can act rationally, it is possible to come up with a line of agreement. It seems that we have steadily accomplished that, and as such, right now we are working out the finer details. However, when it comes to negotiations, sometimes those finer details can be worked out in one hour and sometimes it can take one year. Along the way, many people say many things, which can risk complicating the respective domestic situations in our countries. That is why I am unable to make any concrete statement at this point in time.

4. Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement

Question:
Regarding the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement, it has come to light that an agreement was reached under the Japan-US agreement of 1956 to expand the range of official duties performed by US Forces in Japan to include drinking. What is the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the inclusion of drinking in the range of duties undertaken on an official basis by the US Forces in Japan?

Minister:
I am not really sure what you are talking about. When you say that such an agreement has come to light, where and how was it revealed?

Question:
There have been some media reports to that effect.

Minister:
I am not sure if a media report can definitely mean the revelation of a fact. I would like to make a comment after confirming the media report with our officials in charge.

Question:
I understand that when US military personnel use rental cars they are not required to pay highway tolls. Please tell me what your opinion is on whether it really is legitimate to exclude the collection of highway tolls in cases where, for example, personnel of the US Forces travel for recreational purposes; for example, if they take a recreational trip to Disneyland, as a US Forces press officer says.

Minister:
I do not really know whether everything is included such as when they take personal trips for recreational purposes. I would make a decision only after confirming exactly what was said by the US Forces press officer. I am not in a position in which I can say that everything of personal recreational trips is included in the arrangement. I need to accurately confirm what was said by the US Forces press officer, but even if there are recreational elements involved, there may be instances in which it cannot be completely denied that this trip could contribute to the efficient operation of the overall Japan-US Security Arrangements. As such, I think that these situations must be judged on a case-by-case basis. Still, let me repeat that I intend to confirm whether it was truly said by the Press Secretary that the instances concerned entirely private, recreational cases in which individuals rented cars and took entirely recreational trips with no other elements involved.

5. Incident Involving the Provision of Gifts when Using Taxis Late at Night

(See Japanese version.)

6. Acquisition by Civil Servants of the Mileage Points Accrued During Their Business Trips

(See Japanese version.)

7. Collision Between a Japan Coast Guard Patrol Vessel and a Fishing Vessel from Taiwan

Question:
Regarding the collision that took place off Uotsurijima Island, what kind of talks are underway between the Japanese officials and the Taiwanese authorities?

Minister:
Both Japan and Taiwan share the view that this incident must not result in any negative influence on Japan-Taiwan relations. I believe that it is important for both parties to act as calmly as they can. I expect that the Taiwanese authorities will also act calmly in this regard.

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