Press Conference by Press Sec. 21 February 1995

Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Kozyrev of the Russian Federation
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It was announced last night, both here and in Moscow, that Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Kozyrev of the Russian Federation would visit Japan from 2 to 4 March at the invitation of the Government of Japan for the purpose of attending the Fifth Consultative Meeting at the Ministerial Level. Foreign Minister Kozyrev is to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, to discuss various bilateral issues, as well as international questions of mutual interest.

Q: Concerning Foreign Minister Kozyrev's visit -- can you give us some more details on the agenda of the visit, and what the main objectives are that the Japanese side would like to achieve with the help of the visit, maybe with an emphasis on what problems the Japanese side is going to bring up in the visit?

A: I certainly understand how interested you are in knowing the purpose of the visit of Foreign Minister Kozyrev, but I must say that we just announced officially the visit by Foreign Minister Kozyrev, and we are now in the process of fine-tuning the agenda items which will be taken up at the coming meeting. At this stage, I would simply like to say that we would like to take up bilateral issues, which would include territorial questions, as well as international questions of mutual interest. Further than that, I do not have any precise information as to the question you raised. I will be quite happy to respond to that at a later stage.

Q: A follow up to my previous question about the visit. Does the Japanese side think that the visit of Foreign Minister Kozyrev will give impetus to the full-scale negotiations on secure fishing around the southern Kurile Islands.

A: Speaking of the fishery question, our understanding is that the ball is still in the court of the Russian Government. We are told that the Russian Government still needs a bit more time to coordinate among the various ministries and agencies concerned. The Russian side told us that it thinks that it is necessary to start the negotiations at an early date. As far as we are concerned, we are waiting for the formal reply from the Russian Government. In view of this situation, we are not sure whether we shall be able to start the full-fledged negotiations with the Russian Government with respect to the fishing question prior to the actual arrival of Foreign Minister Kozyrev. Therefore, I think I should refrain from making any comments on this question.
Export Control Seminar with the Newly Independent States (NIS)
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold an Export Control Seminar with the Newly Independent States (NIS) from 27 February to 3 March in Tokyo in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Twelve persons in charge of non-proliferation and export control policy from the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and the Republic of Uzbekistan will take part in the Seminar. At the Seminar, which aims at helping the NIS countries establish an effective export control system to strengthen the non- proliferation of materials and technology related to weapons of mass destruction, we offer a comprehensive briefing on how we are actually coping with non-proliferation and export control in Japan. We also wish to exchange views on those matters with the participants. We are to hold this Seminar based on the consideration that it is important to assist the NIS countries in their efforts to improve their export control systems. At this Seminar, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine have been invited to take part because they are beneficiary countries of Japan's cooperative scheme to help demolish their nuclear weapons. Uzbekistan has been selected as an appropriate participant in view of its geographical position, central to Asian trade.
Forum for Comprehensive Development of Indochina
Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Terusuke Terada: Before I give you the floor, let me say that at 14:30 there will be a background briefing on the coming Forum for Comprehensive Development of Indochina, which will be held in Tokyo.
Reports of development of missiles in North Korea
Q: The Defense Minister of South Korea reported to President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea that a new type of missile was developed in North Korea, on 20 February. Would you confirm the report about this, and if you know more details, would you explain about it?

A: At the moment, I can simply say that we noted the report. The question was raised during the press conference of Chief Cabinet Secretary Kozo Igarashi, who said that the Government of Japan was looking into the matter. In other words, we do not have any information on that at this moment. Perhaps our Defense Agency might be in a better position to let you know. I would simply like to ask you to address your question to the Spokesman of the Defense Agency.
Japan-United States of America relations
Q: There is a report from Washington, D.C., saying that the Government of the United States is now more inclined, with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, to put more emphasis on the Southeast Asian political-diplomatic situations, rather than the Japan-U.S. trade issue. According to this report this will be soon a formal policy of the U.S. Government. Do you have any comment on that?

A: Incidentally, I read the same article, which appeared in one of the leading newspapers in the Washington, D.C. area. Let me remind you of one thing -- when Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama went to Washington, D.C. in February, security questions were taken up by the two leaders. We agreed that we attach a great deal of importance to the present security arrangements between our two countries. The Security Treaty between our two countries is, in fact, a centerpiece of our bilateral relationship, and this importance was reconfirmed by the two leaders. At the same time, we do think that this Security Treaty is also a stabilizing element in Asia for peace and security. Under the present international circumstances, as you naturally know, we do have the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which was convened for the first time in July 1994. It is the sort of forum in which we discuss the security issues which are of interest to the participating countries. We do think that this ARF cannot be any meaningful replacement for our bilateral security relations, and I think that this position is clearly understood by the policy makers of both Governments.
Japan's activity regarding the composition of the United Nations Security Council
Q: There is a report in Yomiuri Shimbun that Japan will seek the developing countries' support for its aspiration towards the United Nations Security Council -- countries like the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of India and the Republic of Brazil. Could you confirm that report?

A: I think there are two things which are taking place simultaneously. The United Nations Working Group's proceedings are under way, and in that Working Group, of course, this particular question of the United Nations Security Council is being discussed, and we are hoping that we should have a good result out of the discussions of the Working Group. Particularly this year, when we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, we do hope that there will be a good result emerging out of the discussions at the Working Group. Yes, we are talking with various countries with respect to the question of the restructuring of the Security Council, in various capitals.

Q: Is there some kind of mission to visit India and Egypt for that purpose?

A: The newspaper reported that a high-ranking official is now visiting the Indian capital, but it is part of the regular consultations between the two capitals, New Delhi and Tokyo. I am quite sure that while the regular discussions ensue, the question of the United Nations Security Council will be taken up.

Q: What about Egypt?

A: I do not have to say this, but we had the pleasure of welcoming the distinguished visitor from Cairo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Amre Mahmoud Moussa of the Arab Republic of Egypt. We had the chance to talk about a number of issues of major interest on the occasion of his visit to Japan.

Q: Including this issue?

A: Normally we do not disclose the contents of the diplomatic conversation which takes place.
Japan's position on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Q: So during the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Moussa, we expect that this question of Egyptian pressure on the State of Israel to sign the NPT, or give some indications about when it could sign the NPT, would have come up. In view of that, what is the Japanese Foreign Ministry's position? I know it is that all countries should sign the NPT. But then the Israelis are insistent that it should form part of the final phase of the ongoing peace process, or troubled peace process -- however you want to call it.

A: I cannot touch upon the details of the conversation which took place between Foreign Minister Kono and Foreign Minister Moussa. But I think it is true that the question of the NPT was taken up on that occasion. The matter was referred to by Foreign Minister Kono. I am quite sure that you are quite familiar with the position of Japan with respect to the NPT regime. Our basic thinking was conveyed to Foreign Minister Moussa of Egypt. Further than that, I should refrain from delving into the details of the conversation.

Q: Has this basic position been also conveyed to Israel?

A: On many occasions our basic position is communicated to those countries which are not yet party to the NPT regime.
Japan-Russian Federation relations
Q: What about the Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Relations set up between Russia and Japan when First Deputy Prime Minister Soskovets was visiting Japan? When do you think it can become active?

A: I do not have any information on that.
Shipment of radioactive waste to Japan
Q: The same old question about the high-level radioactive waste shipment -- now, Greenpeace claims that the shipment is leaving France on 22 February. Could you comment on this?

A: At this moment, we still cannot make any public announcement. But I think I said already last week that we would be willing to make known the information relating to the date of departure and the name of the vessel 24 or 48 hours before the actual transport starts. So, when the moment comes, we will be making an official announcement. At this moment, I cannot confirm.

Q: In effect, then, you are denying the date of 22 February claimed by Greenpeace?

A: I am not offering any precise comments at this moment.

Q: Two years ago when plutonium was shipped over from Europe, there was an escort ship that travelled with the ship actually transporting the plutonium. Will a similar arrangement be made this time? Will an escort be travelling with this shipment?

A: The answer is no. There is such a difference between plutonium and radioactive waste. Radioactive waste contains no plutonium whatsoever. This time, the transport is to be done by a British company.

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