Press Conference by the Press Secretary 30 April 1996
- Introduction to the Press Conference and announcements to the Press
- The Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Javier SOLANA Madariaga
- Japan-Russian Federation relations
- Exchange of defense cooperation between Japan and the Russian Federation
- Feasibility of Japanese purchase of Russian arms
- Matters relating to Russian Federation military strength
- Matters relating to possible talks on the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea
- Possible North Korean involvement in the Asian Development Bank
- Matters relating to Japan and the Union of Myanmar
- Introduction to the Press Conference and announcements to the Press
- Japan's announcements relating to development in Africa at the General Assembly of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I think you have already received copies of several documents related to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) which is now taking place in Midland, Republic of South Africa. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda is going to address the Assembly tonight at 22:15 Japan time. I ask you to refrain from publicizing the documents, especially the one which is titled "Japan's Initiatives on Assistance to Africa," as the documents are embargoed until that time. I would like to quickly explain to you several points from Foreign Minister Ikeda's speech. Foreign Minister Ikeda is going to propose three concrete matters in his speech. The first one is to hold the second meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II). The second one is Japan's initiatives to assist human resources development in Africa. The third one is Japan's initiatives on the eradication of the polio disease, to achieve health for all in Africa. As for the TICAD II meeting, after the end of the Cold War, unfortunately, many countries in the world began to lose interest in the development of Africa. The Government of Japan thought it undesirable, and took initiatives to hold the first Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 1993. The TICAD Declaration said that the participants intend to hold a conference of a similar magnitude and membership, at the latest, before the turn of the century. Now, Foreign Minister Ikeda is going to propose to hold the second meeting in 1998. Japan does not have a specific, strategic interest in Africa. However, when we think of the development of the world in the 21st century, we should not neglect Africa. It is important to let the African countries develop; it is very important for the stability of the world. In this sense, the Government of Japan once again wants to address to the world the importance of the development of Africa. Japan's initiatives are based on some concrete projects related to the development of African countries. That is what Foreign Minister Ikeda is going to say at the UNCTAD Assembly. Foreign Minister Ikeda will state Japan's assistance for education in Africa, in order to achieve education for all. In 1995 in Beijing, the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) was held. The Action Agenda of the WSSD states in its Paragraph 36, "The universal primary education in all countries before the year 2015." Japan wants to contribute to this. This time, Foreign Minister Ikeda will announce that Japan will provide assistance for education amounting to US$100 million over the three years. Apart from that, Foreign Minister Ikeda will announce the acceptance of 3,000 trainees from Africa over the next three years. Foreign Minister Ikeda will announce that Japan will make available US$2 million to the Japan-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Resources Development Fund for south-south cooperation on African development. At the same time, Foreign Minister Ikeda will announce Japan's initiative on the eradication of the polio disease. Japan has already been taking initiatives in Asia, but as for the implementation of the so-called national immunization days, this is the first time that Japan will take appropriate measures in this field, vis-à-vis South Africa. I would just like to remind you that when President William Clinton of the United States of America visited Japan recently, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Clinton talked about the need to strengthen cooperation on the global agenda. And, under the Common Agenda, Japan and the United States have agreed to cooperate in this particular project -- the initiative on the eradication of the polio disease to achieve health for all in Africa. This is what I have on Foreign Minister Ikeda's statement at the UNCTAD General Assembly.
- Position of the Government of Japan regarding situations in the Republic of Paraguay
Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: The Government of Japan highly appreciates that the domestic tensions in the Republic of Paraguay have been eased, and that constitutional democracy has been maintained. At the same time, it respects President Juan Carlos Wasmosy and the people of Paraguay who have endeavored to solve the difficult situation at this time. The Government of Japan has been extending assistance for democratization and economic reform in Latin America and will continue to support President Wasmosy who was elected democratically in Paraguay.
Those are the announcements that I wanted to make, and I will be delighted to respond to any questions that you might have.
- Japan's announcements relating to development in Africa at the General Assembly of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- The Meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda and Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Javier SOLANA Madariaga
Q: I understand that Mr. Ikeda met with the Secretary-General of NATO. Could you elaborate on what has been discussed, particularly with respect to the following interest in NATO about the Russian-Chinese declaration -- the strategic alliance?
A: What I can tell you about the meeting between the two gentlemen is as follows. They talked about the efforts of both sides -- Europe and Japan -- for Bosnia and Herzegovina. They exchanged views thoroughly on this subject. Secondly, they talked about how to strengthen cooperation between NATO and Japan. And, the Japanese side extended an invitation to the Secretary-General to visit Japan, and he accepted. He said that early in 1997 will be an appropriate time for him. The Secretary-General explained to Foreign Minister Ikeda about some issues related to NATO, including Partners for Progress (PFP). He explained that friendly relations have been steadily developing between NATO and the former Warsaw Pact groups, and that, at the same time, NATO has been developing close relations with the Russian Federation. How to expand NATO is on the agenda. The members of NATO have been discussing the matter, but he predicted that this issue will not be solved this year. More specifically, he said that this issue would not be solved until 1997. I understand that they did not specifically talk about the issue related to the People's Republic of China.
Q: You have said they talked about how to strengthen cooperation between NATO and Japan. Could you elaborate?
A: Dialogue on the political level is one thing -- and the Secretary-General is coming to Japan in 1997. Apart from that, we have the so-called senior officials-level consultations which took place in 1993 and 1995. In the past three instances, the private sector and the government sector jointly held seminars. That kind of dialogue is what they talked about on strengthening the relationship between NATO and Japan.
- Japan-Russian Federation relations
Q: Recently, the Director-General of the Self Defense Forces was in Moscow. Something has come out of that meeting which is very new in the mutual development between Japan and the former Soviet Russia. It was preceded by Yeltsin's or somebody's announcement that in the Northern Islands, Russia has reduced the number of forces there. Is it because of that that the two countries are getting together militarily, or is it because the Japan-U.S. security pact is going to change in Asia, and this necessitates Japan taking initiative in bilateral ways?
A: It is the first time for Japan's Defense Minister to visit Russia.
Q: You say Defense Minister?
A: Yes, Cabinet Minister in charge of the Defense Agency. It is the first time in the history of bilateral relations between Japan and Russia, and probably the former Soviet Union or former Czarist Russia. In any case, this is the first time. When you talk about the reduction of forces in the Northern Territories, when President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation visited Japan and signed the Tokyo Declaration in 1993, he said that the Russian Federation will reduce troops in the Northern Territories, and that, eventually, the Russian Federation will withdraw all the troops. When Foreign Minister Ikeda visited Moscow last March, and when Prime Minister Hashimoto visited Moscow at the beginning of this month, President Yeltsin and Minister of Foreign Affairs E.M. Primakov of the Russian Federation told the Japanese side that they had already reduced the number of troops in the Northern Territories to 3,500. And, this time, it was also confirmed by Minister of Defense Army General Pavel Grachev of the Russian Federation.
Q: What other impacts of this new development between Russia and Japan are there from the defense of the region perspective?
A: I had better explain, in the general sense, the importance of Director-General of the Defense Agency Hideo Usui's visit to Russia, because it is, in fact, important for both countries. When Foreign Minister Ikeda visited Moscow last March, both Japan and the Russian Federation reaffirmed to develop the bilateral relationship on the basis of the Tokyo Declaration which both signed in 1993. When Prime Minister Hashimoto met President Yeltsin, it was reaffirmed, too. When Foreign Minister Ikeda had talks with Foreign Minister Primakov in Moscow last March, Foreign Minister Ikeda proposed to hold this security dialogue at the ministerial level. Foreign Minister Primakov, at that time, accepted the invitation. When Prime Minister Hashimoto met President Yeltsin, both gentlemen also talked about this. In fact, President Yeltsin, on the spot, accepted the formal proposal to hold this Conference. On the basis of this, Defense Minister Usui visited Russia this time. It is extremely important that, for the first time at the defense minister level, both countries talked about the need to develop the bilateral relationship steadily through fully normalizing the bilateral relationship on the basis of the settlement solution of the Northern Territorial issue, so that the two countries can contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. In this sense, this visit is very important. At the same time, it is very important to deepen understanding and strengthen trust between the defense ministers between the two countries. Just very quickly, I would like to remind you that when President Yeltsin visited Japan in 1993 and signed the Tokyo Declaration, he said that the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Russian Federation are convinced that expanded political dialogue is a beneficial and effective means to promote Japan-Russia relations. At the same time, the Declaration says that the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Russian Federation, based on their shared recognition of the need for promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, confirmed the importance of dialogue between the authorities of their two governments on a wide range of issues, including security, and agreed to further activate such exchanges. So, in 1993, Japan and Russia agreed to expand political and economic relations in a balanced way. After that, the Government started to strengthen the security dialogue between the two countries. In 1994, then-Director General of the Defense Bureau of the Defense Agency Murata visited Moscow and held security dialogue on the senior officials level. It was very successful. Now, on the basis of the reaffirmation of the Tokyo Declaration, we are very happy to note that this dialogue has been upgraded, and done at the ministerial level.
- Exchange of defense cooperation between Japan and the Russian Federation
Q: You went very much into chronological detail. I wanted to see the other side of this visit, because I saw on TV the Japanese Director-General of Defense. He was shown around Russian-made military hardware. Is Japan, with its stringent defense budget, going to look for other markets, because the Russian hardware is very cheap I hear? Aside from that, are you going to do a similar visit to China also?
A: I do not think the Government of Japan is contemplating buying Russian arms, but the Defense Agency is now interested in exchanging defense cooperation between the two countries. But still, this is in the initial stages. Defense Minister Usui extended an invitation to Defense Minister General Grachev to visit Japan, and General Grachev accepted this invitation. That kind of exchange is very useful, but I do not think the Defense Agency is now contemplating to do the same with the Chinese Government.
- Feasibility of Japanese purchase of Russian arms
Q: About the possibility that Japan may buy Russian weapons. Is it really possible that Japan could buy Russian weapons in the future?
A: I said that Japan's Defense Agency is not contemplating buying Russian weapons.
Q: Technically, is it possible, from the view of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
A: Theoretically, yes. Technically, Japan can buy weapons from anywhere it wants. But, we have the Security Treaty with the United States, and our weapons systems have been developed based on the cooperation between the United States and Japan. So, to what extent Japan can buy arms from other countries is a question.
- Matters relating to Russian Federation military strength
Q: Has Mr. Usui pressed the Russian Defense Minister to make the Russian military doctrine and organization and numerical strength much more transparent, and how was the reaction from the Russian side?
A: Both gentlemen explained to their counterparts on their basic national security policy. Defense Minister Usui explained in detail the Japanese security issues. General Grachev himself explained to Defense Minister Usui in detail about the Russian defense policy. I will quickly tell you what he said. For example, Russia has reduced its troops in the Eastern part of Russia by 150,000, and the size of its Pacific fleet has been halved since 1985. He went on to say that the troops in the Northern Territories have been reduced to 3,500. General Grachev said that although Russia has not publicized the data on the Russian army, within the scope of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) however, Russia is now exchanging information with European counties. He is optimistic about the possibility of strengthening transparency in the Asia- Pacific region. I think that is about all General Grachev said about military strength.
Q: Did Mr. Grachev say by when? I am talking about the possibility of increasing military transparency in the Asia- Pacific region. Did he say about what time?
A: No. But, he talked about the policy of the Russian Federation on the Asia-Pacific region. He pointed out five subjects. One, that countries over there should try to decrease military levels, including the reduction of conventional arms. Two, to strengthen non-proliferation regimes, including the establishment of regional nuclear- free zones. Third, that countries concerned should try to get rid of possible tension through political dialogue. Fourth, the possibility of building confidence in the military field. Fifth, to establish a consultation mechanism which all the countries in the region can accept. But, he did not talk about a timetable.
- Matters relating to possible talks on the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea
Q: Last Sunday, there was a report in Korea that a Japanese businessman visited North Korea with an official of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Can you confirm this?
A: I am sorry, I am not aware of such a report. Did you say that the report was --?
Q: In The Joon-Ang Daily News, one of the Korean newspapers.
A: It said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials prepared --?
Q: The article said that a well-known Japanese businessman visited North Korea and one of the officials of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accompanied the businessman.
A: I am terribly sorry, but I am not aware the article. The article was published today?
Q: Last Sunday?
A: Last Sunday. I will have to check on this.
Q: There was a report in May that Mr. Li Jong Hyoke will visit Japan. He will meet with the Socialist Democratic Party. I want to know if Mr. Li will meet officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A: Yes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has heard of the information you have just touched upon. However, we understand that the coalition parties have not yet decided to accept him. In any case, the Government of Japan is not involved in this, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not know whether North Korean Official Li Jong Hyoke will be coming now.
Q: Do you have any plan to meet Mr. Li?
A: First of all, we do not know whether he will be coming. In this sense, I would like to say that the Japan Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the coalition parties themselves think that the talks on the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea should be conducted on the governmental level through diplomatic channels. But, we understand that Mr. Li, supposing he is coming to Japan, is not coming by the invitation of the Government of Japan. Although we cannot tell you when and how, already the Government of Japan has established contact with the North Korean authorities regarding talks on normalization of relations between the two countries.
- Possible North Korean involvement in the Asian Development Bank
Q: There have been some reports in Seoul that the Government of the Republic of Korea has decided to endorse the North Korean application to join the Asian Development Bank. If North Korea submits its application again, what will the Japanese Government's stand be on this?
A: There have been some reports about the Republic of Korea's measures toward North Korea. Japan is not in a position to make a comment on the individual case. However, we would just like to repeat that we highly appreciate and directly support the proposal for the four-party conference on peace on the Korean Peninsula. And, we sincerely hope that North Korea will accept the idea and directly talk to the relevant countries on the various issues.
Q: Are you saying that if North Korea accepts this four-country consultation, then Japan may support North Korea's joining the Asian Development Bank?
A: This is a completely separate issue. Once again, Japan is not in a position to make a comment on the individual policies which the Government of the Republic of Korea is seemingly now floating, because this is an intermediary report. We are not fully informed of what the intention is of the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Q: Then, are you saying that the Government of Japan is neutral, at this moment at least, about the possible participation by North Korea in the Asian Development Bank?
A: If you talk specifically about the participation of North Korea in the Asian Development Bank, then I am sorry, but I do not know the answer.
- Matters relating to Japan and the Union of Myanmar
Q: Similarly, there has been a surge of economic and business relationships with Myanmar until their leader Aung Suu Kyi has protested to Japanese activities there. Is Japan changing its option? Until now, because of the dual right problem -- democratization -- Japan was not openly going in there. Has the policy changed?
A: The Government of Japan has been maintaining dialogue with Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi of the Union of Myanmar. Until the democratization issue is fully solved, the Government of Japan is not in a position to extend full- scale economic assistance to Myanmar. In this sense, our policy toward Myanmar has not changed. However, since Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released, and is now engaging in political activities, the Government of Japan is studying the possibility of extending aid on a case-by-case basis. But, I do not think that the Government of Japan has decided to extend new aid to Myanmar.
Q: On the economic activities by Japanese companies, anyone can take the data and show that it has increased recently, very much.
A: Are you talking about the pure commercial relationship?
Q: The pure commercial, yes.
A: As far as pure commercial business activities are concerned, they are free to do so. The Government of Japan has not imposed any restrictions on Japanese private companies to engage in business relations with Myanmar.
Q: This pure commercial thing, when has it become loose or open and free from the Japanese Government's policy?
A: We have never imposed restrictions. In any case, if you talk about the pure commercial relationship, although the potential can be high in the future, because of the difficult situations in Myanmar, I do not think that many Japanese companies up until now have enjoyed a close business relationship with Myanmar. Thank you very much.
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