Press Conference by the Press Secretary 14 January 1997

Regular Announcements to the Press
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have initially two announcements to make.
1. Accomplishments of Prime Minister Hashimoto's visit to the ASEAN countries
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: The visit that Prime Minister Hashimoto made to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries during the past week strengthened the relations of trust between the Prime Minister and the leaders of the ASEAN States which he visited. At the same time, this visit more than fulfilled the standing objective of building new cooperative relations between Japan and ASEAN with a view to the coming 21st century. In particular, Prime Minister Hashimoto proposed to the ASEAN leaders that: 1) the leaders of ASEAN States and Japan hold frequent and close Summit-level dialogue; 2) Japan and ASEAN cooperate on various issues facing the international community, including the environment, social welfare, health and drugs; and 3) Japan and ASEAN conduct multilateral cultural cooperation. I believe that it is significant that these proposals gained support from the ASEAN leaders.
2. Oil-spill incident in Fukui Prefecture
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Secondly, on the oil-spill incident by the Russian tanker, Nakhodka, the Russian Federation dispatched the Nevtegaz V (a vessel of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation), which departed from the Port of Korsakov in Sakhalin on 12 January. Currently, that vessel is headed for Hakodate, and after necessary procedures and refueling are completed, it is scheduled to head for the site of the spill. It may arrive at the site on 15 January. Another vessel, the Lazurit departed from the Port of Vladivostok on 13 January. After loading, at the Port of Nakhodka, the necessary equipment for the clean-up and the prevention of further pollution, it is scheduled to head to the site of the spill arriving on 17 January and to transfer the equipment to the Nevtegaz V. The Government of Japan commends the dispatch of these vessels by Russia as an expression of its sincerity. Also, at the meeting held on 13 January at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, Japan's representative made the following statement regarding the sinking of the Nakhodka: First of all, the accident of the Russian-registered tanker Nakhodka has resulted in extremely serious marine pollution in Japan, which has a very grave impact on the lives of the people of Japan, a nation greatly dependent on marine resources. Secondly, although the cause of the accident remains unclear, the fact that the hull of the ship cracked indicates the possibility that there was some kind of structural problem. Thirdly, Japan strongly hopes that the following measures will be taken in order to prevent the reoccurrence of such an accident: 1) More thorough implementation by all governments of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, and more thorough port-State control of older vessels; 2) Consideration at the IMO of measures to strive for greater implementation of relevant treaties by all governments. Having said so, I would be delighted to answer any questions which you may have.
  
  Q: Have the Russian authorities told the Japanese public -- I am talking about the oil slick -- have the Russians informed the Japanese public what specific works these two ships can or how effective they will be?
  
  A: I am terribly sorry, but I do not have an answer here. This is a very good outline of their intended activities on the side. Probably, the Russia Division may know the details of the missions of the two ships, and I will ask my colleague to contact you.
Japan's position on the arrangement between Taiwan and North Korea for the storage of nuclear waste
Q: Does Japan have any views on the arrangement between Taiwan and North Korea for storage of nuclear waste? Are you concerned about this?

A: I am terribly sorry, but I have not been following up with the situation. May I check on this and my colleagues will get back to you on this. This is an issue between Taiwan and North Korea?

Q: Taiwan has arranged to store its low-grade nuclear waste in North Korea.

A: When was it announced?

Q: Yesterday.

A: We will check and get back to you on this.
Issues concerning Japan's relations with North Korea
Q: I have another question on a different subject. Regarding North Korea and Japan, there was a news story which said that the LDP is pushing for a closer relationship with North Korea. What is the Government's situation; do you have any plans for meetings with North Korean officials or is there any prospect that the relations will get back on track any time soon?

A: Are you talking about the announcement of the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of the North Korean authority?

Q: I am quoting a Yomiuri story that quoted LDP sources saying this is an LDP -- anyway, any comment you care to state regarding North Korea?

A: As far as the comments of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders are concerned, I am not aware of them. I am terribly sorry, but I have been deeply involved in the Peruvian affair, therefore, I will have to check into it. If it is related to the possible resumption of talks of normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea, the concrete timing of the resumption of talks remains unknown. Japan intends to normalize the relations between Japan and North Korea resulted from the Second World War. In view of the fact that this should contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Japan intends to do so in close cooperation with the Republic of Korea and other relevant nations. If you are talking about information related to possible rice-aid to North Korea, Japan has been making its stance known; that our economic cooperation to North Korea can be realized on the premises on the agreement of the talks of the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea. Secondly, in the past, Japan extended rice-aid and other types of aid from a humanitarian point of view and from the viewpoint of emergency aid. This is an exceptional case. We are not considering the possibly of extending new aid to North Korea.

Q: Regarding normalization talks, in the past, these talks have stuck on Japan's insistence to know something about some people who were allegedly kidnapped -- one person in particular. What will be your stance on this in the future? Any change in your stance, will you insist in knowing about the whereabouts of this person?

A: Already some time has passed since we have had the formal negotiations on the talks of normalization, therefore, I would like to once again state that Japan intends to normalize relations between Japan and North Korea in line with what I have explained to you today. However, the concrete timing of the resumption of talks remains unknown.

Q: So you do not want to answer this question?

A: That was discussed during the last round of talks and already several years have passed since that time. What I would like to stress here is that Japan intends to normalize its relations with North Korea in line with what I have just explained to you today.
Possible topics to be discussed during Foreign Minister Ikeda's visit with Foreign Minister Yoo Chong Ha of the Republic of Korea
Q: I know that the Japanese Foreign Minister will visit Seoul tomorrow. Could you tell me the topics which will be discussed in the meeting with his Korean counterpart Mr. Yoo Chong Ha?

A: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda will visit Seoul tomorrow to meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoo Chong Ha of the Republic of Korea and come back to Tokyo on the same day. Foreign Minister Ikeda is very happy to exchange views with Foreign Minister Yoo Chong Ha on various subjects bearing in mind that on 25 January, President Kim Young Sam of the Republic of Korea will visit Japan and will hold talks with Prime Minister Hashimoto. Foreign Minister Ikeda and Foreign Minister Yoo Chong Ha are expected to talk not only on the bilateral relationship, but also on international relations, particularly the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Q: Will it include topics like the Takeshima Island issue and the former comfort women, who served as sex slaves during the Second World War?

A: As early as tomorrow, Foreign Minister Ikeda will go to Seoul, so can you be patient until after those two gentlemen meet, and after the meeting both our side and the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea will brief the press people on the subject on their talks. The relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea is very important and we regard the upcoming summit between President Kim Young Sam and Prime Minister Hashimoto very important. So, I believe Foreign Minister Ikeda will do his utmost to prepare thoroughly for a successful visit of President Kim Young Sam. If you are talking about the former comfort women issue, the Korean press is critical on what the Asian Women's Fund did on this subject, but we hope that the Korean people, the Korean press and the Korean Government will understand that the Government of Japan, considering the situation with women who are advancing in years, should respect the intent of the fund in this regard.
Issues regarding former comfort women
Q: According to a Japanese newspaper from Seoul today, Korean Foreign Minister Yoo told Mr. Hatoyama, who is in Seoul, that the Japanese Government should take direct responsibility for the compensation to the former comfort women. What is your position on that?

A: We know about the report. On the basis of that, we are now confirming what Foreign Minister Yoo Chong Ha told Mr. Hatoyama.
Issues regarding Japan-ASEAN dialogue
Q: I have a question on Mr. Hashimoto's visit to ASEAN. Would it be correct to assume that this proposal of frequent and close contact has not yet been institutionalized? The decision to institutionalize has not yet been made?

A: The fact is that Prime Minister Hashimoto proposed this and we understand that on the basis of the proposal from the Prime Minister of Japan, ASEAN will study how to implement the dialogue. However, all of the leaders of ASEAN, which Prime Minister Hashimoto visited this time, principally agreed on the proposal. We, the Japanese side, expect that, annually, there will be a formal or informal ASEAN summit, and making use of this opportunity, the Prime Minister of Japan may have the dialogue. This is one option, or on another opportunity, the Prime Minister of Japan can hold talks with the ASEAN countries. First of all, we would like to wait and see how the ASEAN countries will give us their counter proposal.

Q: It would seem to me that the Prime Minister's visit, accounting for the hostage crisis, etc., such an important proposal had a very high profile before he went. Would you say that there is -- would it be correct in understanding that inadequate preparation on this proposal characterizes particular opposition. Surely, you would have realized that Malaysia would ask you why can't we meet annually?

A: The ASEAN countries have their own traditions to make a full consensus on the proposal. This time, Prime Minister Hashimoto had not had time to visit the Republic of Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand. But, we have got to understand that ASEAN themselves have got to have time to discuss the proposal themselves. Therefore, it is not surprising at all that they cannot formally accept the proposal. But, we are optimistic about this. However, the point is how to conduct dialogue in concrete terms.

Q: The Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stated that Korea and China should be involved in these meetings. What does the Government think about that?

A: First of all, we would like to wait until all the ASEAN countries make a counter proposal to us.

Q: Is that true, can you confirm that, that in their discussions --.

A: What the Prime Minister proposed was to have frequent discussions between Japan and the ASEAN countries. I do not know whether Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of the Republic of Singapore's answer reflects the consensus of ASEAN or not. First of all, we will wait until the ASEAN countries will give us a depth of the proposal. On the basis of that, we would like to finalize how to conduct this important dialogue in concrete terms.

Q: In light of your wanting to have a closer engagement with China, would it be fair to say that your stance would be -- that you would if China is --.

A: If the dialogue involves the leaders of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, we also have to wait how the leaders of China and the Republic of Korea will respond to that. So, I believe that it will take time to make a consensus.
Issues regarding Japan's ODA to ASEAN countries
Q: One quick question, I heard that it was said that Mr. Hashimoto will make some sort of new statement about ASEAN outgrowing its official development assistance (ODA) requirement because of the strength of their economies. Their economies are much stronger, they are graduating. Is that correct, that Japan is considering changing its --?

A: Japan has a comprehensive approach on this subject, for example, Malaysia has been attaining big economic growth. At the same time, Malaysia is increasingly interested in transferring its technology to less developed countries and Prime Minister Hashimoto told Prime Minister Daro' Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia how to strengthen Malaysia's efforts using the assistance of Japan's ODA systems. We call it South-South cooperation. This is one way of strengthening cooperation between the two countries -- between Japan and Malaysia. If you talk about ODA between Japan and Singapore, Singapore has already graduated from that status. I understand just for a transitional period, some sort of technical assistance remains to Singapore, but I will have to check to verify that or not. If you talk about our ODA to the Philippines, to Indonesia, not only grant aid but technical assistance and other types of ODA such as yen credit will continue to be addressed, to be realized. Therefore, we say that we extend ODA just in accordance to the individual situations. At the same time, the private-sector is playing an increasingly bigger role in this area and the Government side is always encouraging the private-sector to play a bigger role. If ODA can play some part of this, I am sure that the Government of Japan is ready to do so. So, it is rather complicated, but, we do not say that from now on, after the end of the visit of the Prime Minister to the ASEAN countries, we will change our ODA policy toward ASEAN. I do not think that is the case.

Q: You are saying that you are reviewing your ODA policy towards ASEAN members, are you?

A: It will always depend on individual cases.

Q: And the benchmark is per capita income?

A: This is one thing, yes. If, for example, a country is not eligible to accept yen credit assistance, we have got to think of another type of cooperation between that country and Japan.
Japan's support for Australian participation in the ASEAN meeting process
Q: Another question, does Japan still support Australia's participation in the ASEAN meeting process?

A: Already the Government of Japan has expressed its view that Australia and New Zealand should be invited into this, but, if I remember correctly, in February, the foreign ministers level meeting will take place on this -- on ASEAN. But, I am not sure if the participant issue will be discussed at the particular foreign ministers level meeting in February.

Q: But, your support for Australia and New Zealand is because you regard them as a part of Asia?

A: I am not aware that our position on this subject has changed since that time.

Q: I am wondering a lot about if you would support Australia's participation in this ASEAN-Japan meeting?

A: This time, we just proposed to establish frequent dialogue between Japan and the ASEAN countries.

Q: But, you are willing to talk to China and Korea if necessary?

A: If that is the counter proposal, we are not in a position not to study it because we will wait for what kind of proposals will be given to us. But, we do not understand that Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong talked about the possibility of inviting Australia and New Zealand. Thank you very much.

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