Press Conference by the Press Secretary September 19, 1997

Press conference announcements
1. Invitation to Japan for young diplomats
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nobuaki Tanaka: My first announcement concerns the invitation to Japan for young diplomats from Arab states, Israel and Turkey, etc. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite 11 young diplomats and officials from Israel, Nigeria, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority from 17-24 September. During their stay in Japan, these diplomats and officials will exchange views with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and experts in various fields and tour in and out of Tokyo. This invitation program is designed to help promote a relationship of trust and mutual understanding among Middle Eastern countries and regions and to deepen understanding of Japan. Japan expects that this program will contribute to the environment for advancing the Middle East peace process.
2. Japan-U.S. aviation talks
  Spokesman Tanaka: There will be aviation talks between Japan and the United States of America from next week. The Government of Japan has held the long-standing view that the current unequal agreement should be readdressed and we should renegotiate the whole aviation framework in order to put us on a level field in the increasingly competitive international aviation market. Four times we have been engaged in the negotiations in an informal manner and we have been engaged in formal negotiations twice. We have been working to conclude these talks by the end of September. We very much hope that the United States side would show increasing flexibility, so that we can wrap up this round of negotiations. The position of the Government of Japan has been made known on various occasions, i.e., we are ready to liberalize our aviation market, based on equality in the sense that we should allow new incumbent carriers from the Japanese side (i.e., ANA) to make it 2 + 2 framework. We know that recently we have received several signals from the United States side that it is willing to reach an agreement without necessarily aiming at the open sky, which is a welcome sign. We hope that both sides would reach an agreement with flexible minds this month.
3. Antipersonnel landmines
  Spokesman Tanaka: Regarding antipersonnel landmines, the Oslo Meeting has just been concluded with the adoption of the agreement on landmines. Japan has been participating in this process with two things in mind. First, we would like to ensure that no damage is caused to the security of Japan. Secondly, this treaty should be universal and effective. In a concrete sense, in past rounds of negotiations, we have made several proposals. For example, a grace period should be allowed before the treaty takes effect and there should be improvement of verification measures.
  
  Unfortunately, the proposal for a grace period was not adopted by the Conference, but the proposal for a verification process was in fact incorporated. It is our belief that any agreement should first of all be universal and secondly, it should be effective, in order to contain antipersonnel landmines. In that sense, we should insist that this framework include such countries as those producing, using or exporting antipersonnel landmines. In fact, the Disarmament Commission of Geneva, whose membership encompasses all these countries, should deal with this issue as soon as possible. We will continue to cooperate with the countries concerned. Having said that, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Japan has been extending a considerable amount of assistance, as well as human resources, to contain antipersonnel landmines. For example, we have extended financial contributions totaling US$29.2 million in order to remove landmines that have already been laid. This contribution has been channeled through various United Nations organizations. Contributions to the Republic of Afghanistan totaling US$17 million have been channeled through such organizations as the UNOCHA. We provided US$5 million to Cambodia through the CMAC, which is a landmine center in Cambodia. We provided US$3 million to landmine removal exercises by peace-keeping operations (PKO) in the former Yugoslavia. Our financial contributions have even been extended to Latin American countries, as well. Other than financial contributions, we have been extending technical cooperation, e.g., medical cooperation, to the countries which suffer from the misery of landmines. For example, in Cambodia we built a rehabilitation center for those who have suffered from landmines. We have also provided a training center for the refugees who also share this miserable destiny. On top of that, we hosted a Tokyo Conference last March on the question of antipersonnel landmines. This was a follow-up to what Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto proposed in connection with the Lyon Summit. At this economic summit, he stressed that we should strengthen our assistance through the United Nations, through provision of technical assistance and through providing support for those who have suffered from landmines.
Visit of the Prime Minister of Lebanon to Tokyo
Q: Some news reports have stated that the Prime Minister of Lebanon will visit Tokyo in November. Can you confirm this?

Spokesman Tanaka: I do not have a briefing note on that. I will let you know the details of that later on.
Antipersonnel landmines
Q: Could you reiterate Foreign Minister Obuchi's remarks regarding a total ban on antipersonnel landmines?

Spokesman Tanaka: Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi said that Japan has been extending various cooperation, for example, to Cambodia for the removal of landmines. Japan is also providing financial assistance. On the other hand, if Japan continues to stick to the position that we count on landmines, then perhaps the two positions might come into conflict. In this sense, and in light of global trends that we see, Japan should do whatever is necessary. Furthermore, he said that he certainly acknowledges that he respects the judgement of the United States, he further said that there are many people who have suffered from landmines -- suffer in the sense of losing their lives or limbs, and so forth. These miseries were seen with our own eyes. In Cambodia, the Government as well as the private sector has been trying to help the victims of landmines. Foreign Minister Obuchi said that personally, against this backdrop, if Japan does not accept this treaty, then perhaps this is not logical. So, he stated that he would like to study this issue further and that he would like see how the Government of Japan would like to react to this in a final sense. And then someone quoted the position of the Defense Agency and asked a question. Foreign Minister Obuchi further said that he heard that the Defense Agency has its own view, but as for him, the Foreign Minister in charge of the treaty, he has not yet received any formal explanation about what to do on this treaty in the Government.
Visit to Japan of Japanese wives in North Korea
Q: Regarding the issue of Japanese wives in North Korea, do you know how many Japanese wives are currently slated to visit Japan? What kind of assistance will they get from the Government of Japan to visit Japan?

Spokesman Tanaka: You have been informed of how we have dealt with this issue. Right now, there is nothing new to report to you. If the list of the people who would visit Japan in the first round becomes available, then we will make it available to you right away. What I will say at this juncture is that, in Beijing, we had the first meeting of the Liaison Commission between North Korea and Japan, where we reached a concrete agreement. We very much hope that the visit of these Japanese wives would materialize at the earliest opportunity. The agreement states that we will realize the visit of Japanese wives from North Korea within a one-month period from the time of that agreement. But in a concrete sense, we have not yet worked out the details as yet.

Q: Two months ago at this press conference, the Government of Japan stated that no food aid would be given to North Korea. It appears now that the Government of Japan is going to offer US$20 million in food aid to North Korea. From what I understand, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that he had to consult some groups in the Japanese Parliament regarding this. Why has he changed his stance regarding food aid?

Spokesman Tanaka: In the first place, we have never said that we would not provide food aid. Our position has been constant, i.e, we will continue examining this issue of providing food aid to North Korea, taking into account various developments, factors, and so forth. So in a sense, we have not yet arrived at any conclusion on this issue. That has been our position in the past, and this position remains unchanged. I believe that you are referring to press reports about the Government of Japan considering US$27 million in food aid to North Korea. However, I must inform you that at this stage, we have not yet arrived at any conclusion. We are still examining this issue. In this examination, there are various factors to be taken into account, including those resolutions, decisions or recommendations by various political parties in Japan.

Q: Regarding the visit to Japan of Japanese wives in North Korea, we were expecting the first visit to have been completed by now. Have talks actually broken down? Are they stalling?

Spokesman Tanaka: As I have stated, an agreement was reached between Japan and North Korea on 9 September in Beijing, in which we should realize the visit to Japan of Japanese wives in North Korea.

Q: The date keeps getting pushed back further and further. So, I am wondering if it is perhaps not working out the way it was first expected?

Spokesman Tanaka: It is true that at first we hoped that such a visit would materialize within September. But in the agreement we reached on 9 September, we made it public that we are aiming, as much as possible, to realize the visit within a one-month period from the date of the agreement.

Q: Have you encountered any difficulties that you did not expect at first?

Spokesman Tanaka: We hoped that we could work out the details as much as possible, but I cannot comment on each step that we are taking -- whether it is a good step, a bad step, it is constructive, it is delaying, etc.
Grain shipments from China
Q: I have heard rumors that North Korea is selling some grain to Aomori? Does the Government of Japan have any information on this?

Spokesman Tanaka: In a previous press conference that I held with you, I stated that there was a ship which came to Aomori from North Korea which was carrying maize. I believe that I made it clear at that point that the maize was actually shipped from China. And through the Ministry of Agriculture, we acknowledged that the shipment had been reloaded in North Korea, but the shipment of maize actually came from China and was shipped to the port of Aomori in Japan. Other than that report, I do not recall any other importations of grains, etc., from North Korea.
Environment issue
Q: Has the Government of Japan given any indication as to when it might come out with a target figure at the Kyoto Conference regarding greenhouse gas emissions?

Spokesman Tanaka: We have been working very hard within the Government in order to arrive at an equitable, practical and effective target. Prime Minister Hashimoto has instructed the various agencies, notably the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Environment Agency, as well as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, to come up with a concrete proposal for Japan. We are keenly mindful of that and we are working very hard. However, at this stage, I am not in a position to tell you what the actual or eventual target is that we will arrive at. Certainly, we are working hard to reach specific reduction targets.

Q: Do you have a timeframe for that at the moment?

Spokesman Tanaka: We would like to do so as soon as possible, perhaps before the next meeting.

Back to Index