Press Conference by the Press Secretary January 13, 1998

Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hiroshi Hashimoto: Yesterday evening, a 45-minute Japan-United Kingdom Summit Meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The frank exchange of opinions between the leaders was constructive and meaningful. It is truly significant to have such an exchange of opinions between the leaders of Japan and the United Kingdom at the very beginning of 1998.
Japan-Russian Federation relations
Spokesman Hashimoto: At Krasnoyarsk in November of last year, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation announced the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan on Economic Cooperation and agreed to do their utmost to conclude the peace treaty between the two countries at the year 2000, based on the Tokyo Declaration. Further, at this Summit Meeting, the leaders instructed each delegation to do their best to finalize the framework negotiations for fishing operations in the waters near the four northern islands, if possible, by the end of 1997. Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed his support for Russia's participation in APEC. The leaders also shared the view to pursue the possibility of conducting joint exercises of Japanese Self Defense Forces and Russian military forces with regard to operations in the humanitarian field such as rescue activities and disaster situations. This year, the Government of Japan would like to steadily implement a series of projects agreed to at the leaders' level. I would like to mention that some specific measures have already been taken with a view to carry out the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan, that Russia's participation in APEC has been approved by Prime Minister Hashimoto's initiative and that the framework negotiation for fishing operations was successfully finalized at the end of last year. As for the peace treaty, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Tamba will visit Russia from 22-23 January and have vice-ministerial talks to launch the negotiation framework. Moreover, talks on the Japan-Russia energy problem will be held from 28-29 January in Moscow and talks on the recovery of the Siberian Railroad and transportation network are planned. The Government of Japan would like to tackle these issues. President Yeltsin plans to visit Japan this coming April. Before that, however, Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi is visiting Russia. From now on, a series of high-level exchange continues.
Situation in the Kingdom of Cambodia
Spokesman Hashimoto: In order to carry out a free and fair election in July in a manner that is acknowledged by the international community, it is necessary to prepare a political environment which enables Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the Kingdom of Cambodia to participate in the election. The Government of Japan hopes for early implementation of the process of trial, amnesty and return to Cambodia for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, which was announced by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Kingdom of Cambodia during his visit to Japan last November.
Japan-United States-People's Republic of China-Russian Federation security dialogue
Spokesman Hashimoto: In order to ensure peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, we consider it important to improve the intraregional security environment through further confidence-building among nations in the region, based on presence and engagement of the United States. From this point of view, we are conducting a strengthened security dialogue with neighboring nations, including the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, both bilaterally and multilaterally in various fora such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The Government of Japan thinks that it is important to build sound and stable relations among the four countries of Japan, the United States, China and Russia for the sake of security in the Asia-Pacific region. Creation of fora for political dialogues among the four nations would supplement each bilateral relationship and contribute to confidence-building in the region. However, there are still many elements to be taken into account in considering how to realize this goal.
Telephone discussion between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and President William Clinton of the United States of America
Q: This morning, Prime Minister Hashimoto had a telephone conversation with President Clinton. Could you tell us about what was discussed?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Initiatives were taken by the side of the United States, and Prime Minister Hashimoto talked with President William Clinton of the United States of America this morning. The subject was the economic situation in the Republic of Indonesia. The conversation started at 10:25 and lasted for 20 minutes. Prime Minister Hashimoto explained to President Clinton that, yesterday, he himself made a telephone call to President Soeharto of the Republic of Indonesia and asked him to implement the agreed program between the Government of Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). President Clinton replied that, on 9 January, he telephoned President Soeharto and passed the same message to him. President Clinton went on to say that Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence H. Summers of the United States is in Indonesia and is holding talks with various people in Indonesia. President Clinton said that it is important that Japan and the United States cooperate on this. Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Clinton agreed to have constant communication in regard to the economic and currency situation in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.

Q: Was there any agreement between the two leaders to cooperate in facing the financial crisis in Asia? Is Japan considering taking additional measures to help Asian countries face the economic crisis?

Spokesman Hashimoto: Both Japan and the United States have already committed themselves to extending economic support to Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. As far as the Kingdom of Thailand is concerned, Japan has committed itself to assist. I understand that Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Clinton have not talked about additional measures. But, they exchanged views on the currency situation and the economic situation in this part of the world. They said that the agreement between the IMF and the countries concerned should be fully implemented. Japan and the United States should continue to exchange views on the current situation in those countries.

Q: In regard to additional measures, I am only talking about Japan.

Spokesman Hashimoto: They did not talk about additional measures which should be taken by the Government of Japan on the recovery or revitalization of the Japanese economy.
Japan-Russian Federation negotiation framework
Q: In regard to the situation in Russia, Foreign Minister Primakov and Foreign Minister Obuchi agreed to a new structure for discussing the problems in regard to a peace treaty. Now, Deputy Minister Tamba is going to Moscow for the preparations for the first meeting, because it is going to be on the ministerial level. There were some ideas expressed from the Russian side that representatives from the Sakhalin Administration would participate in the working group. What is the attitude of the Government of Japan on this idea?

Spokesman Hashimoto: I recall that the same question was raised last year. At that time, if I remember correctly, I answered that we understand that that kind of idea was floated on the Russian side. However, if we talk about the peace treaty negotiations themselves, those who are directly involved should meet. I am not familiar in detail with who actually participates in the talks between Deputy Foreign Minister Tamba and his counterpart in Moscow this month. I understand that these will be vice foreign ministerial-level talks. I understand that the persons whom you mentioned will not participate in these framework talks in January. At the same time, you should recall that Japan would like to enhance the dialogue in many fields simultaneously. Japan and the Russian Federation are holding another important dialogue on economic relations. On the Russian side, this meeting will be headed by First Deputy Boris Nemtsov of the Russian Federation. However, we do not know when this meeting will actually be held. But, I am sure that when Foreign Minister Obuchi visits Moscow before April, he will not only talk about the issue of the peace treaty, but he will also talk about other issues, including economic relations between the two countries.
Japan-Russian Federation talks on the trans-Siberian Railroad
Q: Is there any timetable for the talks concerning the trans-Siberian Railroad?

Spokesman Hashimoto: As far as those talks are concerned, we are still consulting among ourselves, and we are not in a position to tell you when the talks will be held.
Japan-Russian Federation joint military exercises for humanitarian purposes
Q: You mentioned about the possibility of joint exercises between the Japan Self Defense Forces and the Russian fleet for humanitarian purposes. Do you have any ideas about a possible time and the scale for these kinds of exercises?

Spokesman Hashimoto: We have not yet started the talks in detail on this particular subject. However, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Vice-Minister of the Japan Defense Agency plans to visit Moscow in the near future. If that is realized, that subject might be touched on. But, we have not yet finalized our format on how to conduct the talks on that particular subject which was discussed between Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Yeltsin.

Q: I think that the idea of having trilateral exercises with the inclusion of the United States was also expressed during the meeting of the so-called "trilateral forum." American, Russian and Japanese diplomats are participating not as officials but as private citizens. What do you think about this possibility in the near future.

Spokesman Hashimoto: As you rightly pointed out, this meeting was held on the private sector level, although government officials participated in the capacity of private individuals. I understand that the second round of talks on this subject will be held sometime this fall in Tokyo, and that they will continue to exchange views on this subject. Therefore, it is a bit too premature to anticipate if any concrete proposal will be produced in the near future. The Government of Japan highly appreciates the discussion that was held in this symposium, and we are carefully following what additional discussions will be held, and so on. While Japan and the United States are deepening cooperation in the defense field, Japan and the Russian Federation have just started to deepen the contact between the Japan Defense Agency and the Russian Army. Therefore, while we think that, in general terms, trilateral cooperation may be fruitful, in concrete terms, we cannot make an official position on this yet. However, as far as Japan and the Russian Federation are concerned, we must first of all finalize the format to have bilateral talks on this question. I am sure that the building up of these kind of bilateral talks will eventually help in having trilateral talks, if that is realistic. But, for the time being, the Government of Japan leaves this kind of matter to be discussed by the private sector.
Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on World War II prisoners of war
Q: At the meeting last night with Prime Minister Blair, did Prime Minister Hashimoto really apologize for the prisoners of war.

Spokesman Hashimoto: The important thing is that the Prime Minister of Japan expressed the feelings of deep remorse and stated heartfelt apologies to the people who suffered in World War II directly to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This was the second meeting between Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Minister Blair and we considered the meeting very important, especially this year. Making use of this opportunity, Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed his remorse and apology on behalf of the Government of Japan; this is very important. Prime Minister Blair fully understands the importance of the statement made by Prime Minister Hashimoto on this issue. His press opportunities after the talks objectively reflect what the two gentlemen talked about.

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