Press Conference by the Press Secretary
23 October, 1998

1. Contributions by the Government of Japan to the province of Kosovo in the Republic of Serbia of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
   1. Contribution to the process for a political solution
   2. Humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons
   3. Cooperation with neighboring countries
2. Announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka concerning the resumption of Japan's cooperation in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
   1. The Agreed Framework of KEDO as the most realistic and effective framework to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons
   2. The effects of Japan's response to the missile launch by North Korea
   3. The importance of cooperation among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States
   4. Background of the resumption of Japan's cooperation with KEDO
3. The diplomatic role played by the Republic of Bulgaria in the Kosovo conflict

1. Contributions by the Government of Japan to the province of Kosovo in the Republic of Serbia of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Good afternoon. Today, first of all, I would like to announce the contribution by the Government of Japan to the Kosovo issue. As you know, the Kosovo issue has made a great step toward a political solution with the agreement by the Government of the Republic of Serbia of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the full implementation of relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions and the establishment of an international system for verifying the implementation of the agreement.

   Japan will continue to make positive contributions to the efforts of the international community for a political solution of the Kosovo issue. At the same time, Japan will extend substantial humanitarian assistance to the Kosovo refugees and displaced persons who are confronted with dire conditions with the approach of winter. Furthermore, Japan will extend economic cooperation to the neighboring countries to assist their nation-building, for the purpose of preventing the spillover of this conflict.

   Our contribution consists of three portions.

   1. Contribution to the process for a political solution
      First, in making contributions through the UN Security Council and the G8, Japan has been playing a positive role in the efforts of the international community for solving the Kosovo issue as a member of the UN Security Council and the G8. It will continue this contribution. The second category would be the cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo verification mission. Japan will study what contribution it can make to the mission as the OSCE has requested the international community to cooperate with the mission. This is the first category of Japanese contribution.
   2. Humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons
      The second category is humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced persons. Japan has already extended assistance totaling US$2.31 million to international organizations, and in response to the recent consolidated interagency appeal by UN humanitarian organizations, Japan will extend further assistance totaling approximately US$7.3 million through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations. The second type of assistance in this category is grant assistance for grassroots projects. Japan will actively extend assistance for the refugees and internally displaces persons through this framework by extending financial assistance to medical and educational organizations in Yugoslavia and Japanese and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
   3. Cooperation with neighboring countries
      The third category is cooperation with neighboring countries. The Government of Japan has been supporting nation-building of neighboring countries, namely Macedonia and the Republic of Albania so as to contribute to the peace and stability of the region. From the standpoint of achieving a political solution to the Kosovo issue, assistance for the stabilization of those countries, especially for the political stability and economic reconstruction of Albania, is extremely important. In light of the significance of cooperation for those two neighboring countries, and considering the current situation in them, the Government of Japan will extend appropriate assistance by using its economic and technical cooperation schemes.
2. Announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka concerning the resumption of Japan's cooperation in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Secondly, on 21 October, the day before yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka announced the resumption of Japan's cooperation with the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). There are several points. The Government of Japan has decided to resume its cooperation with KEDO and to sign a 21 October KEDO Executive Board resolution concerning the cost-sharing of the light water reactor project, taking the following points into consideration. There are three points.

   1. The Agreed Framework of KEDO as the most realistic and effective framework to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons
      First, KEDO is the most realistic and effective framework through which to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. From Japan's viewpoint, there are no realistic alternatives apart from KEDO and the Agreed Framework which can prevent North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. We must not give North Korea an excuse for resuming its development of nuclear weapon by undermining KEDO and the Agreed Framework. Since the end of September, North Korea has resumed the canning of spent fuel rods in accordance with the Agreed Framework. Japan considers it extremely important for its security to ensure that North Korea adheres to the Agreed Framework without reversing these actions, and thereby to prevent North Korea's nuclear development.
   2. The effects of Japan's response to the missile launch by North Korea
      Second, Japan's response to the missile launch by North Korea is having certain effects. The announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka on 1 September was a clear message to North Korea. In addition, Japan maintains close cooperation with the United States of America and the Republic of Korea and others. Japan has conveyed its concern about North Korea directly to North Korea as well as through the United States at general talks between the United States and North Korea, and other fora. Furthermore, Japan's position has gained broad understanding and support in the international community.
   3. The importance of cooperation among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States
      Third, cooperation among Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States remains extremely important in dealing with North Korea. Both the United States and the Republic of Korea are striving to make progress in work related to KEDO and have asked for Japan's understanding on the importance of signing the KEDO Executive Board resolution without delay. From the viewpoint of maintaining and strengthening its strategic cooperative relationship with the United States and the Republic of Korea, Japan needs to consider signing the KEDO Executive Board resolution referred to above. These are three considerations we made and we decided to resume our cooperation to KEDO.
   4. Background of the resumption of Japan's cooperation with KEDO
      The entire background of the resumption of Japan's cooperation with KEDO is as I stated before. There should be no misunderstanding on the part of North Korea about this. The Government of Japan intends to maintain the measures given in the announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka on 1 September other than that on KEDO. Japan calls upon North Korea once again to work constructively on various bilateral issues including the issues of missiles and North Korea's suspected nuclear arms development.
   Related Information (The Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO))
   
3. The diplomatic role played by the Republic of Bulgaria in the Kosovo conflict

   Q: Regarding your comments on Kosovo, I would like to ask you what the viewpoint of your country is in connection with the recently expressed doubts that Mr. Milosevic will keep the agreement and withdraw fully, which doubts invoke the possibilities of air strikes and military intervention. And in this connection, I would also like to hear Japan's evaluation of the role played so far by Bulgaria regarding the conflict and the crisis in Kosovo, and mainly, what do so you think of the so-called "Plan Mihailova" which was an initiative raised by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mrs. Mihailova and which laid down the foundation for the declaration of Balkan heads of states and government leaders in Italy to finalize it.

   Mr. Okada: Concerning the doubt about the commitment by President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. As I explained to you already, in my statement, we understand that President Milosevic agreed to the full implementation of the points mentioned in the UN Security Council Resolution 1199. He also agreed to its monitoring, and therefore, as a result, the possibility of the use of force, or air strikes, by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is lowered. Of course, we are aware that we have to monitor further what President Milosevic is going to do. We strongly hope that the political situation of the Kosovo issue will be realized through the full and honest implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions by President Milosevic and the Yugoslavian side. As for the role of your country, the Republic of Bulgaria, in the process the Kosovo issue, we highly evaluate the Bulgarian efforts to try to realize the peaceful solution of the Kosovo issue. I understand that Bulgaria is a neighboring country of the Yugoslavian region and has, itself, many difficulties. Nevertheless, Bulgaria has taken a very gracious initiative in this regard, and we highly evaluate this Bulgarian initiative for the stabilization of the Balkan region and in particular, the peaceful solution of the Kosovo issue. We also would like to express our respect to your diplomatic efforts.