Press Conference by the Press Secretary February 3, 1998

Press conference announcements
1. General accord of the Civil Air Transport Agreement between Japan and the United States of America
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sadaaki Numata: I believe you have the text of the statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi on the general accord of the Civil Air Transport Agreement between Japan and the United States of America; it is self-explanatory. We welcome the successful conclusion of this negotiation. There is some work to be done in finalizing the document, but the aviation authorities of the two countries are proceeding with the necessary work to sign the document as soon as possible. This general accord will greatly improve the fair and equal opportunities between the airlines of the two countries. This has been a pending issue between our two countries for quite some time. In that sense, this is a very significant achievement. We also feel that the successful conclusion of this negotiation means another landmark, in the sense of settling the specific bilateral issues that exist between our two countries, and as such, can be seen as a considerable achievement for the management of Japan-U.S. economic and other relations on a stable basis.
2. Japan's diplomatic efforts with respect to the Kingdom of Cambodia
  Spokesman Numata: You may have seen press reports about the meeting that took place between Ambassador to Thailand in Bangkok Hiroshi Ota and Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the Kingdom of Cambodia. I will touch on the background first. The background is that the international community is working hard toward the holding of a free and fair election in Cambodia, now scheduled for July of this year. Things are generally moving in a good direction in the sense that, in Cambodia, they have passed the Electoral Law, they have established the National Electoral Commission, and some of the opposition political leaders have been returning to Cambodia. However, the question of the return of Prince Ranariddh to Cambodia remains unresolved. There is a need to galvanize the process, in order to successfully hold elections in July. With that in mind, the Government of Japan has been exploring possible options for galvanizing this process. The meeting that took place in Bangkok between Ambassador Ota and Prince Ranariddh is a part of that process, which is a process for Japan to float ideas to try and work together with some of the like-minded countries such as the ASEAN countries, the United States and Australia. We have been discussing with these countries this idea which consists of four main ideas or four pillars, which may constitute a political solution for Cambodian issues. The four pillars are as follows: 1) an immediate cease-fire between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the forces loyal to Prince Ranariddh, which should take place on the basis of the principle of respect for Cambodian territorial integrity; 2) the return of Prince Ranariddh-affiliated soldiers to the present Royal Cambodian Armed Forces; 3) the early conclusion of Prince Ranariddh's trial and the granting by the King of amnesty to the Prince at an early date; 4) the guarantee by the Government of Cambodia of Prince Ranariddh's security and safety in Cambodia, and the commitment by the Cambodian Government not to bar Prince Ranariddh from participating in the election, as far as he observes Cambodian law. As I said, this is a part of a process which we would like to engage in with other like-minded countries. I may describe Japan's role as that of a floater of ideas. There are other important players, e.g., the ASEAN countries, and we hope that these other countries will find merit in these ideas, and that we will be able to work together with them.
3. Implementation of the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan
  Spokesman Numata: In the past several press conferences, I have been addressing this important aspect of Japan-Russian Federation relations, which is the implementation of the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan. One of the important items under the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan, as you recall, is the cooperation for the training program of Russian business managers. You may recall that, in Krasnoyarsk, the two Leaders agreed that around 1,000 Russians will be invited to attend courses held at Japan Centers and at small and medium enterprise centers in Russia. In addition, around 500 of those Russian business managers who have attended these courses at the Japan Centers and the small and medium enterprise centers and have done well and shown good results will be invited to Japanese companies and other institutions for training. The first of such groups will coming to Japan, consisting of 55 Russian managers. They will be in Japan for three weeks, starting on Sunday, 15 February. They will take part in training programs in such areas as finance, banking, business management, marketing, etc. These 55 people are from among the participants at courses which were held at the Japan Centers in Moscow, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Also, some of these people are those recommended by the Russian Government. In the course of their three-week stay, they will first undergo orientations in Tokyo, consisting of lectures on Japanese society and culture, Japanese traditional art, Japanese business management, and so forth. Then, they will be sent to Japanese businesses in Tokyo or Hokkaido to undergo on-the-spot training. I may add that in this particular group, in addition to the 55 trainees from Russia, there will be about 10 people from the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, i.e., 10 people selected from the participants in the training programs at the Japan Centers in these two countries. This is the first group, and you may ask if there will be a second group. We anticipate that there will be a second group, which will be coming for three weeks, sometime around the end of May. For the second group, we are contemplating training programs in business management and marketing.
4. Situation in the Republic of Iraq
  Spokesman Numata: A démarche was made yesterday afternoon by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shunji Yanai to ChargJ d'Affaires Muhsin Miro Ali of the Republic of Iraq in Tokyo. Let me try to put this in context. The situation is that the Iraqi Government has not accepted the idea of fully cooperating with the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM). This refusal has rendered the situation increasingly tense. If the Iraqi Government continues to refuse to cooperate with UNSCOM, it could considerably increase the likelihood of the use of force by the United States and other countries. The Government of Japan is very concerned about this situation. That is the first point of the background. The second point of the background is that we have been emphasizing to the Iraqi Government that it is first of all important and necessary for the Iraqi side to guarantee full access to all the relevant facilities, including those related to the presidential residences, and so forth. It is important to guarantee full access to these facilities and installations to UNSCOM, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, because that is the way which would lead to the calming of the situation, the possible lifting of the economic sanctions against Iraq, and the possible return of Iraq to the international community. Those are the points that we have been emphasizing to the Iraqi Government. Vice Minister Yanai, in his démarche yesterday, referred to these points and strongly asked the Iraqi Government to cooperate fully with UNSCOM. This is in the light of what I have described as an increasingly tense situation which seems to be developing.
Japan diplomacy in regard to the situation in Iraq
Q: Regarding Iraq, has the United States Government approached Japan in any way to take soundings about Japan's willingness to provide financial support to another Desert Storm or any other kind of support? If so, what has been Japan's response?

Spokesman Numata: We are making our démarches to the Iraqi Government. We are also engaged in communications through the various available channels as a part of the diplomatic efforts of all those concerned. Such diplomatic efforts do include our close communication with the United States Government. That is with a view to trying to resolve or ease this increasingly tense situation. That is all I can tell you for the moment.

Q: In the scenario in which the United States orders an attack on Iraq, is Japan opposed to the attack or not?

Spokesman Numata: My answer to your question may be somewhat similar to my answer to the previous question in the sense that when we are seriously engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a certain situation from developing, we are not normally in the habit of speculating as to what might happen should those efforts fail. That is an indirect way of saying that while we are fully engaged in these diplomatic efforts, I do not think that it is proper for me to give you an answer concerning a hypothetical situation.
Visit to Japan by the Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China
Q: The Minister of Defense of China begins his visit to Japan today. In regard to China-Taiwan relations, what will Japan convey to the Minister of Defense?

Spokesman Numata: The Chinese National Defense Minister is arriving in Japan this afternoon. He will be leaving Japan on 8 February. In the course of his stay, he will be meeting the Minister of State for Defense, he will be visiting Hyakuri Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, he will be meeting other ministers in the Government of Japan, he will visit Yokosuka Base of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and he will go to the Fuji Training School of the Ground Self-Defense Force. So, he will have an all-around coverage of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He will also visit Kyoto, and then he will be returning on 8 February. It is expected that, in the course of his stay, he will be discussing such questions as defense exchanges and cooperation between Japan and China, the respective defense and security policies of Japan and China, and the situations in the region, which may or may not include Taiwan.
Russian efforts to resolve the situation in Iraq
Q: What does Japan think about the efforts of Russia to resolve the crisis in Iraq?

Spokesman Numata: We are aware of the reports about the visit by the Russian special envoy to Iraq, that is, the visit by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. I am basing this on the reports which are in turn based on the statements by the Russian Presidential Spokesman. Our basic position is that, as I have been trying to describe to you, we will continue to exert as much diplomatic effort as possible, including efforts to persuade Iraq to abide by the relevant Security Council resolutions. It is in that context that Vice Minister Yanai made this dﾃｩmarche yesterday afternoon to the Iraqi ChargJ d'Affaires, emphasizing the need for the Iraqi Government to cooperate fully with UNSCOM. With respect to this particular report about what was discussed between the Russian Special Envoy and President Saddam Hussein of the Republic of Iraq, along with the caveat that we are basing this on the reports, it seems that the Government of Iraq is suggesting acceptance of inspections at eight presidential-related facilities under certain conditions, including, for example, that the people who should comprise the inspection team are not representatives of the United Nations, but people who have been authorized to conduct the inspection by their respective governments. That seems to be different from what has been envisaged by the United Nations. There seems also to be the condition that diplomats of the permanent members of the Security Council have to accompany the inspection team. We do find some problems with this, because the very basis of this inspection, Security Council Resolution 687, Paragraph 8, states that Iraq should unconditionally accept the destruction, removal or rendering harmless under international supervision weapons of mass destruction. Therefore, the idea is unconditional acceptance of the inspections. So, the conditions set forth by Iraq, if the reports are true, do not seem to be in consonance with the Security Council resolution. But at the same time, as I said, we are basing this only on the reports and we do need to look at the Iraqi response in more detail if that is available. So, we shall be studying it carefully.
Japan-Russian Federation fishing agreement
Q: Who will visit Moscow to sign the fishery agreement between Japan and Russian and when will this take place?

Spokesman Numata: The short answer is that I am not in a position to give you the specific timing or who might be going. There are some reports about the developments within the Russian side. But, at this moment, we have as yet to come to a final confirmation of the procedures involved. For that reason, let me, at this point, say that we are still working hard to finalize the arrangements. So at this point, I am not in a position to say exactly when or who will be signing the agreement.
Japan-U.S. aviation talks
Q: Regarding the Japan-U.S. Civil Air Transport Agreement, some people at Japan Airlines have been quoted in the last few days as to expressing dissatisfaction with the agreement. Is there, in fact, a difference in view between the Japanese Government and Japan Airlines about this agreement? Also, how could the Japanese Government characterize an agreement as successful when its largest airline says it is not a good agreement?

Spokesman Numata: I have not had the opportunity to talk with anybody from Japan Airlines (JAL), so I am not personally aware of any sort of grievances on their part. As far as my public statements in this press conference are concerned, we do feel that this is an agreement of very considerable significance which does resolve many of the issues that have been pending for years and years. I say this as someone who was involved in this sort of matter some time ago.

Back to Index