Press Conference by the Press Secretary February 10, 1998
- Press conference announcements
- Diplomatic efforts in regard to the situation in the Republic of Iraq
- Choice of a venue for the visit to Japan by President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation
- Japan Special Economic Mission to East Asian countries
- Discussions regarding the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Chernomyrdin of the Russian Federation
- Japan-Russian Federation Fisheries Framework Agreement
- Press conference announcements
- Visit to Japan by newly-elected Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sadaaki Numata: Newly-elected Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand and Mr. Burton Shipley will pay an official visit to Japan from 8-11 March. I would like to touch on the significance of this visit. Prime Minister Shipley will be meeting Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Monday, 9 March. We consider this visit to be highly significant in several respects. Firstly, this is the first official visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister in 22 years; there has been a 22-year interval since then-Prime Minister Robert Muldoon made an official visit to Japan in 1976. There have been informal visits in-between, including the recent visit by Prime Minister Hashimoto to New Zealand in April of last year. We are very happy to have this opportunity of officially welcoming this new Prime Minister. Not only is this the first official visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister in 22 years, but this is the first full-fledged official visit overseas by the new New Zealand Prime Minister. She will be making a brief visit to Australia from 19-20 February. But, in terms of a full-fledged official visit, this is the first such visit by her. We feel that the fact that Japan has been chosen as the country for her first visit of this kind indicates the closeness of the relationship between Japan and New Zealand, and also indicates the importance that the New Zealand Government under the new Prime Minister attaches to Asia in general, and Japan in particular. Thirdly, this will provide a very valuable opportunity for our two leaders to reaffirm the flourishing partnership between Japan and New Zealand, a partnership which comprises a mutually complimentary trade relationship, as well as governmental exchanges at various levels, sister-city exchanges and other people-to-people exchanges. We also share a lot of interests and concerns in common with respect to a number of regional and global issues. Fourthly, this visit will provide a very important opportunity for giving New Zealand a higher profile in Japan. New Zealand is considered favorably by the Japanese people, but at the same time, it is a fact that we consider New Zealand to be a bit far geographically. Perhaps this visit will provide a very good opportunity for the Japanese people to feel closer to New Zealand, which they often cite as one of the countries that they would most like to visit. Raising the profile of New Zealand would, among other things, be helped by the fact that this is a lady Prime Minister that is visiting from a country where women's voting rights were instituted for the first time in the world, i.e., in 1893.
- Visit to Japan by U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson
Spokesman Numata: The United States has decided to dispatch to Japan U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson to consult with the Government of Japan on the situation in the Republic of Iraq. The exact schedule is being coordinated; he is expected to come to Japan in the latter part of this week. In the course of his visit, he is expected to talk with Prime Minister Hashimoto and also with Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi. After Ambassador Richardson visits Japan, he is expected to go on to the People's Republic of China.
- Visit to Japan by newly-elected Prime Minister Jenny Shipley of New Zealand
- Diplomatic efforts in regard to the situation in the Republic of Iraq
Q: What will Japan tell Ambassador Richardson regarding Japan's position on the situation in Iraq?
Spokesman Numata: There have been exchanges between the Government of Japan and the U.S. Government on the situation in Iraq. There was, for example, an exchange of letters between Prime Minister Hashimoto and President William Clinton of the United States of America. President Clinton sent a letter to Prime Minister Hashimoto on 4 February, describing the seriousness of the situation in Iraq. President Clinton also expressed his appreciation for the diplomatic effort made by the Government of Japan, in order to force President Saddam Hussein of the Republic of Iraq to accept full and unfettered access to all of the sites by the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) inspectors. The U.S. President also mentioned that the U.S. Government cannot rule out any possible measures to make President Hussein comply with the relevant Security Council Resolutions. Prime Minister Hashimoto sent a reply to President Clinton, which was transmitted to the U.S. Government on 6 February, describing Iraq's current response on this issue as a challenge to the international community, especially to the United Nations. He also said that in order to resolve this problem, it is essential that Iraq accept the UNSCOM inspectors unconditionally. He also said that we need to make all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and Japan greatly appreciates the strenuous diplomatic efforts made by the United States. Last Friday, there was a telephone exchange between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America. During this exchange, Foreign Minister Obuchi expressed his appreciation for the intensive and energetic diplomatic efforts by Secretary Albright. He also expressed Japan's full support for the diplomatic efforts by the United States, and the intention of the Government of Japan to work closely with the U.S. Government. He said that it is necessary for Iraq to immediately accept the UNSCOM inspections without conditions. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts for a diplomatic solution. Furthermore, he mentioned that Japan is also working very hard as a part of an effort by the international community, and he referred to the fact that there is a high degree of concern in Japan over the Olympic Truce Resolution. This exchange took place the day before the Nagano Olympics commenced. In response, Secretary Albright mentioned the appreciation on the part of the United States for the support expressed by Japan, and she expressed the wish on the part of the United States to continue to consult closely with Japan on Iraq. She also said that her preference would be for a diplomatic solution to be obtained on this question. Lastly, she said that she was aware of the concern on the part of Japan about the Olympics. I mention all of this because the visit by Ambassador Richardson is not happening in a vacuum, but it is happening as a continuation of the sort of exchanges that I have outlined and that have been taking place between the Government of Japan and the U.S. Government. We do feel that this visit by Ambassador Richardson will provide an important opportunity for us to engage in a further in-depth exchange of views with the U.S. Government.
Q: You mentioned that, in his meeting with Secretary of State Albright, Foreign Minister Obuchi expressed Japan's wish that the United States respect the Olympic Truce Resolution. Will Japan support the use of force in Iraq prior to the end of the Nagano Olympics as a last resort?
Spokesman Numata: It is clear from what I have outlined that Japan, the United States and many other countries concerned are seriously engaged in diplomatic efforts to try and bring about a peaceful solution to the problem. The visit by Ambassador Richardson is taking place in the context of all of these intensive diplomatic efforts. While these intensive diplomatic efforts are going on, I do not believe that we should comment further on what might or might not happen in the hypothetical situation of the actual use of force.
Q: Were there any requests by the U.S. Government to Japan to support a possible U.S. military strike financially or otherwise?
Spokesman Numata: We continue to engage in intensive diplomatic efforts. Ambassador Richardson's visit is taking place in that context. We expect to have further in-depth exchanges of views with the U.S. Government. Beyond that, I do not believe that I should speculate on possible scenarios or responses under a hypothetical situation.
- Choice of a venue for the visit to Japan by President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation
Q: There have been press reports on the venue of the upcoming diplomatic summit in April, suggesting that the Government of Japan decided to give the Russian side the opportunity to choose between the two possible places. Can you please comment on this?
Spokesman Numata: The choice of a venue for the visit to Japan by President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation is a matter of considerable importance. It is a matter of considerable personal importance to Prime Minister Hashimoto, because he wishes that President Yeltsin will have a relaxing and fruitful visit in Japan, echoing the sort of atmosphere that was prevalent at the time of the Krasnoyarsk Meeting. So, under personal instructions from Prime Minister Hashimoto, we have been closely studying the question of the possible venue for this visit. As a result of this study, we have communicated to the Russian side that there are two candidate sites for the visit. One site is in Kashikojima, which is in Shima, near Ise in Mie Prefecture. The other site is Kawana, in Shizuoka Prefecture. The choice is up to the Russian side and President Yeltsin. We hope that we will be able to choose the place for the visit when Foreign Minister Obuchi has an opportunity to discuss this with the Russian side when he goes to Moscow; however, the date for the Foreign Minister's visit is not finalized yet.
- Japan Special Economic Mission to East Asian countries
Q: Could you give some details about the Special Economic Mission to East Asian countries?
Spokesman Numata: There is a mission consisting of former Vice-Minister for International Affairs Tadao Chino of the Ministry of Finance, individuals from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and possibly an individual from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Mission will visit Indonesia and Singapore. The visit to Indonesia will be from 11 February. The purpose of the visit is to study the situation in Indonesia and to study the facts. Furthermore, the Mission will engage in exchanges of views with the Indonesian authorities to learn more about reform in the monetary sector that Indonesia is pushing forward, and to examine the difficulties that Indonesia is facing with respect to its exports and imports. The visit is really for these exchanges of views. When the Mission returns, it will give a lot of thought to what the members have learned, and it will be thinking about what could be contemplated in the future.
Q: Who decided on this Mission? Was it the Prime Minister's Office? Lastly, to whom will this Mission report their results?
Spokesman Numata: This is a Mission comprising three different ministries of the Government of Japan. I also noted that former Vice-Minister Chino paid a visit to the Prime Minister's Office on 6 February, so the Mission is in touch with the Prime Minister's Office. This is really with a view to exploring what Japan may possibly be able to do to help Indonesia to overcome the current difficulties and, for that purpose, to study the situation at hand.
Q: So, does this mean that the final results of this Mission will be reported to the Prime Minister's Office directly?
Spokesman Numata: I do not know whether or not I should characterize it in such a formal sense, but there will be three ministries involved. The Prime Minister's Office also appraises the fact of the Mission going out. I expect that when the Mission comes back, there will be appropriate attention given to the report within the Government of Japan.
Q: Does this mean that the results of the Mission will be somewhat of additional information for the preparation of Japan for the G-7 Meeting in London?
Spokesman Numata: That is possible, but this is something which is taking place in the context of Japan's interest in what is happening in Indonesia. Our desire is to help Indonesia extricate itself out of its present difficulties in the context of, for example, providing our own contribution to Indonesia's financial difficulties, together with other countries, as well as in the context of our pledge to provide a total of 70 billion yen in quick dispersing yen loans to help the poor and the socially disadvantaged in Indonesia, as well as assisting Indonesia's human resources development.
Q: Do you think that the Mission will also study private sector views?
Spokesman Numata: The Mission will be exchanging views and studying the situation at hand in Indonesia. There are some ideas being floated in the private sector about all of this. That may form a factor in the study. But, it would not be correct to say that the Government of Japan has reached any kind of decision on this sort of issue.
- Discussions regarding the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Chernomyrdin of the Russian Federation
Q: There was a press report in one of the morning newspapers, suggesting that the Government of Japan and the Government of Russia have reached a kind of principal agreement in connection with the forthcoming visit by Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, and that this meeting is going to happen sometime in May. Can you confirm this?
Spokesman Numata: It is a bit too early to confirm. I did see the report and I checked it. The question of the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin of the Russian Federation has been under discussion between our two Governments, and it continues to be under discussion. It is not correct to say that we have reached any kind of decision, because the invitation from Japan for Prime Minister Chernomyrdin to visit Japan has been extended for quite some time. When Foreign Minister Obuchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgenii Maksimovich Primakov had their regular consultation in November of last year, they agreed to continue to coordinate their respective schedules with a view to realizing this visit. We expect that this invitation will be discussed with the Russian side when Foreign Minister Obuchi goes to Russia in the course of this month. However, there has been no decision yet.
- Japan-Russian Federation fisheries framework agreement
Q: Has there been any kind of decision concerning the date of signing of the Japan-Russian Federation Fishing Agreement concerning fishing operations near the Northern Islands or Southern Kurils?
Spokesman Numata: The actual date of the signing of the Fisheries Framework Agreement will be decided when the Russian internal procedure has been finalized; and we have not come to that point yet.
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