Press Conference by the Press Secretary February 13, 1998

Press conference announcements
1. Exchange of greetings between President Boris Yelstin of the Russian Federation and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
  Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sadaaki Numata: There has been an exchange of greetings between President Boris Yelstin of the Russian Federation and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Prime Minister Hashimoto sent a congratulatory message to President Yeltsin on his birthday. In the exchange of greetings, they looked forward to the forthcoming meeting in April and expressed a hope for further progress in Japan-Russian Federation relations.
2. Reeducation of retired Russian Federation military personnel
  Spokesman Numata: On 22 September 1997, in Moscow, Ambassador Takehiro Togo and Deputy Minister of Defense Vladimir Toporov of the Russian Federation signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the Japanese support for the reeducation of Russian military personnel who will be retiring or have retired from active military service in the Russian Far East. This memorandum is designed to help them seek alternative careers in the private sector. This is also designed in part to facilitate the withdrawal of the Russian Military Forces in the four islands. The first of these reeducation seminars is taking place for about two weeks, starting on 23 February, at the Japan Center in Vladivostok. There will be about 40 retired Russian military personnel participating in the symposium -- people who have been serving in the Russian Far East, including two military personnel who have retired from military service in Shikotan and Etorofu. They are to undergo training and seminars in the area of sales and servicing of automobiles. I should also mention that there is an element of third country cooperation, which is cooperation between Japan and the United Kingdom. In this sense, more than half of the 40 participants in this seminar have received lectures and other training sponsored by the United Kingdom at the Vladivostok Far East Institute of Technology. This is something that we have been discussing with the United Kingdom as an area where we can combine our expertise and wisdom; and this is one such example.
3. Recent developments regarding the situation in the Republic of Iraq
  Spokesman Numata: Concerning the recent situation in Iraq, yesterday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi had three exchanges, including a telephone conversation. Firstly, he called in ChargJ d'Affaires Muhsin Miro Ali of the Republic of Iraq yesterday afternoon and he expressed Japan's very serious concern about the situation surrounding Iraq. He emphasized the necessity for Iraq to accept the inspections by UNSCOM with respect to all the facilities, including the presidential sites without condition. Foreign Minister Obuchi said that this is a matter of shared concern for the international community, and as such, he asked Iraq to accept the gravity of our concern. In so doing, the Foreign Minister said that if Iraq is to think seriously about its future, then this is the time for Iraq to make a courageous decision. In response, ChargJ d'Affaires Muhsin Miro Ali referred to the exchanges that had been taking place between Iraq and Russia, and also said that he would convey the dJmarche from Foreign Minister Obuchi to his home country. Foreign Minister Obuchi reiterated our serious concern, and also said that Japan is deeply sympathetic to the people of Iraq for the distress in which they find themselves. He also expressed the hope that Iraq would be able to return to the international community at the earliest possible opportunity. The second dJmarche was made to Ambassador to Japan in Tokyo Xu Dunxin of the People's Republic of China. Foreign Minister Obuchi explained Japan's position that the best alternative is to seek a diplomatic solution. He also stated that, for the situation to be resolved, it is necessary to ensure that Iraq accepts the relevant UN Security Council resolutions in total and that it implements them without condition. In response, the Chinese Ambassador, stated the two basic positions of China. Firstly, Iraq should accept the relevant UN resolutions fully and accept UNSCOM inspections and work together with UNSCOM. Secondly, this is a problem to be resolved through diplomatic efforts. For that, the efforts by the United Nations and other countries concerned are important. He also said that use of force would not lead to a solution of the problem and would only complicate the situation. Foreign Minister Obuchi, in turn, stated that Japan would like to work together with China toward a diplomatic solution to the problem through various channels such as efforts within the UN Security Council. The third exchange was between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evgenii Maksimovich Primakov of the Russian Federation. In fact, yesterday in the early evening, Foreign Minister Obuchi received a call from Foreign Minister Primakov. In this conversation, they expressed mutual appreciation for the diplomatic efforts being engaged by the other. In that context, Foreign Minister Primakov, in expressing his appreciation for Japan's efforts, said that the possible effects of a possible use of force should also be considered, because the use of force might lead to a further stagnation of the Middle East peace process, might unite the Arab countries in opposition, and might have negative effects within Russia, as well. He also said that, at the same time, Iraq should eliminate weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, and also that the international community should make Iraq realize the necessity of implementing the UN Security Council resolutions. Russia is currently engaged in an effort to see that Iraq accepts the inspections of its facilities, including the presidential sites. Foreign Minister Obuchi, in expressing appreciation for Russia's diplomatic efforts, reiterated that the fundamental cause of the crisis lies in the failure by Iraq to implement the UN Security Council resolutions. Therefore, Iraq should immediately accept UNSCOM inspections without condition. Japan feels that easy compromises are not desirable, and it feels that a solution that might debase the authority of UNSCOM would not be acceptable. Foreign Minister Primakov expressed his agreement in principle to the view put forward by Foreign Minister Obuchi. After these exchanges, the two ministers agreed to work closely together in various places, including in New York. Let me add that U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson is in town. Ambassador Richardson made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hashimoto this morning, and he will be meeting Foreign Minister Obuchi this afternoon.
Visit to Japan by U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson
Q: Will Ambassador Richardson be carrying a certain message to the Government of Japan.

Spokesman Numata: The meetings are still taking place throughout the day. Earlier today, Ambassador Richardson made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hashimoto. Very substantive exchanges will be taking place between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Ambassador Richardson later this afternoon. Therefore, it is a bit premature at this point to say what messages may be being carried by Ambassador Richardson.
Situation in the Republic of Iraq
Q: Reading one local Japanese newspaper this morning, Japan's major concern over U.S. plans to bomb Iraq is what happens afterwards, for example, with the Middle East peace process, with efforts by the United Nations to mediate Iraq's return to the international community, and so on. Would it be fair to say that Japan's main concern is what would happen after the attack, and will this play a role in the talks today with Ambassador Richardson?

Spokesman Numata: If you ask me what Japan's main concern is at the moment, I would say that it is to engage in very serious diplomatic efforts with the United States and other concerned and like-minded countries, to try and avert a situation which might be explosive. With that in mind, we are engaged in diplomatic efforts, dJmarches and communications on all fronts, as I described earlier. We are also concerned about this present situation where there seems to be a challenge to the international community on the part of Iraq, in the sense of failing to implement UN Security Council resolutions. There is one very important UN Security Council resolution in that sense, which is Security Council Resolution 678. This resolution laid out the terms and conditions for the cessation of hostilities after the Gulf Conflict, in which Iraq undertook to destroy all its weapons of mass destruction, the production of facilities thereof, and to accept inspections by UNSCOM without condition. That is what we are up against. In trying to think about how to best resolve this situation, perhaps there is some consideration about what may be happening afterwards that may enter the equation. But as far as our immediate main concern is concerned, it is to try and resolve this situation and to engage in maximum diplomatic efforts.

Q: What is Japan's position on the use of force as a last resort after diplomatic efforts fail?

Spokesman Numata: We diplomats, when we are being engaged in diplomatic efforts, do not normally engage in the exercise of talking about what might happen if the last resort were to be taken.

Q: Apparently, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook of the United Kingdom said that Japan is co-sponsoring a UN resolution aimed at criticizing Iraq. Do you have any confirmation or any details on that?

Spokesman Numata: It is difficult to talk about the details of that, because there are moves afoot around the UN Security Council in which the United Kingdom is playing a part. There are other nations also involved in the effort. This is with a view to trying to bring about a diplomatic solution to the problem. The United Kingdom and the other permanent five countries, as well as Japan and other non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are in very close contact. The best way to describe the situation is to say that ongoing efforts are efforts being made under the surface. And for the moment, I think that these efforts will have to remain under the surface; and I am not at liberty to comment on the details.
Olympic Truce Resolution
Q: Is Japan asking the United States to delay any military action until after the Olympics?

Spokesman Numata: We have been in close communication with the United States on the whole question of Iraq. We have been in communication about the state of various concerns on the part of Japan, which include the fact that the Nagano Olympics is now taking place and the fact of the existence of the Olympic Truce Resolution passed by the United Nations, of which the United States is also a co-sponsor. So, we have drawn attention to the existence of that resolution and to the fact there is concern about this in Japan. I think that is the best way to describe the exchanges that have taken place.

Q: In recent days, there seems to be a lot less mention in the press about the Olympic Truce Resolution. I am wondering if this is because it is becoming clearer and clearer that the United States is not going to launch any attack until some time after the Olympic games have finished.

Spokesman Numata: I have had a fair exposure to the media, but I am not quite sure if I should present myself as an instant expert on media analysis. I might also mention that, as far as the Olympics are concerned, there are many other events that have been catching the headlines. But as far as this particular resolution is concerned, we have pointed out to the U.S. side that this resolution exists and that there is considerable concern on the part of the Japanese public in connection with the Olympic Truce Resolution.
Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation regarding situations in areas surrounding Japan
Q: Would the new Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation involve Japan in any way for providing material support for a U.S. action in the Gulf?

Spokesman Numata: If your question is whether the situation that is now evolving around Iraq would fall under "situations in areas surrounding Japan" which have a serious impact on Japan's peace and security -- That concept -- "situations in areas surrounding Japan" -- is not a geographical concept but a situational concept. As such, whether or not a particular situation would fall under that category would be determined on the basis of all the circumstances that exist. Having said this, we do not feel that the situation that now exists in Iraq would come under that category. Therefore, if you mean your question in that sense, then I would say that this is not a situation under which Japan would provide material support for a U.S. action in the Gulf. But, I am saying this only in the context of the newly-revised Japan-U.S. Guidelines for Defense Cooperation.

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