Press Conference by the Press Secretary 5 June, 1998

1. Condolences of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi for railway tragedy in the Federal Republic of Germany
2. Delivery of policy speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi entitled "Japan's Active Role Toward the Future of Asia" at the Future of Asia conference
3. Communique announced by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P5) concerning the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
4. Role of Japan in the India-Pakistan situation
5. Purpose of the Emergency Action Forum proposed by the Government of Japan

1. Condolences of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi for railway tragedy in the Federal Republic of Germany

   Before I take your questions, I would like, if I may, to make three announcements. Let me start with the railway tragedy which took place in Northern Germany on 3 June and which has shocked and saddened the whole world. On 4 June, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent a message to Chancellor Helmut Kohl of the Federal Republic of Germany expressing his condolences for the tragedy. Minister for Foreign Affairs Obuchi also sent a message of condolences to his counterpart, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Klaus Kinkel of the Federal Republic of Germany. Foreign Minister Obuchi mentioned in his message that Japan was prepared to give assistance if it is necessary.

2. Delivery of policy speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi entitled "Japan's Active Role Toward the Future of Asia" at the Future of Asia conference

   My second and third announcements concern the nuclear testing by the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Obuchi delivered an address at the Future of Asia conference hosted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun here in Tokyo. The speech, which is titled,"Japan's Active Role Toward the Future of Asia" looks at the key issues and developments in the region and Japan's role in these issues and developments. It may come as no surprise to you that the first issue that Foreign Minister Obuchi discussed in his speech was the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. Let me read out to you the part of the speech in which Foreign Minister Obuchi announced Japan's initiative regarding an Emergency Action Forum on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation: "I believe that the issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation needs to be addressed, not only through discussion among governments, but also by focusing wisdom from all possible realms on this subject. To this end, parallel with forthcoming deliberations among the relevant governments, the Government of Japan will join forces with the Japan Institute of International Affairs and the Hiroshima Peace Institute to establish at the earliest possible date, an Emergency Action Forum on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in which around ten government and private sector experts from around the world will gather for approximately three meetings to be held in Japan with a view toward drafting concrete proposals within a year on ways to further promote nuclear disarmament and maintain and enhance the non-proliferation regime."   We are still in the process of preparing the English translation of the whole speech. We will try to make the translation available to you as soon as possible. As its title suggests, "Japan's Active Role Toward the Future of Asia," it is a very comprehensive speech and addresses other important aspects of the present situation in Asia and I hope you will have the chance to take a look at it.

3. Communique announced by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (P5) concerning the nuclear tests conducted by the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Let me turn to the five permanent member Security Council Meeting (P5) which was held in Geneva in the wee hours of the morning, Tokyo time. I am sure you have read the reports emanating from Geneva on the results of this meeting, but let me go over the salient points of the joint communique issued at the end of the meeting. The P5 members condemned both India and Pakistan for their nuclear testing. They called on India and Pakistan to refrain from the weaponizaion and development of nuclear weapons. The P5 stated that the two countries should make appropriate commitments not to export weapons of mass destruction-related equipment and technology. The P5 also stated that the two countries should adhere to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) immediately and unconditionally. The P5 Foreign Ministers also called upon India and Pakistan to participate in the negotiations for the Fissile Material Cut-off Convention. The communique states that the goal of the P5 continues to be adherence by all countries, including India and Pakistan, to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as it stands and without modification. The communique also states that India and Pakistan do not have the status of nuclear weapons states in accordance with the NPT. The P5 also encourages both countries to find mutually acceptable solutions through dialogue that addresses the root causes of the tensions, including Kashmir. Finally, the communique states that the P5 countries remain determined to fulfill their commitments relating to nuclear disarmament under Article six of the NPT. Those are more or less the salient points of the communique this morning. Before the meeting took place, Japan conveyed its basic position on this issue to the P5 countries.

   I think you are already aware that the basic position of Japan on this matter is that we attach importance to firmly upholding the non-proliferation regime and bringing down tensions in South Asia. We believe that the communique issued by the P5 this morning is in consonance with Japan's position that I have just described to you and that this is a positive outcome.

4. Role of Japan in the India-Pakistan situation

   Q: I would like to ask a question on this Kashmir question. As far as I know the problem has always been there between India and Pakistan. As far as I know, ever since Japan has had diplomatic relations with India, Japan has not taken any active role or position or expressed a view on this Kashmir question Suddenly, yesterday in Foreign Minister Obuchi's speech there was a reference to the need for a solution of the Kashmir question which India considers a totally bilateral issue but which Japan wants to sort of internationalize as an issue. Can you explain Japan's position on this?

   A: I think you are well aware of the Japanese position regarding the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. I will not repeat what has been said again and again in this conference room. We think that there is a need for us to address the underlying causes of the nuclear tests. There is no denying that the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan were conducted against the background of tense relations between the two countries which stem from complicated issues which have a long history and which includes the Kashmir problem. We are gravely concerned that tensions between India and Pakistan have a destabilizing effect in South Asia. Not only that, we are concerned that this might have a negative impact on peace and security in the entire Asia region and even the whole world. That is why we are concerned about the situation. That is exactly the reason why we are discussing this with other United Nations Security Council members and we also intend to discuss this aspect in the upcoming Group of Eight (G8) meeting which is scheduled to be held on 12 June.

   Q: Have you made any direct move to disclose this matter to either the Government of India or the Government of Pakistan?

   A: Are you referring to the Tokyo Conference on Kashmir? The discussions in the international community are still ongoing. As I said, this matter is being discussed among the United Nations Security Council members and we expect it will also be discussed in the London G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. On the basis of these discussions, we will be looking at what role we might be able to play in this. As we do that, we will be bearing in mind the possibility of holding a meeting on Kashmir here in Tokyo. It is still an idea and it is still in its embryonic stage, so to speak.

   Q: Is Japan taking any initiative on the question of Kashmir?

   A: We expect that in London the main areas of focus of the discussion will be, firstly, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. That is the first aspect and secondly, achieving peace in South Asia. Bearing this in mind, we intend to underscore the following points at the meeting at London; firstly to move forward further nuclear disarmament; secondly to reaffirm the need to uphold and bolster the international non-proliferation regime; thirdly to urge India and Pakistan to conclude without conditions the NPT and CTBT; and fourthly to underscore the need for the international community to address this matter with a view to promoting dialogue between India and Pakistan, dialogue which will be designed to reduce tensions between the two countries. Those are the four points that we will be giving special emphasis to in the upcoming meeting of the G8.

   Q: This represents a major change in Japan's approach to the questions in South Asia. Can we take this story mean it reflects Japan's desire to play a major international role in this?

   A: We believe that the testing conducted by India and then by Pakistan has heightened tensions in the area and not only that, has put at risk the international non-proliferation regime. This is a matter of great concern to us. We believe that it is a matter of great importance that Japan, in concert with other members of the international community, address this matter, which as I have repeatedly said, has grave implications, not only for the subcontinent, but for the entire Asian region and even the whole world. That is why we have been taking the position that we have been taking. As I said, we will be taking into consideration the outcome of the ongoing discussions of the United Nations Security Council and the also the meeting in London next week. We will be considering what role we might be able to play.

   Q: There is a possibility that both India and Pakistan might desire non-interference from other countries because it is a purely bilateral issue. Do you have any comments to make on that?

   A: The positions of the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan differ somewhat on the role of the international community in this issue. What Japan seeks to do, and I think the feeling is shared by most other members of the international community and surely by the P5, is to show the importance of addressing the underlying causes of the tensions between the two countries. Therefore, we think that it is very important that the international community addresses this issue and plays a useful role in bringing down tensions in South Asia. That is the objective.

5. Purpose of the Emergency Action Forum proposed by the Government of Japan

   Q: That this Emergency Action Forum should be convened at the earliest possible date, is that just because of concerns about developments between India and Pakistan or is there concern of another country conducting tests?

   A: The objective of this conference is to address the issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in general. We have yet to work on the detailed agenda of these meetings but this will be a comprehensive exercise designed to come up with proposals to further promote nuclear disarmament and to maintain and enhance the non-proliferation regime. It will address all the key issues in this area.

   Q: Since the call is for the Emergency Action Forum to be held at the earliest possible date, it seems that timing is very important. It is not just the general problem that has been going on for a long time.

   A: The nuclear tests by India and Pakistan are something new and the tests have brought about changes in the landscape, changes which Japan and other members of the international community are extremely concerned about. So there is an element of urgency in holding these meetings.

   Q: The urgency is because the NPT is potentially in jeopardy or is it just the India-Pakistan situation?

   A: Let me put it this way. We are extremely concerned that the tests conducted by India and Pakistan may undermine the international non-proliferation regime.

   Q: I wondered whether the reason for the urgency is not just this recent situation between those two particular countries but that that situation has now created a new situation for the NPT and that as a result there may be another country, now that the NPT may appear to be weak, that may think that is the time to go ahead with its own tests.

   A: There is great concern that the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan may undermine the NPT regime. What we need to do now is to keep that from happening. We need to firmly uphold the non-proliferation regime and consider ways to further bolster that regime. Although I am unaware of any country planning to follow the examples of India and Pakistan, I think we need to devise ways to keep that from happening.

   Q: There is no specific concern about another country?

   A: No country in the world has declared that they will be following suit. We do believe that there is a need to further strengthen the non-proliferation regime in order to keep that from happening.