Press Conference by the Press Secretary 14 July, 1998

1. Announcement regarding the cancellations of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's trips to the French Republic and the United States of America and of Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi's trip to the People's Republic of China
2. Announcement regarding the visit to Japan of Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko of the Russian Federation
3. Farewell statement by Deputy Press Secretary Ken Shimanouchi
4. Discussion between Prime Minister Kiriyenko of the Russian Federation and Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi concerning nuclear non-proliferation issues
5. Possible implications of recent events in domestic affairs on the foreign affairs of Japan
6. Discussion between Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko regarding the peace treaty between Japan and the Russian Federation
7. Update on the status of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) Council meeting
8. Foreign policy during the tenure of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto

1. Announcement regarding the cancellations of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's trips to the French Republic and the United States of America and of Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi's trip to the People's Republic of China

   Deputy Press Secretary Ken Shimanouchi: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have a number of comments and announcements to make before I take your questions. I believe that you have been following very closely the political developments in Japan since Sunday. Let me go over the developments that are directly related to the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   As you know, yesterday Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto announced that he had no choice but to cancel his scheduled visits to the French Republic and the United States of America. Prime Minister Hashimoto explained the reason for his decision over the phone to President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic yesterday and to President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America earlier today. This morning, Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi announced that he had canceled his trip to the People's Republic of China, which was scheduled to start tomorrow and that he had explained the circumstances that led to his decision to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China last night.

2. Announcement regarding the visit to Japan of Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko of the Russian Federation

   Deputy Press Secretary Shimanouchi: My second announcement concerns the visit to Japan of Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko of the Russian Federation. Prime Minister Kiriyenko arrived in Japan yesterday and had a meeting with Foreign Minister Obuchi which lasted for about an hour. Later in the afternoon, he had a meeting with Prime Minister Hashimoto, which also lasted for about an hour. His meeting with Prime Minister Hashimoto was followed by a dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister.

   Let me go over some of the salient points of his meetings with Prime Minister Hashimoto and Foreign Minister Obuchi. The outcome of his visit is summarized in a joint press release which was made available to the press earlier today. We are still working on the English translation and will try to make it available to you as soon as possible. If you are interested in the Japanese text, please let us know. We will be very glad to provide you with copies.

   Let me start with Prime Minister Kiriyenko's meeting with Prime Minister Hashimoto. First of all, they discussed the development of the overall ties between Japan and Russia. In this context, both Prime Ministers agreed that the change in the Japanese Government will not affect the relations between the two countries. They also talked about the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) support to Russia. And on this subject, Prime Minister Hashimoto told Prime Minister Kiriyenko that he had instructed the Japanese Governor to the IMF to support the views of the Government of Russia in the IMF meetings. They also talked about bilateral economic relations, in particular, the implementation of the Hashimoto-Yeltsin Plan. In this context they talked about the cooperation between the two countries in the Asia-Pacific region; they talked about the promotion of Japanese investment in Russia. After the meeting between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Prime Minister Kiriyenko, the two sides signed a Memorandum regarding the Investment Protection Agreement with respect to which there has been substantial agreement between the two Governments. They also talked about Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

   Let me now turn to Prime Minister Kiriyenko's meeting with Foreign Minister Obuchi. They discussed many of the subjects that were taken up in the meeting between the two Prime Ministers, that is Prime Minister Hashimoto and Prime Kiriyenko. They also discussed the ongoing negotiations for a peace treaty between the two countries. On this subject, Foreign Minister Obuchi referred to the agreement reached by the leaders of the two countries in Krasnoyarsk to make utmost efforts to conclude a peace treaty by the year 2000, on the basis of the Tokyo Declaration. He also mentioned the fact that at their meeting in Kawana, more recently, that the top leaders of the two countries agreed to make substantive progress on a peace treaty, in line with the Krasnoyarsk Agreement and to accelerate the work to this end. Foreign Minister Obuchi said that Japan would like to make further efforts to move forward the negotiations for a peace treaty. In response to this, Prime Minister Kiriyenko said that he supported the efforts to conclude a peace treaty by the year 2000. He also said that the Government of Russia upheld the Tokyo Declaration, and that it would continue to act in accordance with the principles set forth in the Tokyo Declaration. They also discussed the question of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

3. Farewell statement by Deputy Press Secretary Ken Shimanouchi

   Deputy Press Secretary Shimanouchi: Now let me turn to my third and last announcement, which is about myself. This will be my very last press briefing as Deputy Press Secretary. A little over a year ago, I believe it was in May 1997, I made a similar announcement in this same room, in which I told my friends that I was being transferred to another post and how much I was going to miss my friends in the foreign press corps here in Tokyo. Much to my surprise, I was asked to return to this job ten months later -- that is in March of this year. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my second stint here as Deputy Press Secretary, I must say that I did feel a little bit of awkwardness after having made such long and emotional speech here in this room just a year ago. So today, I am going to say very little. I would like to thank you for all your help, for all your cooperation and your friendship, and that I hope to see you again soon, here in Tokyo or elsewhere. Thank you.

4. Discussion between Prime Minister Kiriyenko of the Russian Federation and Minister for Foreign Affairs Keizo Obuchi concerning nuclear non-proliferation issues

   Q: First of all, Mr. Shimanouchi, thank you very much for your two tours of duty as Deputy Press Secretary. Now I have my question. You mentioned that Mr. Kiriyenko and Mr. Obuchi discussed the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Could you elaborate?

   A: Sure, I would be very glad to do that. On the subject, Foreign Minister Obuchi referred to the Group of Eight (G8) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in London the other day, in which Foreign Minister Yevgenii Primakov of the Russian Federation participated. He referred to the common position of the G8 countries which was worked out in the meeting and he said that he would like to continue close consultation and cooperation with Russia on this subject. In the same context, he also expressed his hope that Russia would continue to make efforts for nuclear disarmament, including the ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) II as soon as possible. In response to this, Prime Minister Kiriyenko stated that Russia was supportive of the decision by the G8. He said that the Government of Russia was concerned by the situation in this part of the world, that is, South Asia, and that the Government of Russia was calling on both India and Pakistan to accede to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) without conditions. That is more or less what was discussed between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Prime Minister Kiriyenko.

   Q: Mr. Obuchi did not refer to reported Russian nuclear exports to Iran?

   A: My readout does mention that subject. It was a one hour meeting in which they had to cover a lot of ground. I do not know if the two leaders had the time to touch upon that subject.

5. Possible implications of recent events in domestic affairs on the foreign affairs of Japan

   Q: What is the impact of the resignation of Mr. Hashimoto on the diplomacy of Japan? For example, the relationship between Japan and Russia, will the relationship continue as it has been?

   A: Are you referring specifically to the relations between Japan and Russia, or to Japan's relations with the world in general?

   Q: In general, yes.

   A: Well, of course we cannot say that recent developments have not had any impact on Japan's diplomatic activities. As I told you at the outset of this briefing, Japan has had to cancel Prime Minister Hashimoto's visit to France and the United States. And the Foreign Minister has had to cancel his visit to China. But we believe that this is the type of thing that happens from time to time, not only in Japan, but elsewhere in the world; that is to say, developments on the domestic front sometimes do affect a country's diplomatic activities. With regard to our foreign policy in general, in the area of diplomacy, continuity is the name of the game. So, it is our intention, in the case of Russia, to build on the efforts that have been made by Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation in order to develop the ties further. With respect to the United States, we have a very strong alliance based on the Japan-United States Security Arrangements. We do not think that one canceled visit would have any effect on this very strong relationship. The same can be said for France. We do not believe that the cancellation of the visit will have any effect on the relations between Japan and France, which have grown closer and closer in recent years. And let me now turn to China. As you know, this year is the 20th anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace and Friendship Treaty between the two countries. This autumn, President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China is scheduled to visit Japan. Relations between the two countries are developing very smoothly, so we do not think that the developments of the past few days will have any negative impact on the relations between the two countries.

   Q: Some media sources are pointing to Mr. Obuchi as the successor after Prime Minister Hashimoto resigns. Do you have some comment on this?

   A: Absolutely no comment on that. This is one of the Japanese media's favorite subjects, perhaps it is also a subject which is of great interest to the foreign media; that is understandable. And the media here in Tokyo and elsewhere are having a field day. I suggest you take a good look at the Japanese newspapers.

   Q: As I understand it, part of Mr. Obuchi's purpose in going to China was to prepare for the visit of President Ziang? Now that the trip is canceled or postponed, does work go on at the working-level, or is everything basically on hold until the peripheral situation settles down and the next Foreign Minister can go?

   A: I think it is a little premature for me to tell you what exactly we will be doing in the days to come, because the decision to cancel his visit was only made -- how many hours ago? -- only yesterday. As I said, we do attach great importance to our ties with China and this year is a very important year in the history of the bilateral relationship. As I mentioned, this is the 20th anniversary of the conclusion of the Peace and Friendship Treaty between the two countries. President Ziang's visit to Japan will be the centerpiece of the high-level exchanges between the two countries, scheduled for this year. We believe that the visit will definitely take place and we will be making preparations for that visit.

   Q: About the visits and cancellations, I read in some newspaper that Director-General Fumio Kyuma of the Self-Defense Agency has canceled his trip to Hawaii to attend a military exercise. Does this mean any change?

   A: Well, since your question is a question regarding the schedule of the Minister of another government agency, I think it would be better for you to approach that Agency directly. I have read about the cancellation of his visit to the United States in the newspapers and I do not know anything beyond that.

6. Discussion between Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi and Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko regarding the peace treaty between Japan and the Russian Federation

   Q: Concerning Mr. Kiriyenko's visit, did he discuss with Japanese leaders the fate of the northern territories and in Japan's view, what is the Russian position regarding these islands? Do you expect Russia to return these islands by the year 2000?

   A: The question of concluding a peace treaty was discussed between Foreign Minister Obuchi and Prime Minister Kiriyenko. I think you were here when I gave you the readout of that part of the meeting. So the answer to your question is, yes, the conclusion of the peace treaty between the two contries was discused in the meeting with Foreign Minister Obuchi. And with regard to the specific question of the northern territories -- as you know, Prime Minister Hashimoto made a specific proposal in Kawana, the contents of which I cannot discuss here, and the Russian side has told us that they will have a response to that proposal at the time of the Prime Minister's visit to Russia. So, that is where we are right now. Of course, we will have a new Prime Minister in a few weeks. I do not know exactly when, but shortly we will have a new Prime Minister, and perhaps we will have to discuss the timing of the visit of the Prime Minister to Russia, but we think this visit will be a very important visit and it is certainly our hope that it will happen, as scheduled, this autumn.

7. Update on the status of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) Council meeting

   Q: Could you update us on the Council meeting of KEDO which I understand started yesterday?

   A: I have to apologize to you. I told you on Friday that it was going to start on 13 July, that is Monday, but it did not start on 13 July, as originally scheduled. It turned out that some Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) members had some scheduling problems and internal discussions were still going on in some KEDO member countries. So the meeting did not start on 13 July as scheduled. We are discussing the schedule of the Ambassadors' meeting with a view to holding this meeing as soon as possible.

   Q: Would you say that this delay, or rescheduling, may cause a loss of momentum in reaching consensus, which you emphasized Friday?

   A: I do not think so. Intensive discussions are being held in preparation for the Ambassadorial meeting and we think that the momentum is still there. As I said, we were not able to start the meeting yesterday because of scheduling problems and because of internal discussions in some KEDO member countries.

8. Foreign policy during the tenure of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto

   Q: May I ask you if you can comment about the concept of Mr. Hashimoto's foreign policy -- how can you define his foreign policy during his tenure?

   A: Well, you know that is a very difficult question to answer in just two or three words. I suggest that you go over, take a good look at, some of the policy speeches he has made as Prime Minister. He has made policy statements at the beginning of each Session of the Diet, which will give you a good idea of where Japan's priorities are; what his thinking is. He has made country-specific policy speeches. I think he made a speech on Japan's ties with Russia and also with China. So I think that would give you a very good idea of what his basic approach to foreign affairs is. I am tempted to answer your question directly, but I think it is too broad a subject for me to answer here, without preparing my statement thoroughly.