Press Conference by the Press Secretary 19 March, 1999

1. Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 23 to 27 March
2. Contribution by the Government of Japan to the United Nations University for establishment of the Akino Project
3. Visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara of the Syrian Arab Republic from 24 to 26 March
4. View of the Government of Japan on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process
5. Position of the Government of Japan concerning the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people
6. Topics of discussion during the visit of Prime Minister Sultanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Tokyo
7. Response of the Government of Japan to the agreement entered into between North Korea and the United States of America concerning inspection of a suspected North Korean nuclear site

1. Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 23 to 27 March

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Good afternoon. First, I would like to make two statements and one explanation of the visit by Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara of Syria to Japan. Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov of Uzbekistan, accompanied by a suite, including Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Eliyar Ganiyev, and Minister of Energy and Electric Power Valeri Atayev, will visit Japan from Tuesday, 23 March to Saturday, 27 March. Prime Minister Sultanov's itinerary in Japan will include talks with senior government officials and leading figures of economic circles, and attendance at the Fifth Japan-Uzbekistan Joint Economic Conference. This is the fourth time for an Uzbek prime minister to visit Japan (the third was in January 1998), and for Prime Minister Sultanov, it is his third visit. It is expected that Prime Minister Sultanov's forthcoming visit to Japan will further develop relations between Japan and Uzbekistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Uzbekistan Relations)
   
2. Contribution by the Government of Japan to the United Nations University for establishment of the Akino Project

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: Another topic is also related to the Central Asian area. It is concerning the project to be established in the name of Dr. Yutaka Akino, who lost his life in Tajikistan. Today, the Government of Japan donated 100 million yen to the United Nations University (UNU) for its project, the so-called Akino Project, to educate people who will be able to contribute to the international community for world peace and others, in accordance with the will of the late Dr. Akino. With this fund, the UNU will open an Akino Memorial Course as one of its international courses. The UNU will also use the fund for such purposes as assistance for Japanese trainees interested in working as interns for international organizations, for research projects in Eurasia and for the UNU Global Seminars. Apart from this UNU project, the Akino Yutaka Fund, aimed at supporting regional research by Active Researchers on Eurasia such as Dr. Akino himself was, has been established by non-governmental persons who are actively engaging in fundraising. The Akino Project of the UNU, along with future projects of the Akino Yutaka Fund, will carry out the last wishes of Civil Affairs Officer Akino, who wanted to bring up people who could play active roles in the international community.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
   
3. Visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara of the Syrian Arab Republic from 24 to 26 March

   Deputy Press Secretary Masaki Okada: On 16 March, there was an announcement concerning the visit by Foreign Minister Sharah of Syria to Japan. He will visit Japan as an official guest of the Government of Japan from Wednesday, 24 March to Friday, 26 March. During his stay in Japan, Foreign Minister Shara will, among others, pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura and exchange views on bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process, including the South Lebanon issue and the Syrian track, regional affairs and other topics. Foreign Minister Shara visited Japan four times already, including unofficial visits. His latest visit was in 1995. I would like to make some comments regarding this visit by Foreign Minister Shara to Japan. As you might know, Japan enjoys traditionally favorable relations with Syria. The visit by Foreign Minister Shara, who has been in his office since 1984, and President Hafez al-Assad's right hand, certainly contributes to the development of bilateral relations. Japan has been extending economic assistance to Syria in the context of its efforts to promote the Middle East peace process and it intends to take up, during meetings, the issue of Japanese assistance in important areas such as water supply. Syria is also a party to the Middle East peace process and has decisive influence, not only on the Syrian track, but also on the Lebanon track. We therefore find it meaningful to express our strong interest in the Middle East peace process as a whole, including the Syrian track, at this moment when we certainly need to prepare for the development of the peace process after the general election in Israel which will take place in May. When Foreign Minister Koumura visited the Middle East last January, he made a Four Point proposal related to South Lebanon. We want to follow-up this proposal and in this context, will continue to appeal to the Syrian side when Foreign Minister Shara comes to Japan.

   Related Information (Japan-Syria Relations)
   
4. View of the Government of Japan on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process

   Q: Concerning the visit of Foreign Minister Shara, you said there are a lot of important topics to discuss such as the peace process in the Middle East, including the Lebanon track. What is the position of Japan concerning the latest developments in South Lebanon? Israel intends to take more land in the South. What is the position of Japan on the possibility of the Palestinians declaring a Palestinian state on 4 May?

   Mr. Okada: Concerning your first question, we know very well that this situation takes place at a very critical moment. We wish that all the parties concerned will restrain their actions concerning the South Lebanon situation. Concerning the end of the self-government period of the Palestinians, the Government of Japan in principle supports the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, which includes also the establishment of their own state. However, when it comes to the declaration of unilateral establishment of the state, we have been explaining to the Palestinian side to, first of all, continue dialogue with the Israeli side. We hope that they will refrain from making any unilateral declarations. We think this position of Japan is understood by the Palestinian side.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
5. Position of the Government of Japan concerning the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people

   Q: Does Japan not favor the Palestinian declaration of statehood?

   Mr. Okada: We do not think it is very wise to declare the establishment of a state after the expiration of the interim self-government period. However, as I told you, we in principle support the right of self-determination of the Palestinians. The problem is whether it shall be undertaken unilaterally at this moment.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
6. Topics of discussion during the visit of Prime Minister Sultanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Tokyo

   Q: Will some agreements be signed between Japan and Uzbekistan during the visit of Prime Minister Sultanov to Tokyo?

   Mr. Okada: We are now making some preparations for some concrete assistance to Uzbekistan, but it is still premature to tell you the details.

   Related Information (Japan-Uzbekistan Relations)
   
7. Response of the Government of Japan to the agreement entered into between North Korea and the United States of America concerning inspection of a suspected North Korean nuclear site

   Q: North Korea has entered into an agreement with the United States to allow the American side to inspect suspected nuclear sites. Is Japan going to demand to participate in that inspection of the suspected site or not?

   Mr. Okada: First of all, we welcome this agreement between North Korea and the United States. Since last year, the United States and North Korea have had negotiations over the issue of suspected nuclear facilities. Japan especially appreciates the efforts of the United States which led the consultations to the agreement as a result of very strenuous negotiations in close cooperation with Japan and the Republic of Korea. As far as these visits to the suspected sites in North Korea are concerned, I understand that Prime Minister Obuchi explained in the debate in the Diet, that from the viewpoint of asking the Japanese people for understanding of the Government of Japan's cooperation with the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), he thought it would be desirable for Japan to participate in the visits to Kumchangri where possible. Though this means that these visits, first of all, are matters between the United States and North Korea, by his statement we understand that the Prime Minister expressed Japan's resolution to play an active role in the issue of development of nuclear weapons by North Korea.

   Related Information (North Korea's Missile Launch)