Press Conference by the Press Secretary 11 May, 1999

1. Visit to Japan by President Andrés Pastrana Arango of the Republic of Colombia from 10 to 13 May
2. Response of Japan to the situation in Kosovo
3. Itinerary of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi for his visit to Europe to attend the Group of Eight (G8) Summit
4. Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Kuwait by Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano from 29 April to 6 May
5. Visit to Central Asia by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura
6. Diplomatic representation of Japan in the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

1. Visit to Japan by President Andrés Pastrana Arango of the Republic of Colombia from 10 to 13 May

   Press Secretary Sadaaki Numata: Good afternoon. I would like to refer briefly to the visit to Japan of President Andrés Pastrana Arango of the Republic of Colombia. President Pastrana and Mrs. Pastrana are visiting Japan on an official working visit. In fact they are already in Japan and will be staying from 10 to 13 May. Today, for example, I think President Pastrana opened the Colombian fair and I think he is giving a lecture at the United Nations University. His meeting with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and the working dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Obuchi will take place tomorrow. They will be making a State call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan on Thursday, 13 May. There will be a Court luncheon at the Imperial Palace as well. We attach importance to Colombia as a democratic nation in Latin America and also for its rich resources, including coffee, if you like coffee that is. We also appreciate Colombia's Pacific orientation. The Colombian Government under President Pastrana has been emphasizing its relationship with the Asia-Pacific countries. It has a strong desire to join Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The Colombian Government under President Pastrana is also tackling seriously the problem of internal stability, among others through its serious efforts to negotiate a peace agreement with the guerrillas in that country. Foreign Minister Guillermo Fernandez of the Republic of Colombia, who is accompanying President Pastrana, had a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura yesterday. In that meeting, Foreign Minister Fernandez underlined the Pacific orientation of the present Colombian Government, and in that context Foreign Minister Fernandez talked about this big infrastructure project within Colombia which is designed to link the transport networks on the Pacific coast on the one hand, and the inland cities on the other. Foreign Minister Koumura said that he was aware of the importance that the Colombian Government attaches to this and we would like to keep in touch with the Colombian Government with a view to exploring the possibilities for Japan's cooperation to this project. Foreign Minister Fernandez also underlined the strong desire on the part of the Colombian Government to join APEC. As you know, the question of new membership in APEC is under a moratorium. Last year, the Russian Federation, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Peru joined and there is a 10-year moratorium. However, Colombia is participating in a working group under the framework of APEC. Foreign Minister Koumura said that he was very much aware of Colombia's desire to join APEC and he suggested that Colombia should continue to participate in working groups, for example, to impress upon other member nations the strong desire on the part of Colombia to be a part of APEC. With respect to this negotiation with the guerrillas, Foreign Minister Fernandez said that they had recently agreed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to sit down at the negotiating table. Foreign Minister Koumura said that Japan strongly desires the early achievement of peace and it is Japan's intention to extend as much assistance as possible to Colombia when peace is achieved.

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2. Response of Japan to the situation in Kosovo

   Q: In light of the current situation in Yugoslavia and the strike by NATO on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, I would like to know is Japan considering now that the time has come for NATO to end its air strike against Yugoslavia? Secondly, could you brief us about the visit of Mr. Akashi to Belgrade and if this initiative is from him or from the Japanese Government? Thirdly, I would like your comment on the Chinese decision to stop its security talks with the United States and whether it will effect the security of Japan.

   Mr. Numata: There are quite a number of questions involved. Let me see if I can address them one by one. Firstly, we do find it very regrettable that this bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade has taken place. We understand that it was an error on the part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and NATO and the concerned governments have admitted that it is an error and they expressed their regret. Having said that, it does not alter our basic position with respect to this whole issue of Kosovo in the sense that we have attached very much importance to the international community acting in a concerted manner to resolve this crisis in Kosovo. From that viewpoint, we have been arguing for the need for the Group of Eight (G8) to reach a common position on the basis of which a political solution is to be sought. As a result of the emergency G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, there was a common position worked out and the task now is to work towards a political solution on the basis of this common position on the part of the G8 which includes Russia. We do attach importance to this move towards a political solution and our position remains that a political solution should continue to be sought on the basis of this common position. It is indeed our sincere hope that this unfortunate incident would not adversely effect the momentum for the search towards a political solution. At the same time, we have expressed our deep regret about this bombing and Foreign Minister Koumura sent his message of regret and condolences for those people who lost their lives as a result of this mistaken bombing in a message to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China. We regret this incident and we have approached NATO Headquarters as well as the United States Government with a démarche to the effect that they should exercise a great deal of care in seeing to it that diplomatic missions should not suffer any physical or human damage as a result of the bombing, but we have not asked for a cessation of the bombing as such. You have a number of points in your question. The next point is about Mr. Yasushi Akashi. He has been traveling through Europe. As you know, he was very heavily involved in Yugoslavia when he was the special envoy of the United Nations to the former Yugoslavia. He has his personal contacts as well as friends. He has been traveling through Europe in his personal capacity on his own behalf. We understand that he met President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 10 May for about one hour and exchanged views on the possible political solution of the Kosovo crisis. Some of the points discussed between them are in the public domain. Mr. Akashi has not been there on behalf of the Japanese Government. He is there on his personal behalf, but at the same time, to the extent that his meeting with President Milosevic may have shed some light on the thinking on the part of President Milosevic, that might be of some use to us all. Your last question as I recall was about the China-US relationship, especially the Chinese announcement with respect to what I might describe as the temporary suspension of military and security-related consultations as well as the human rights dialogue. What we understand to be the case is that the United States Government continues to attach importance to the building of a constructive and strategic relationship with China and from Japan's point of view, it is important that the United States and China continue to pursue such a relationship in the light of the importance of the US-China relationship for international peace and stability. It is our sincere hope that this particular incident will not set back the US-China relationship in various respects.

   Q: I just have a follow-up.

   Mr. Numata: That would be the fifth question.

   Q: Concerning the visit of Mr. Akashi, is the Japanese Government willing to listen to the results of his visit to Belgrade after he returns to Tokyo?

   Mr. Numata: If Mr. Akashi is interested in debriefing us, I am sure we have some interest. Perhaps our people in the Embassy in Belgrade may have some debriefing.

3. Itinerary of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi for his visit to Europe to attend the Group of Eight (G8) Summit

   Q: Could I ask about Mr. Obuchi's itinerary during his visit to Europe? Do you have any details about that?

   Mr. Numata: We know that Prime Minister Obuchi will be going to the G8 Summit in Cologne, and since the G8 Summit in Cologne will take him to Europe, people are speculating on the possibility of his visiting some other parts of Europe. Whether this possibly extended leg of that trip might carry him to the northern part of Europe or the southern part or middle part, that is yet to be decided. There has been no decision yet. We have to ask for instructions from the Prime Minister before we start working out his itinerary, if there is to be an extended leg of the trip after the Summit in Cologne.

   Q: How about the duration of the trip rather than the location?

   Mr. Numata: I think the two are closely interrelated.

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4. Visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Kuwait by Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano from 29 April to 6 May

   Q: Could you give us a read-out on the results of the visit by Mr. Yosano to the Gulf?

   Mr. Numata: Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Kuwait between 29 April and 6 May. I believe this was the first visit in seven years by a Minister of International Trade and Industry to these countries. All these three countries are oil producing states and Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano exchanged views with the leaders of these three countries about the possible broad scope of cooperation with these three countries from a medium- to long-term perspective.

   In Saudi Arabia, he met His Majesty King Fahd bin 'Abdulaziz, His Highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Azziz al-Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs His Highness Prince Saud al-Faisal bin Abdul Azziz al-Saud, Minister of Planning Dr. Abdul Wahab bin Abdul al-Salam Attar, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali bin Ibrahim al-Naimi, etc. In the context of the Japan-Saudi bilateral relationship in general, His Majesty King Fahd and His Highness Crown Prince Abdullah asked Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano to convey their warmest regards to Prime Minister Obuchi. The Saudi leaders expressed their hope for greater Japanese direct investment in Saudi Arabia as well as continued stable purchase of Saudi oil by Japan in order to further the friendship between the two countries. It was in that context that they discussed the Arabian Oil Company (AOC) as well. The Saudi side expressed their appreciation of the role played by AOC in the Japan-Saudi relationship and expressed the hope in that context, for expanded investment in such areas as the mining railway and the petrochemical industry as well as greater purchase by Japan of Saudi oil. Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano responded by saying that the question of the extension of the contract between the Saudi Government and the AOC is a matter to be handled by private business, which is AOC. But at the same time, Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano said that the Japanese Government, on its part, does intend to facilitate Japan-Saudi cooperation in these areas under the Japan-Saudi Cooperation Agenda that was agreed to some time ago. There will be continued discussions between our two sides on these subjects.

   With respect to the UAE, Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano met His Highness Crown Prince Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan and the relevant ministers. The UAE side expressed their appreciation for this visit by a Japanese minister after an interval of seven years. They expressed satisfaction with the present state of the bilateral relationship between the UAE and Japan. His Highness Crown Prince Nahyan expressed the hope that Prime Minister Obuchi will be able to visit the UAE. They also discussed the question of oil exploration in the sense that the UAE side stated that it was considering the possibility of granting the rights for oil exploration to a Japanese oil company in a new area. The UAE side expressed the hope for technology transfer from Japan in such areas as desalination of sea water as well as solar power generation. The Japanese side expressed its intention to implement cooperation projects in human resources development, designed, for example, to increase the productivity of the businesses in UAE.

   In Kuwait, Minister of International Trade and Industry Yosano met His Majesty Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah as well as His Highness Crown Prince Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah and the relevant ministers. The Kuwaiti side also expressed their appreciation for this visit and they also sent their warm regards to Prime Minister Obuchi. They also expressed their satisfaction with the present state of the Japan-Kuwait relationship. His Majesty Sheikh al-Sabah in particular, expressed his appreciation for the very positive and forward-looking position taken by Japan at the time of the Gulf Crisis, saying that he still does not forget that contribution. The Kuwaiti side also expressed its strong hope for Japanese investment in Kuwait, to which the Japanese side responded by expressing its intention to cooperate with Kuwait in terms of joint research and human resources development. I think those are the read-outs.

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5. Visit to Central Asia by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura

   Q: Concerning Foreign Minister Koumura's visit to Central Asia, did he discuss any oil-related projects?

   Mr. Numata: A bit of it, indirectly, in the Republic of Azerbaijan in the sense that in his meeting with the leaders of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan side referred to the economic difficulties that that country is facing due to the fall in oil prices and the effects of the Russian economic crisis. The leaders asked for Japan's further support. However, those are in only very general terms, so the only link there is the fall in oil prices. I think that is all.

6. Diplomatic representation of Japan in the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

   Q: I read a report that Japan might send an ambassador to Libya. Are you at the stage of relations to send an ambassador to Libya?

   Mr. Numata: Forgive me if my memory is faulty, but with the trial to take place in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the sanctions, if I may call them that, with respect to the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, I think have entered a new stage where they may have been lifted. The scaling down of the diplomatic representation has been a part of that package. It may be that that is going to be looked at again, but I have no further details at this point.

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