Press Conference 21 November 2000

1. Announcement on the decision to nominate Ambassador Hisashi Owada as a candidate for the election of judges of the International Court of Justice in 2002
2. Announcement on the 5th Japan-France Dialogue Forum
3. Announcement on the 7th International Energy Forum
4. Meeting of the G8 Lyon Group on international organized crime
5. Questions on the visit to Japan by President Alberto Fujimori of the Republic of Peru
6. Question on developments in the situation in the Middle East

1. Announcement on the decision to nominate Ambassador Hisashi Owada as a candidate for the election of judges of the International Court of Justice in 2002

   Press Secretary Ryuichiro Yamazaki: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Because my time is limited today, I would like to start on time.

   I would like to start with an announcement regarding the decision to nominate Ambassador Hisashi Owada as a candidate for the election of judges of the International Court of Justice in 2002.

   On 20 November, the national group of Japan in the Permanent Court of Arbitration decided to nominate Ambassador Hisashi Owada, President of the Japan International Institute of International Affairs, Professor of Waseda University, and Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, as a candidate for the election of judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to be held at the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council in the autumn of 2002.

   Candidates for the election of ICJ judges shall be nominated not by governments but by the national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration or their equivalents (Article 4, Statute of the International Court of Justice). Before making these nominations, each national group is recommended to consult its highest court of justice and its national academies devoted to the study of law (Article 6 of the Statute). Before nominating Japan's candidate, the national group of Japan has thus far held a meeting of the advisory committee composed of members including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Japan Academy, and the President of the University of Tokyo, to seek their opinions. In accordance with this precedent, the advisory committee held a meeting on 20 November at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iikura House), hosted by State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Katsuhito Asano, considering the coming election of the judges of the International Court of Justice.

   At the meeting, it was agreed to nominate Ambassador Owada as a candidate for the election in 2002 given his distinguished qualifications required as a judge of the International Court of Justice, in terms of insight, professional experience, and worldwide appreciation in the field of international law. Based upon this, the national group of Japan formally decided to nominate Ambassador Owada and, as of 20 November, notified the decision to Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will strongly request other countries to support the Japanese candidate, because the continued presence of a Japanese judge meets Japan's national interest given the significance of the International Court of Justice as well as to contributing to the international community.

2. Announcement on the 5th Japan-France Dialogue Forum

   Mr. Yamazaki: Secondly, I would like to touch upon the fifth meeting of the Japan-France Dialogue Forum to be held on 23 and 24 November here in Tokyo.

   At the Forum, the Japanese chair is former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, and the French chair is former Prime Minister Raymond Barre of the French Republic. However, as former Prime Minister Barre cannot attend this time, the chair from the French side will be former Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Christian Sautter.

   The basic theme at the forum is "Toward Human Resource Development for Peace and Prosperity." The attendees will be discussing issues relevant to both countries in areas such as education for the young, how to promote life-long education, and participation in society by the elderly in this age of fewer children and an aging society. Other topics include borderless education in the age of the information society as well as cooperation with developing countries.

   The forum was established in 1996 and has met once a year since. It is an advisory body to the leaders of our two countries.

   After the meeting concludes, from 17:40 on 24 November, former Prime Minister Nakasone and former Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Sautter will be giving a joint press conference at the Hotel New Otani.

   Related Information (Japan-France Relations)
   
3. Announcement on the 7th International Energy Forum

   Mr. Yamazaki: My third announcement today is in relation to the seventh International Energy Forum which was held in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 17 to 19 November, and co-hosted by Japan and the Netherlands together with the host country Saudi Arabia.

   Former Prime Minister and Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, in his capacity as special envoy of the Prime Minister, together with Senior State Secretary Sakamoto of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry participated in this important forum.

   In his keynote address Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto stressed once again that the relationship between producing and consuming countries in the world petroleum market is not a zero-sum game in which one side profits and the other side loses; rather it is a win-win game in which both the producing countries and the consuming countries stand to profit through a stable market. The importance of holding consumer-producer dialogue was also emphasized.

   The Government believes the forum was very productive in, among other things, delivering the message that it is important to continue this dialogue between the energy producers and consumers. Moreover, the forum affirmed that greater stability and transparency in the oil market to reduce price volatility is in the interests of producers and consumers alike. Furthermore, the forum concluded that cooperation among relevant international organizations, as well as the participating countries, in improving the timely access to energy data is important for market assessment and transparency.

   The next meeting is scheduled for 2002, and it will be held in Japan with the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Italy as co-hosts.

   A proposal by Saudi Arabia to establish a permanent secretariat in relation to this consumer-producer dialogue was tabled, and it was agreed to give due consideration to this important proposal.

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4. Meeting of the G8 Lyon Group on international organized crime

   Mr. Yamazaki: My last announcement today is on a meeting held in Hiroshima last week, from 14 to 16 November, of the G8 Lyon Group, which is a senior high-level meeting to deal with international organized crime. Because Japan has been the Chair of the G8 since January, a meeting of the group was held in February in Tokyo, followed by a meeting in May in Kyoto, and finally this meeting in Hiroshima. After this the next Chair, Italy, will take over and carry the ball.

   We believe that this meeting has set the direction for future work. Examples of areas that were taken up for discussion included high-tech crime and judicial cooperation. Forty recommendations of the Lyon Group were also discussed, as were the issues of trafficking in human beings, the smuggling of migrants, corruption, and child pornography.

   Related Information (From Okinawa to Genoa G8 Action Based on the Decisions of Okinawa)
   
5. Questions on the visit to Japan by President Alberto Fujimori of the Republic of Peru

   Q: There is a report that in the United States yesterday, US officials said that a Peruvian official informed the US Government that he will be staying in Japan indefinitely. Can we confirm this information? Also, could you elaborate where President Fujimori is right now?

   Mr. Yamazaki: Well, President Alberto Fujimori of the Republic of Peru is here in Tokyo, recuperating, as he had a slight health problem and was not feeling well. I do not have any information as to when President Fujimori is leaving Japan. As to the reporting about "indefinitely," I think the meaning of "indefinitely" here is that it is not decided when President Fujimori will be leaving Japan.

   Q: Has he requested or sought political asylum? If not, are there any requests made by President Fujimori so far?

   Mr. Yamazaki: No.

   Q: Nothing?

   Mr. Yamazaki: No, nothing.

   Q: There is a report that in Peru some politicians have requested the Japanese Government to clarify if Mr. Fujimori has a Japanese passport. This was presented in a letter to the Japanese Embassy in Peru. I would like to know if this communication has been received, and what the answer is? Because again, people in Peru are saying that he may have either a Japanese passport or Japanese nationality. The second thing I would like to know is if the Japanese Government knew before Mr. Fujimori arrived in Japan on 17 November that he was coming here and planning to stay indefinitely as you said before?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I did not say indefinitely. What I said is that we do not know the schedule of President Fujimori at this time. I do not know what your sources are, and I do not know anything about this.

   Q: It is an opposition party called APRA.

   Mr. Yamazaki: As for your last question about President Fujimori's schedule, on the way back from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, we knew that he was coming for a technical stop-over. However, as I said earlier, he had had a slight health problem so he stayed on.

   Q: What about the passport and the nationality?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I have no information. Please ask the Peruvian side.

   Q: How often do people from the Foreign Ministry have contact with Mr. Fujimori at the Tokyo hotel?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I really cannot comment on that. He is recovering.

   Q: So you are saying there is no official contact between Mr. Fujimori and the Japanese Government?

   Mr. Yamazaki: In what way? President Fujimori is as of now still President, is he not? President Fujimori is in our country, and Peru has an embassy here, but I do not think we need to disclose every diplomatic contact that we have with every country.

   Q: What about one day after he officially resigns his position?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I cannot answer a hypothetical question at this time.

   Q: I would like to know first of all if Mr. Fujimori stays on, not being President of Peru, which may happen even today, will Japan take some measures to prevent some kind of violence against him, for example, possible attacks by terrorists? Will Japan continue supporting the Peruvian Government after this confusing political situation is resolved?

   Mr. Yamazaki: Your second question concerns the domestic situation in Peru. Your first question is an extremely hypothetical question at this time, so I would not like to comment and make any misleading headlines. I am not in this job to do that.

   Q: I would like to know if Mr. Aritomi is still officially the Peruvian Ambassador in Japan? If he is still the Ambassador, in case Mr. Fujimori resigns, what is the situation? There could be a complicated situation if he resigns or if he is not in the post anymore. I would like to know exactly what his status is at the moment?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not have any information concerning a change in the status of Ambassador Victor Aritomi Shinto at this present time. I do not know what you base your question on. Did you hear that Ambassador Aritomi Shinto has resigned or something?

   Q: He has a very close relation with Mr. Fujimori. He has been in the post for ten years. Perhaps if Mr. Fujimori loses the confidence of the parliament in his country, Mr. Aritomi may be forced to resign. I would like to know what would Japan do in that situation, if you are aware of any movements in this direction?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I think you are moving to domestic decisions and developments in Peru, so I am not in a position to comment on you question.

   Q: About President Fujimori, is he eligible to receive a Japanese passport? Under what status is he staying in Japan? Is he staying here as a state guest or under what status?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not have any answer on the first question about the passport, but right now President Fujimori is here with a diplomatic visa.

   Q: Do presidents have to get diplomatic visas when they visit Japan?

   Mr. Yamazaki: That is what I have been informed.

   Q: So if any other president from another country, or a king, comes to Japan, they need a diplomatic visa?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I have to check whether it is for official or state visits. Normally, it does apply to cabinet ministers and others.

   Q: I would like to know if the Japanese Government has been taken by surprise with this political situation?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not think it is up to us to make any appraisal of any situation.

   Q: I am just quoting from an Associated Press wire; it says that Mr. Fujimori sent a letter to the Congress in Peru on Monday their time. Were you aware of this? And how does it change the status of Mr. Fujimori's visit to Japan?

   Mr. Yamazaki: Well, I think it was announced in Peru that a letter was on the way. I do not know if it has been confirmed that it has been received. I am sure that if and when it arrives in Peru, there will be some .... What does it quote? Who does it quote about?

   Q: It is quoting his letter. It is saying that the letter has been sent, and it is quoting from the letter saying, "I submit to you, Mr. President of Congress, my formal resignation as President of the Republic." Mr. Fujimori wrote, "I am the first to recognize that there is a new political scenario in the country." So it was to the President of the Congress.

   Mr. Yamazaki: I have seen reports similar to that, but I do not have any comments on that at this time.

   Q: My question is at what point does this change the status of the visit?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I am not in a position to interpret the Constitution of Peru, but I think the Congress is supposed to make some acknowledgement. I do not know exactly. You had better ask the Peruvian side.

   Q: Just to follow up this question, as far as the Japanese Government is concerned, you have not received any report from the Fujimori side about this resignation? Fujimori or his officials in Tokyo have not informed the Japanese Government of the fact that he sent this letter of resignation?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not think that is relevant, but what is important is what is taking place in Peru itself, as the gentlemen quoted, and what the Congress in Peru acknowledges. I do not think it is fair for me to make any comments on the situation linked with President Fujimori vis-à-vis the domestic procedure in Peru.

   Q: But just as a fact, has the Japanese Government received that information or a report from them about this?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not know that. However, we do know that it was announced by President Fujimori's office that he was in the process of sending this letter, and I would not be surprised if the letter has by now reached whoever you quoted, the President of the Congress or someone else. We will see what the procedure to acknowledge receipt is in the Congress, and from there on see .... I am not in a position to make an authorized interpretation of the procedures in Peru.

   Q: I think it was at the beginning of this month, definitely before Mr. Fujimori came here, he had dinner with the Japanese Ambassador in Peru, in Lima. I do not know anything about that conversation. I do not know if you could comment or maybe clarify? Because in a way the situation that is happening right now was discussed at that moment, he was considering the possibility of coming to Japan.

   Mr. Yamazaki: I have no information on this.

   Q: I have one really quick question. You said earlier that it is not clear whether he is eligible to receive a passport in Japan. Is he eligible to be naturalized in Japan?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not have any of the facts that surround President Fujimori at this present time.

   Q: In follow-up to that, if he loses his status as President and becomes a civilian, will his diplomatic visa expire as well?

   Mr. Yamazaki: For this, I will have to ask the Bureau of Immigration in the Ministry of Justice about the technical procedures. But it is not as if one suddenly is obliged to leave the country or anything like that.

   Q: As far as I understand, when someone is a descendant of Japanese ancestors, they have the possibility of having double nationality until they are 20. At that moment they have to decide whether they are, in this case, Peruvian or Japanese. Do you know if in this case Mr. Fujimori adopted Peruvian nationality?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I do not have any information on that.

   Q: But that is an ordinary procedure? Turning 20, you have to choose between one or the other?

   Mr. Yamazaki: I will have to check.

   Related Information (Japan-Peru Relations)
   
6. Question on developments in the situation in the Middle East

   Q: Moving to the Middle East, what is your comment on the news of Israeli fighters or choppers bombing Palestinian civilians and destroying civilian targets?

   Mr. Yamazaki: The Government of Japan finds it regrettable that these incidents are continuing in the West Bank and Gaza. We certainly hope that all those concerned can exert self-restraint and that both sides can implement the agreements, the Sharm el Sheik agreement of 15 and 16 October, as well as on 1 November when President Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority and Prime Minister Ehud Barak of the State of Israel met and said they would do their best to implement the agreements. We hope that both parties concerned give their best efforts in this direction.

   Related Information (Crisis in the Middle East Peace Process)