Press Conference 22 December 2000

1. Announcement on the resumption of the Middle East peace negotiations
2. Measures in Japan to facilitate the smooth implementation of the United Nations Assistance Program for the Republic of Iraq
3. Announcement regarding the Government of Japan's decision to lift sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
4. Announcement on the conflict concerning Kashmir between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
5. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono's trip to the Russian Federation, Persian Gulf countries, and the Kingdom of Sweden in 2001
6. Announcement concerning President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the Republic of Angola's visit to Japan
7. Question on Foreign Minister Kono's trips to be made in 2001
8. Follow-up questions regarding Japan's sanctions against the Republic of Iraq
9. Questions on the Government of Japan's application of Security Council Resolutions

1. Announcement on the resumption of the Middle East peace negotiations

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First, I would like to make several announcements at the outset.

   I would like to begin with the resumption of the Palestinian peace negotiations. The Government of Japan heartily welcomes the resumption of the Palestinian peace negotiations. The only practical way to achieve peace is through negotiations, and the Government of Japan is strongly encouraged by the fact that both the Israelis and the Palestinians share this understanding and have resumed taking serious steps towards resolving the difficult issues. The Government of Japan strongly hopes that through the resumed negotiations, the vicious circle of violence that has continued for over three months will come to a complete halt and that substantive results will be achieved toward the realization of a fair, lasting, and comprehensive peace.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
2. Measures in Japan to facilitate the smooth implementation of the United Nations Assistance Program for the Republic of Iraq

   Mr. Harada: The Government of Japan took measures today, 22 December, to facilitate the smooth implementation of the United Nations humanitarian program for the Republic of Iraq. The "oil for food program" for Iraq has been an exception of the United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iraq, and is currently being implemented from a humanitarian viewpoint. The program, although initially implemented as temporary measures under the sanctions, has been established as a UN humanitarian assistance scheme on a continuous basis while the sanctions are being prolonged. Measures taken by Japan to implement sanctions against Iraq so far are based on the principle that there should be no economic transactions between Japan and Iraq, thus causing an obstacle for Japanese companies to participate in the "oil for food program." The measures to be taken at this time have this situation as a background. These measures are mainly intended to smoothly implement the "oil for food program" in Japan, while maintaining the sanctions against Iraq. These measures will by no means ease the sanctions by Japan against Iraq per se.

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   
3. Announcement regarding the Government of Japan's decision to lift sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

   Mr. Harada: Today, 22 December, the Government of Japan, considering the recent change in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia toward democratization, officially decided to lift its sanctions on Yugoslavia, which have been implemented since 1988, namely the "ban on new investment in the Republic of Serbia" and "the freezing of the funds of the Government of Yugoslavia and the Government of Serbia in Japan." President Vojislav Kostunica of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's administration has been smoothly rejoining the international community and strengthening the foundation of the new government that came to power in October. The lifting of sanctions against Yugoslavia will give further momentum to the policies of the administration. The United States of America and many European countries share their policies of lifting sanctions against Yugoslavia. On the other hand, in respect of former President Slobodan Milosovic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and persons associated with him, the United States and many European countries have adopted policies to continue to freeze overseas funds and to refuse to issue visas for them. In view of international policy coordination, the Government of Japan also intends to take measures to ensure the freezing of the funds of these persons in Japan. The Government of Japan has already implemented the restrictions of the issuance of visas for these persons.

   Related Information (Japan-Serbia and Montenegro Relations)
   
4. Announcement on the conflict concerning Kashmir between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Mr. Harada: On 20 December, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Republic of India announced that India would further extend by about a month the temporary suspension of combat operations against militants in Kashmir during the month of Ramadan, which it originally announced on 19 November. In response, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in relation to its announcement on 2 December that the Pakistani military forces would exercise maximum restraint along the Line of Control of Kashmir, announced on 20 December that it would withdraw part of its forces from the Line of Control. The Government of Japan welcomes the series of moves since India's announcement in November as evidence of efforts to stop the violence and reduce the tension in Kashmir. The Government of Japan hopes that the further efforts will be sustained by the Governments of India and Pakistan toward a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Lahore Declaration.

   Related Information (Japan-India Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
   
5. Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono's trips to the Russian Federation, Persian Gulf countries, and the Kingdom of Sweden in 2001

   Mr. Harada: Recently Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono's visit to the Russian Federation was announced. Before Foreign Minister Kono visits Russia on 16 and 17 January 2001, Foreign Minister Kono will visit the Gulf countries and the Kingdom of Sweden from 7 January 2001 if the coordination with each country is finalized. The details of the itinerary are now being coordinated.

   Regarding the Gulf countries, Foreign Minister Kono plans to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the State of Kuwait, and to have talks with the key leaders of these countries. In these talks Foreign Minister Kono intends to exchange views on the ways of strengthening relations between Japan and the Gulf countries in the 21st century and also to discuss new forms of cooperation from the viewpoint of the so-called "dialogue between civilizations."

   Since this spring, Foreign Minister Kono has studied Japan's relations with Islamic cultures in the Study Group on Islam in the Foreign Ministry. Foreign Minister Kono would like to exchange views with the leaders, making much use of the achievements that the Study Group has made.

   In Sweden, Foreign Minister Kono will take part in the Japan-EU Troika Ministerial Meeting. In January, Foreign Minister Kono proposed to designate the next 10 years, starting from the year 2001, as the "Decade of Japan-Europe Cooperation." Since Japan and the European Union (EU) have already agreed on that, Foreign Minister Kono would like to make the Troika Meeting the first forum for putting this cooperation into practice.

   Related Information (Regional Affairs)
   
6. Announcement concerning President Jose Eduardo doe Santos of the Republic of Angola's visit to Japan

   Mr. Harada: His Excellency President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos of the Republic of Angola and Mrs. dos Santos will pay an official working visit to Japan from 28 to 31 January of next year. During their stay in Japan, the President and Mrs. Dos Santos will make a state call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will host a Court Luncheon in honor of President and Mrs. Dos Santos. President Dos Santos will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. Prime Minister Mori and Mrs. Mori will host a dinner or luncheon in honor of the President and Mrs. Dos Santos. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of the President and Mrs. Dos Santos, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and Angola.

   Related Information (Japan-Angola Relations)
   
7. Question on Foreign Minister Kono's trips to be made in 2001

   Q: I heard some reports that Mr. Kono was going to visit Egypt. Do you have any information on this?

   Mr. Harada: I do not think that he has a plan to visit the Arab Republic of Egypt next January. That is only a speculation.

   Q: He will visit the Gulf countries?

   Mr. Harada: And Sweden and Russia.

   Q: So the dates are not decided yet?

   Mr. Harada: As I mentioned, it is now being coordinated with each country. When it is fixed, the Government of Japan will announce that.

8. Follow-up questions regarding Japan's sanctions against the Republic of Iraq

   Q: Concerning Iraq, there was some report saying that the Iraqi Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs was asking Japan to rectify its policy toward Iraq in order for Japanese companies to do business in Iraq. Now you say that you want to smooth the Japanese business in Iraq with the "oil for food program." I see some contradiction between the two official stances of both countries.

   Mr. Harada: As I made it clear in my statement on this issue, the measures we have decided on are to facilitate the smooth implementation of the "oil for food program." I would like to underline the part of my statement which says the Government of Japan maintains the sanctions against Iraq. The measures are mainly intended to smoothly implement the "oil for food program." It is not for general business or transactions.

   Q: So Japan is implementing the sanctions based upon what kind of developments?

   Mr. Harada: The Government of Japan is observing the relevant Security Council Resolutions, like 1248, and as you know we have another Security Council Resolution on the "oil for food program." It turns out that we have to make some adjustments to facilitate the implementation of our "oil for food program."

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
   
9. Questions on the Government of Japan's application of Security Council Resolutions

   Q: Let me ask a general question. Does Japan apply all the Security Council Resolutions related to other areas? If some other countries do not apply these resolutions, what will Japan do?

   Mr. Harada: As far as Japan is concerned, it will in principle stand by the relevant Security Council Resolutions. I believe that most of the countries are observing the Security Council Resolutions on Iraq.

   Q: I think there is one resolution regarding Israel, asking Israel to withdraw from occupied Arab lands, including Gaza and the West Bank, but Israel is still fighting, and we do not see any Japanese pressure on Israel to implement the Resolution or taking sanctions against Israel similar to your abiding by sanctions against Iraq.

   Mr. Harada: The Government of Japan's position on the issues which you have mentioned is that the only practical way to achieve peace is through negotiations, and as I said at the outset, Japan welcomes the resumption of the negotiations.

   Q: There was a report in a magazine that claimed that Iraq is importing some Playstations from Sony and is using them for military programs. Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Harada: I do not have any information to make a comment on that.

   Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)