Press Conference by the Press Secretary 8 February 2000

1. Position of the Government of Japan with respect to the coalition government formed in the Republic of Austria
2. Possibility of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's attendance at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
3. Content of the upcoming meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation
4. Response to the visit by a United Kingdom delegation to Japan to discuss nuclear fuel issues
5. Regarding the recent decision by the Ministry of Justice to allow overstaying immigrants to stay in Japan permanently
6. Possibility of a visit by Prime Minister Obuchi to the Republic of India and Japan's position on the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
7. Japan's position on whaling
8. Final thoughts

1. Position of the Government of Japan with respect to the coalition government formed in the Republic of Austria

   Press Secretary Sadaaki Numata: Good afternoon. I have a comment to make on the new coalition government in the Republic of Austria. In fact, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono met Minister of Foreign Affairs Bronislaw Geremek of the Republic of Poland yesterday, and in the course of the meeting, they talked about the situation in Austria. Let me give you our Government's position on this, in the form of repeating what Foreign Minister Kono told Foreign Minister Geremek.

   Firstly, we share with the other members of the international community such fundamental values as freedom, democracy and human rights. In this connection, we understand the concern on the part of the European countries about the participation of the Austrian Freedom Party in the coalition government. At the same time, we note that the leaders of the coalition parties in Austria -- that is the leader of the People's Party and the leader of the Freedom Party -- have made clear through their signature to this declaration concerning the fundamental values of the European Union their commitment to uphold the sort of values that I have mentioned, and also their commitment to cooperation with the European Union, their support for the deepening and enlargement of the European Union, as well as their rejection of racism and xenophobia. We on our part will watch with serious interest how the new coalition government will be implementing its policies under these principles. We do hope that Austria's policies will be rooted in those principles, that Austria will continue to be open to the outside world and will act in concert with the international community.

   Related Information (Japan-Austria Relations)
   
2. Possibility of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's attendance at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

   Q: Regarding UNCTAD which Prime Minister Obuchi will be attending, what does he plan to state as Japan's role in UNCTAD? Does he wish to see Japan play a more active role in UNCTAD? Is Prime Minister Obuchi planning to meet other ASEAN leaders outside while he is there outside of UNCTAD, and if so what are his objectives?

   Mr. Numata: Actually, we have not announced yet that Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi is going to Bangkok to attend the tenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting. We are in the process of coordinating within the Government and with the Diet with the view to making it possible for Prime Minister Obuchi to attend this meeting on 12 February. I will have to enter that caveat at first. At the same time, if there is approval by the parties concerned about Prime Minister Obuchi attending the UNCTAD meeting, it will provide us with an important opportunity for him to exchange views with the leaders of developing countries, especially the leaders of the ASEAN countries who will be gathered there, to talk about a number of issues of common concern to the developing countries as well as to the developed countries. This will be in the context of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit which will be taking place in July this year. As you know, one main theme running through the G8 Summit process has been the theme of globalization, and how it has benefited many people in the world, as well as the sort of problems it may have given rise to in many parts of the world. I think it is quite possible that if Prime Minister Obuchi goes to Bangkok, he will be addressing these themes in some form or other. It is also quite possible that he might have an opportunity to sit down together with the leaders of the ASEAN countries. Again, I have to emphasize that at this particular point in time, I am speaking about all of this in a hypothetical sense.

   Q: You mean there is a high chance that he will sit down outside of UNCTAD with the ASEAN leaders?

   Mr. Numata: It could very well be a separate meeting.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
   
3. Content of the upcoming meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation

   Q: Can you explain some of the main points of the negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov and Foreign Minister Kono?

   Mr. Numata: The discussion has not taken place yet. Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation is coming to Tokyo from 10-13 February, and he will be meeting Foreign Minister Kono on Friday, 11 February, for the meeting of the Co-Chairman of the Japan-Russia Joint Committee on the Conclusion of the Peace Treaty -- that is one part of the meeting. The other part of the meeting on the same day is the regular ministerial consultation between the two foreign ministers of the two governments. We see this visit by Foreign Minister Ivanov to be a part of the continuing process of high-level dialogue between Japan and the Russian Federation. For the past five years, the regular ministerial consultations between the two countries have been taking place about twice a year. This will be the first such round of consultations in the year 2000.

   In this round of consultations we would like to confirm the determination shared by both sides to continue to move forward in advancing the relationship between Japan and Russia in all fields, including the negotiation of the peace treaty. We do feel that this visit by Foreign Minister Ivanov is an important opportunity for that in the wake of the change of leaders in Russia after the resignation of President Boris Yeltsin. It is in that context that we expect the two foreign ministers to be discussing the peace treaty negotiations. It is quite possible that they will be talking about the continuation of the dialogue on the question, including the Tokyo Declaration and the Krasnoyarsk Agreement and so forth. It is also possible that the two foreign ministers will be discussing future political dialogue between Japan and Russia, as well as the cooperative relationship between Japan and Russia in economic and other fields. They also might possibly exchange views on the international situation. I think that is all I can tell you.

   Q: Will Chechnya be a topic?

   Mr. Numata: Could be. Or North Korea, in the sense that Foreign Minister Ivanov will be coming via North Korea. I do not want to put words into the mouths of the foreign ministers before they meet.

   Q: It has been reported that the Japan-Russia peace treaty will be signed by the end of this year. At this point, taking into account the change of leaders, how do think that will be possible?

   Mr. Numata: Through unwavering determination on the part of the two governments to conclude the peace treaty in the target time frame. It is in that spirit that the two foreign ministers will be holding intensive talks.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
4. Response to the visit by a United Kingdom delegation to Japan to discuss nuclear fuel issues

   Q: There is a delegation from the United Kingdom in Japan to discuss issues relating to British Nuclear Fuel's allocation of shipped fuels to Japan. They are here to offer assurances. I wonder if the Japanese Government could tell me what kind of assurances might be considered to be acceptable? Also, Kansai Electric Power has expressed a wish for the tainted fuel to be shipped back to the United Kingdom. Has the Japanese Government approved that wish?

   Mr. Numata: I am somewhat handicapped by the fact that I have not had a full readout of the ongoing discussion by the British delegation and the people on our side. You know that the origin of the problem was that there was apparently some false data entered at British Nuclear Fuels, which has given us cause for concern in terms of the safety of the installations and so forth. We certainly would like that problem to be cleared. Exactly in what form the problem might be cleared is subject to the discussions between the two sides. I shall not go into the details of that. You also mentioned the desire on the part of Kansai Electric Power Company. As I understand it, it is the desire of that particular power company concerned, and to the best of my knowledge, I do not think our Government has chosen that option as the only one option available to resolve that problem.

   Related Information (Japan-U.K. Relations)
   
5. Regarding the recent decision by the Ministry of Justice to allow overstaying immigrants to stay in Japan permanently

   Q: I would like to ask a question on the Justice Ministry's decision to allow the overstaying immigrants to stay on permanently. As you know it has been a long time criticism that while the Japanese Government recognizes refugee status, it has been almost impossible in practice to get it. This decision was hailed as evidence that the implementation of that policy was changing. What is the current Government position on this issue?

   Mr. Numata: I have been told in no uncertain terms that the authoritative comments on that decision can only be made by people in the Ministry of Justice, which somewhat constrains what I can say. However, I have noted what you have said in the course of your question, and I shall gladly convey that to the Ministry of Justice. If they nod when they listen to that comment, then perhaps that is a signal.

6. Possibility of a visit by Prime Minister Obuchi to the Republic of India and Japan's position on the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

   Q: President Clinton has said that he will visit India and he is also expected to go to Pakistan without waiting for those two countries to sign the CTBT. The idea is that the visit might help the signing of the CTBT. When Indian Foreign Minister Singh came here in November last year, he invited Prime Minister Obuchi to India. Do you think Prime Minister Obuchi should consider a trip to India and Pakistan instead of insisting that they must sign the CTBT first?

   Mr. Numata: There are many questions in there. Firstly, with respect to President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America's movement, perhaps I shall follow the format of the way I answered the previous question, and say that the authoritative comments on that question can only be made by my counterpart in the White House. I would hesitate to describe the state of play concerning President Clinton's visits to the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the People's Republic of Bangladesh and other countries.

   To respond to your larger question about the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the state of the bilateral relationship as it applies to Japan and India and Japan and Pakistan, we do attach importance to our overall bilateral relations with these two countries, as well as to progress on the issue of concern to the global community -- that is, the CTBT. We have been conveying to both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan that we attach importance to these two elements in our respective relationships with these two countries. We continue to keep in close dialogue. Whether or not that close dialogue will be elevated to a prime ministerial visit to either India or Pakistan we do not know at this point.

   Related Information (The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT))
   
7. Japan's position on whaling

   Q: The Icelandic Parliament last year passed a resolution regarding the resumption of whaling. How can Iceland expect Japan to respond to this?

   Mr. Numata: Firstly, let me say that when I have received questions on whaling, more often than not I seem to have received these questions from an angle somewhat different from the one from which you are asking. In the case of Japan, we conduct research whaling in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Whaling, and it is permitted under that Convention. We also believe -- and this is borne out by the scientists of the International Whaling Commission -- that with respect for example to minke whales, there is an abundance of stocks in the Antarctic Sea. We do feel that when stocks are abundant, there should be some room for catching these whales for us to look into the details of the state of the stocks, the future of the species and so forth. That is why we have conducted this research whaling on a limited basis. That also reflects the public sentiment of the Japanese people on whaling. Given that such is the background, a possible move by the Republic of Iceland in the way that you have described it may be met with some sympathy.

   Related Information (THE MANAGEMENT OF WHALES)
   
   
8. Japan's position on whaling

   Mr. Numata: Well, if there are no further questions, please allow me to say that this is my last press conference. I was looking at the transcript of my press conference which I gave as Deputy Press Spokesman on 28 January 1994. I thought that would be my last press conference but it was not. I made the mistake of saying on that occasion that perhaps someday, sometime, somewhere we can perhaps look forward to a repeat performance. That was my downfall, and I have ended up giving repeat performances for the past two years. This time I think it is really going to be my last press conference because I cannot see myself coming back as Press Spokesman again.

   I will be posted abroad. You will know about my destination around this time next week, so I cannot disclose that. Let me say that I have enjoyed the experience, although there were challenges from time to time. I may have seemed to be either tap-dancing, tip-toeing or clinging desperately to a tightrope so that I would not fall at times, but I think I have more or less managed to stay intact. For that, I thank you. I also thank you for the stimuli that you have provided to me. One change that I have noted over the past two years, to say six or seven years ago, is the proliferation of the Internet. That applies to this press conference as well, because the transcripts are sent by the Internet, and a lot more people are reading them. That makes this job all the more challenging but at the same time worthwhile. In a little more than a month's time, I shall find myself as an avid consumer of these transcripts on the Internet, and I will be thinking of you in some corner of the world.