Press Conference 2 June 2000

1. Comment on the visit to the People's Republic of China by Secretary-General Kim Jong Il of the Workers' Party of North Korea
2. Meetings between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister for Foreign Affairs Youcef Yousfi of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria
3. Hosting of the Young Leaders Summit 2000 in Okinawa
4. Announcement on and questions relating to the list of attendees at the funeral of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi
5. Follow-up questions on the Young Leaders Summit
6. Follow-up questions on the meetings with Algerian Foreign Minister Yousfi
7. Japan's position on possible sanctions against Ethiopia
8. Issues relating to the North Korean visit to China
9. New initiative by Japan regarding the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

1. Comment on the visit to the People's Republic of China by Secretary-General Kim Jong Il of the Workers' Party of North Korea

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I have three announcements. First, the People's Republic of China and North Korea announced yesterday that Secretary-General Kim Jong Il of the Workers' Party of North Korea paid an informal visit to China between 29-31 May at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin, and met with him and other Chinese leaders. We deem this visit part of the active diplomacy which North Korea has been employing since last year, and we have paid close attention to this visit. We hope that this visit will have a positive effect on the North-South Summit Meeting to be held in the middle of June.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
2. Meetings between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister for Foreign Affairs Youcef Yousfi of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria

   Mr. Harada: Secondly, I would like to share with you the readout of the meeting between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister of Foreign Affairs Youcef Yousfi of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria. On 30 May Foreign Minister Yousfi met Prime Minister Mori and Foreign Minister Kono.

   During the meeting with Prime Minister Mori, Foreign Minister Yousfi handed to Prime Minister Mori President a letter from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, which consists of three points: first, expectations for strengthening the bilateral relationship between Japan and Algeria; second, gratitude to Japan for its position on the development of Africa, including the debt issue; third, a positive assessment of Japan's active position shown in areas such as the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. Foreign Minister Yousfi also explained the current situation in Algeria, to the effect that social security had deteriorated due to a series of bloodshed caused by terrorism; however the national reconciliation policy promoted by President Bouteflika has brought about social stability.

   On the bilateral relationship, having expressed a strong desire to promote a cooperative relationship with Japan, Foreign Minister Yousfi requested Japan to consider Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Algeria, to positively consider the debt issue of developing countries, and to revise the Japan travel advice and warning on Algeria. I will give you a quick footnote here. The risk level of Algeria of this travel advice and warning is level four, which means that departure is advised for residents staying in Algeria for non-essential purposes.

   Prime Minister Mori welcomed Foreign Minister Yousfi's visit as the first visit of an Algerian Foreign Minister, adding that Algeria is the Chair of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and that Japan appreciates Algeria's leading role in developing countries. Prime Minister Mori further mentioned that debt relief is not a panacea to help poor countries, and that G8 countries share the recognition that it is important to strengthen efforts to tackle overall development from the mid- to long-term perspective. With regard to the revision of the Japan travel advice and warning, having appreciated the efforts made by the Government of Algeria to improve social security, Prime Minister Mori said that taking into consideration the improved situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now considering the revision of the advice and warning.

   As for the meeting with Foreign Minister Kono, Foreign Minister Yousfi made three requests. First, he requested Japan to provide know-how from the public and private sector for economic diversification. He mentioned that Algeria wishes to grow out of an economy heavily dependent on natural gas. Second, to provide assistance to the victims of terrorism. Third, he repeated his request to revise the travel advice and warning. Then he explained the mediation efforts by President Bouteflika for the solution of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

   Foreign Minister Kono responded that Japan will consider the requests made by Foreign Minister Yousfi based on concrete proposals. He also responded to the same effect as Prime Minister Mori concerning the revision of the travel advice and warning.

   Related Information (Japan-Algeria Relations)
   
3. Hosting of the Young Leaders Summit 2000 in Okinawa

   Mr. Harada: On 13-14 the Young Leaders Summit 2000 in Okinawa will be jointly hosted by the Okinawa G8 Summit Host Preparation Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Foundation. The 33 participants will include young researchers, journalists, graduate students and so on from countries taking part in the G8 Summit, including Japan, and other countries. As one of the events held in connection with the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Meeting in July, the Young Leaders Summit will serve as a forum for discussion of international political and economic issues with the overall theme: "Proposal from Okinawa: Building a 21st Century of Peace and Coexistence." The keynote speaker will be former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Yakushi Akashi of the United Nations. The Young Leaders Summit will make a proposal which will be reported to Prime Minister Mori through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
4. Announcement on and questions relating to the list of attendees at the funeral of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi

   Mr. Harada: Finally I will give you the list of attendees at the funeral service for former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi which we announced on 31 May. When we have further information I will share it with you. Those are the announcements that I wanted to make, and I would be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

   Q: This list is as of when?

   Mr. Harada: As of 31st May.

   Q: You cannot give any more information on who will decide to come after that?

   Mr. Harada: No. I have only the list as of 31 May. There is an increase from my announcement on Tuesday.

   Q: There is a report that President Clinton may not be able to come to Japan for the funeral. Is that true?

   Mr. Harada: I do not have any such information.

   Q: Have you set up any meetings between some of the attendees at the funeral and Foreign Minister Kono?

   Mr. Harada: We are now coordinating possible bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Mori and Foreign Minister Kono. I do not have information I can share with you at this moment.

   Related Information (Funeral of Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi)
   
5. Follow-up questions on the Young Leaders Summit

   Q: Concerning the Young Leaders Summit, how did you decide on the other countries outside the G8?

   Mr. Harada: I can share with you the list. Other than G8 countries, participants are from Asian countries, such as the Republic of India, Malaysia and the Republic of the Philippines. I do not know how the organizers chose these participants.

   Q: So there is nobody from China, the Republic of Korea or West Asia?

   Mr. Harada: I can see only India, Malaysia and the Philippines.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
6. Follow-up questions on the meetings with Algerian Foreign Minister Yousfi

   Q: Concerning Algeria, you mentioned that Foreign Minister Kono and Prime Minister Mori would consider the Algerian request to review the warning from level four to another level.

   Mr. Harada: They did not say anything which prejudged the outcome. Prime Minister Mori said that he appreciated the efforts by the Government of Algeria to improve social security, and would take the improved situation into consideration. I think that we are now carefully considering the situation because it concerns the safety of Japanese nationals.

   Q: Are you planning to send some officials to Algeria soon to find out how the situation is there first hand?

   Mr. Harada: We have an Embassy in Algiers, so we do not have to send anyone to find out about the situation. Once we reach a conclusion, we will inform the Government of Algeria of the conclusion through diplomatic channels.

   Related Information (Japan-Algeria Relations)
   
7. Japan's position on possible sanctions against Ethiopia

   Q: There are some countries asking for sanctions to be applied against Ethiopia. What is Japan's position on this? Do you consider Ethiopia to be a victim country or an aggressor country?

   Mr. Harada: I do not think that they have come to a cease-fire yet, although I am aware of the press report that the Government of Ethiopia announced that the war is over. We also understand that the OAU is now making efforts to mediate between the two countries for a cease-fire and a resumption of peaceful talks. Our position is that Japan supports the initiatives taken by the Security Council of the United Nations toward the definitive settlement of the conflict, and we strongly hope that both parties immediately cease any military action, and that peace talks under the auspices of the OAU will be resumed in response to the resolutions of the Security Council. We will continue to watch the situation carefully.

   Related Information (Japan-Ethiopia Relations)
   
8. Issues relating to the North Korean visit to China

   Q: Did Japan hear anything about Kim Jong Il's visit to China either informally or formally from China or North Korea before or after the visit?

   Mr. Harada: We got information yesterday before the Government of China made a public announcement in Beijing. It was after the visit but before they made the announcement.

   Q: Have you had details from the Chinese side on the talks?

   Mr. Harada: We have not had a detailed readout of the meeting yet, and we are now gathering information.

   Q: So it was only confirmation that he was visiting China?

   Mr. Harada: More or less.

   Q: Are you planning to ask China or North Korea about everything that was talked about?

   Mr. Harada: We will try to gather information from various sources.

   Q: North Korea has recently made diplomatic advances to Italy and Australia, and now China. Do you think that Japan is behind a little bit in this North Korean endeavor?

   Mr. Harada: I do not know what you mean by "behind." Our position on North Korean active diplomacy generally speaking is that we regard North Korean engagement with the international community positively. Their open policy with the international community is welcomed. Each relationship has its own character and nature, so I do not think that we should characterize Japan's relationship with North Korea as lagging behind other countries. We cannot place all the relationships on the same ground.

   Q: The North Korean Government is saying that the Chinese side informed them about Kim's visit in April. Why did the Chinese side not tell Japan in advance? The Chinese Foreign Minister was here recently. Did he give any hints or signs to Japan?

   Mr. Harada: I do not think that it is appropriate to draw a conclusion just because a certain government was not notified of certain diplomatic events in advance. I do not make any judgment out of China not informing us of the visit of Kim Jong Il before the visit.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
9. New initiative by Japan regarding the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

   Q: I read a report that Japan is pushing a new CTBT initiative?

   Mr. Harada: We are considering a new initiative or action plan, for example, to conduct joint action with like-minded countries to urge other countries to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as quickly as possible. At this stage I can only say that we are considering such an action plan. When we come up with a plan, I will share it with you both. Thank you very much.

   Related Information (The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT))