Press Conference 6 June 2000

1. Announcement on the funeral service for former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi
2. Announcement on the address by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the Discussion Group on the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit
3. Dispatch of a Japanese survey team to the earthquake center of Bengkulu in the Republic of Indonesia
4. Comment on the summit meeting between President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation
5. Announcement on the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) Meeting
6. Questions on Japan's refusal of an entry visa to Presidential Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung of Taiwan
7. Question concerning bilateral meetings to be held with Prime Minister Mori around the funeral of former Prime Minister Obuchi
8. Question on the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister of Defense George Fernandes of the Republic of India
9. Question on the upcoming General Election

1. Announcement on the funeral service for former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi

   Press Secretary Ryuichiro Yamazaki: Good afternoon. I have several announcements.

   My first announcement is on the funeral of the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to be held on Thursday 8 June. Many governments are sending special envoys and various dignitaries from their respective countries, and day by day the list is updated. We have distributed the latest list and if my count is correct, we have at least 80 countries which are represented by special envoys, including heads of state, presidents and others who are coming from their capitals.

   As far as individual meetings are concerned, at this point in time I can confirm that on the afternoon of 7 June, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori will meet individually with Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Borisovich Khristenko of the Russian Federation and the Vice Premier Qichen Qian of the People's Republic of China. On the morning Thursday 8 June, Prime Minister Mori will meet with President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and also with President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea as well as meeting with President Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the Republic of the Philippines, President Abdurrahman Wahid of the Republic of Indonesia and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. During the early evening of that day, he hopes to meet with the leaders of the South Pacific Forum region. On the morning of Friday 9 June, Prime Minister Mori hopes to meet with the leaders of the ASEAN countries.

   Related Information (Funeral of Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi)
   
2. Announcement on the address by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at the Discussion Group on the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit

   Mr. Yamazaki: My second announcement concerns yesterday's meeting of the discussion group on the upcoming Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, which took place at the Prime Minister's Office.

   In his opening statement, Prime Minister Mori touched upon the three basic themes of the Summit which can be grouped into three areas: (1) greater prosperity; (2) greater peace of mind; and (3) greater world stability in the 21st century. At yesterday's informal meeting he focused upon three items: (1) Information Technology (IT); (2) infectious diseases; and (3) food safety.

   With regard to the first item of IT, which he viewed as a key to building dynamism in the socio-economy as a whole toward the 21st century, he believed that the use of IT would contribute to further development, not only in industrialized countries, but also in developing countries, especially in such areas as education and health care. In relation to IT, there is the problem of the digital divide and this has caught the attention of many people throughout the world. Although it is vitally important to address this problem of the digital divide, we must look at this whole issue of IT more positively from the perspective of the "digital opportunity" that is offered by IT. This is why in Okinawa, Prime Minister Mori wishes to engage in substantive discussions with other G8 Leaders on how to shape a bright future in which each and every person, to use his own words, " from an eight year old child to an 80 year old elderly person," can make the fullest use of IT.

   With a view to soliciting the opinions of business leaders who are competing at the cutting edge of IT business, Prime Minister Mori will be hearing proposals from eminent world business leaders, including those from Japan, in the lead up to the Summit. Since he has always taken an interest in education, Prime Minister Mori said that he would like to touch upon the strengthening of education and training tailored to the demands of the IT age. In this context, as the President of the G8, Japan is considering a comprehensive package of assistance in order to exert leadership in cooperation with developing countries in this whole area of IT. This will be a diverse and flexible package of assistance that would complement active private sector initiatives. It will be composed of four pillars: (1) intellectual assistance toward the formulation of policy and institution building while working to improve the recognition that IT provides a golden opportunity to developing countries; (2) human resource development assistance focused on training and education; (3) assistance for the development of telecommunications infrastructures and networking; and (4) promotion of the use of IT through development assistance.

   Concerning the second item of infectious diseases, i.e. AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, Prime Minister Mori conveyed to this group his firm belief that they are not totally beyond our control if the G8 countries can cooperate together and strengthen their efforts by mobilizing existing medical, technical and financial resources. For achieving this objective, a new partnership must be built where a framework be created in which all the relevant actors, including governments of developed countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private companies and international organizations work together and support the efforts of the developing countries in taking measures for combating infectious diseases. Prime Minister Mori hoped that this would be the first step in building a new partnership originating from the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit.

   Finally, concerning the third item of food safety and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), it is well known that the United States and Europe have been expressing different views on this issue. All countries do, however, share the position that international rules based on scientific observations should be established on the treatment of GMOs. At the same time, such a great deal of time is taken to conduct scientific analysis, and positions on regulations on GMOs differ from those who adopt the "benefit of the doubt" approach and those who adopt the precautionary approach.

   Prime Minister Mori believes that biotechnology, together with IT, is a key to insuring the prosperity of humanity in the 21st century. The issue of how best to make use of the immense potential of biotechnology while giving due consideration to its impact on the environment and health and the concerns of consumers is an enormously important task that cannot be resolved overnight. Prime Minister Mori hoped that some common direction would be found through discussions in Okinawa to face these important issues.

   As for an exchange of views by the members who attended this informal discussion group composed of top business leaders and some academics, amongst others, there was one person who commented on IT. He said that there are three aspects: (1) the domestic; (2) the international; and (3) the question of political leadership. He said that as far as the domestic aspect was concerned, the important point was to establish dialogue between users, and as for the international aspect, the issues were the harmonization of rules and how to overcome the digital divide. Thirdly, he said that the question of political leadership pertains to the fact that it is difficult for traditional bureaucracy or government to effectively cope with the issues relating to IT due to the existing vertical regulatory institutions under the respective ministries.

   Another participant said that there were various forms of IT, such "B to C," "business to consumer," which is now developing into "C to C," "consumer to consumer." It was noted that "C to C" IT would be conducive to disseminating democracy in countries. In Asia, one participant noted that Japan is not the most advanced in IT. For instance, in the Republic of Singapore it was mentioned that IT is no longer a matter that comes under the scope of the Ministry of Education, but more under the scope of the Ministry of Labor. This reflects the wide range and scope of this whole issue.

   There were various points raised in the area of infectious diseases. In relation to this "new partnership idea," it was mentioned that non-profit organizations (NPOs) would have a crucial role and that G8 countries should cooperate with international NGOs, and especially for Japan, with international organizations through which the funds are ultimately distributed to NGOs and NPOs.

   Finally, on food safety, a participant mentioned that there was an aspect of safety for health, a second aspect of danger against the environment and a third aspect pertaining to trade.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
3. Dispatch of a Japanese survey team to the earthquake center of Bengkulu in the Republic of Indonesia

   Mr. Yamazaki: I would like to make a short announcement in relation to the very tragic earthquake that happened in the Republic of Indonesia. Yesterday, we decided to dispatch a survey team comprised of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Four of them left last evening and arrived in Jakarta this morning. From there they will go to the island of Sumatra, where on the west coast is the actual center of this tragic earthquake, the city of Bengkulu. Based on their findings, we will decide on what humanitarian measures to take, including the dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Team.

   Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
   
4. Comment on the summit meeting between President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation

   Mr. Yamazaki: Fourthly, a quick comment on the fact that in Moscow on Sunday, President Clinton met President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and had a very good bilateral meeting on wide ranging issues. We would like to welcome the fact that these two very important countries are conducting close high-level dialogue on these issues at the summit level.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   
5. Announcement on the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) Meeting

   Mr. Yamazaki: In Bonn, from 12-16 June, there is a important meeting in connection with preparing the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) to be held in the Hague this Autumn. There are two meetings of the subsidiary bodies, one called the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the other, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation. We have dispatched Ambassador for Global Environmental Affairs Kazuo Asakai.

   At the meetings, Japan will reiterate its position that every effort should be made to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol no later than 2002. Also, Japan recognizes that the success of COP6 is a prerequisite for the early entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.

   Related Information (Climate Change)
   
6. Questions on Japan's refusal of an entry visa to Presidential Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung of Taiwan

   Q: Can you tell me the reason why the entry visa to Taiwan's Presidential Secretary-General Chang has been denied? Two officials of the same rank have been accepted in the past. Why did Japan deny the visa this time?

   Mr. Yamazaki: If you are talking about reports saying that this gentlemen is supposed to attend former Prime Minister Obuchi's funeral, I can only say that at this time we do not know who wants to participate in the funeral from Taiwan. I have no comment to make on this gentleman's case. We are watching to see who the Taiwanese side is interested in sending. We have not got any firm announcement or liaison from the Taiwanese side yet.

   Q: The denial of the visa has been reported widely. Can you tell me why in the past at least two officials were accepted at funerals, but now this time the application has been turned down?

   Mr. Yamazaki: First of all on this visa issue, I do not have information on this. I can only repeat that we have not heard from the Taiwanese side as to who they want to attend.

   As to the latter half of your question, I do not have any comparison to make as of now in the official context of my press conference.

7. Question concerning bilateral meetings to be held with Prime Minister Mori around the funeral of former Prime Minister Obuchi

   Q: Do you have any idea about what meetings will be held during the funeral?

   Mr. Yamazaki: There is a list of whom various governments have decided to send from their capitals and this list is being updated every day encompassing more that 80 countries.

   As for the meetings, we are still in the final stages of finalizing the schedules. On Wednesday afternoon 7 June, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and the Vice Premier of China will be meeting Prime Minister Mori, presumably at the Prime Minister's Office. Tomorrow morning, presumably at the official guest house (Akasaka Palace), the President of the United States and the President of the Republic of Korea as well the Presidents of the Philippines, Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Australia will be meeting Prime Minister Mori individually. Later that day, Prime Minister Mori will meet with the leaders of the South Pacific Forum and on Friday morning 9 June, with the leaders of the ASEAN countries. These are the ones that have been announced as of now.

   Q: Do you now who is coming from Singapore?

   Mr. Yamazaki: Senior Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Lee Kuan Yew of the Republic of Singapore will be coming. What I said earlier was just a sketch of the meetings that have been decided more or less as of now. There will be many distinguished people in Tokyo, and so it is up to us to try and pay respect to all of them, but they all have very tight schedules.

   Related Information (Funeral of Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi)
   
8. Question on the meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono and Minister of Defense George Fernandes of the Republic of India

   Q: We understand the Indian Defense Minister Mr. Fernandes is meeting with Foreign Minister Kono tomorrow. Can you tell what they will be discussing?

   Mr. Yamazaki: In the afternoon on 7 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono will be meeting individually with Minister of Defense George Fernandes of the Republic of India who is representing the Indian Government for the funeral. Foreign Minister Kono will also be meeting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Domingo Siazon of the Republic of the Philippines, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and will be having dinner that evening with the Vice Premier of China. He will also pay a courtesy call during the evening of 8 June on President Wahid and that evening he will give a dinner for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers who are in Tokyo.

   I do not have the specific agenda of the meeting with the Indian Defense Minister. These meetings will probably be fairly short because these dignitaries have come to attend the funeral. That was the initial purpose. If time allows-obviously, there will be some time to have these bilateral meetings-afterward on 8 June toward the evening, I am prepared to do a special press conference so that I can give to the international press some debriefing of what took place at these various meetings. These meetings will be going on for most of the day. The funeral takes place between 2:00pm and 4:30pm, so everyone will be at the Budokan at that time.

   Related Information (Japan-India Relations)
   
9. Question on the upcoming General Election

   Q: There is an election coming up, what is the Japanese foreign policy perspective of the election? There is speculation that if a majority is not reached that there will be a change of government. If so, what preparations are being made regarding the Summit?

   Mr. Yamazaki: We in the bureaucracy do not envisage any scenario, but follow the political guidance of the Cabinet. As I described earlier, we will take stock of some of the opinions mentioned at yesterday's discussion group meeting on the G8 Summit and we have various inter-governmental G8 mechanisms such as the Sherpa and Political Director meetings. We will be in touch with various countries, as we have been in the past, so that we can make the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit as productive as possible.