Press Conference 7 July 2000

1. Announcement on the visit to the Republic of Korea by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono
2. Announcement on the working breakfast meeting among G8 Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers of non-G8 countries
3. Pledge of an additional contribution by Japan for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund
4. Comments on the situation in the Republic of the Fiji Islands and the Solomon Islands
5. Announcement on the convening of the Pacific Islands Academic Summit
6. Official website in various languages for the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit Meeting uploaded today
7. Press report about Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's visit to the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
8. Plans of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America to conduct bilateral Summit meetings with Prime Minister Mori
9. Questions concerning the cancellation of the attendance at the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America
10. Japan's position in regard to the trial of the Jewish-Iranians and Muslims in the Islamic Republic of Iran
11. Other issues

1. Announcement on the visit to the Republic of Korea by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have several announcements to start with.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono will visit the Republic of Korea on 13-14 July. Foreign Minister Kono will meet President Kim Dae Jung and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Jung Bin to exchange views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other issues, bearing in mind the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok. Foreign Minister Kono will also explain the results of the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki.

   As the Chair of G8, Japan is in the position to lead the discussions so that the G8 will support the positive movements on the Korea Peninsula, and with that in mind we will attach importance to the exchange of views with the Republic of Korea this time.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)
   
2. Announcement on the working breakfast meeting among G8 Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers of non-G8 countries

   Mr. Harada: On 13 July in Miyazaki, G8 Foreign Ministers will hold a working breakfast meeting with Foreign Ministers of Troica countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), namely the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Colombia, and the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Chair of Group of 77, namely the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also the Kingdom of Thailand, which is the President of the 10th Assembly of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The G8 attaches importance to listening to the views of non-G8 countries, and the Non-Aligned Movement and Group of 77 have requested dialogue with the G8. With those in mind, we decided to arrange this working breakfast meeting.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
3. Pledge of an additional contribution by Japan for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund

   Mr. Harada: At the Second Pledging Conference for the Chernobyl Shelter Fund held in Berlin on 5 July, the Government of Japan pledged to contribute an additional US$22.5 million for the Fund. The amount of additional contribution pledged by the G7 as a whole will reach approximately US$300 million.

   This Pledging Conference was proposed by the Federal Republic of Germany at the Cologne Summit last year and was due to be held before this year's G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit. The Conference was co-hosted by Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer and Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.

   This issue of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has attracted much attention from the G7 countries. It has been regularly discussed at recent Summit meetings and will also be taken up at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.

   To give you a reminder on this issue, Unit Four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was "sheltered" in concrete and other materials immediately after the accident in 1986. The sheltering, however, has become worn-out in recent years, and the Shelter Implementation Plan, worth about US$760 million, was formulated mainly by the G7 in 1997.

   The Plan includes repairs to the old shelter and the planning of a new one. To implement the Plan, the Chernobyl Shelter Fund was established inside the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Approximately US$390 million was already donated to the Fund through the First Pledging Conference held in November last year. The amount includes US$300 million pledged by the G7 at the Denver Summit in 1997, of which Japan provided US$22.5 million. In response to the urgent need to provide the remaining funding for the smooth implementation of the Plan, the G7 and others considered an additional contribution and agreed at the Cologne Summit in 1999 to hold a Second Pledging Conference, which was held in Berlin.

   Related Information (Japan-Ukraine Relations)
   
4. Comments on the situation in the Republic of the Fiji Islands and the Solomon Islands

   Mr. Harada: The members of the internal civilian administration of the Republic of Fiji were formed on 4 July, including Mr. Laisenia Qarase, who was named as Prime Minister. At the same time, we are concerned that the military and the Speight group have yet to reach an agreement and that 27 hostages are still in captivity. There was a gunfight around the parliament on 4 July, and an exclusive zone was set up around the parliamentary compounds starting from 6 July. Japan strongly hopes that these hostages will be released soon without anyone being harmed. Japan will keep close watch on the developments in Fiji. We will also continue to work towards the stabilization of the situation, return to normalcy and the restoration of democracy in Fiji, to be swiftly realized through consultation and cooperation among all groups of people in the country.

   On the Solomon Islands, I understand that Mr. Manasseh Sogavare was elected as Prime Minister on 30 June. I strongly hope that the election of Prime Minister Sogavare will lead to the restoration of political stability in the Solomon Islands, as well as to the resolution of ethnic conflict in the country.

   Related Information (Japan-Fiji Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Solomon Relations)
   
5. Announcement on the convening of the Pacific Islands Academic Summit

   Mr. Harada: The Pacific Islands Academic Summit will be convened on 8 July, at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the University of the Ryukyus are co-hosting the Summit.

   The aim of the Summit is to bring together the heads of major universities and colleges and policy makers from the Pacific Island countries and their Japanese counterparts to discuss ways to strengthen intellectual and academic ties between Japan and the region. The discussion will center around such topics as "human resources development," "personnel and academic exchanges," "environment and infectious diseases", and "information technology."

   A joint press release on a joint declaration is expected to be issued at the end of the Summit.

   The Pacific Islands Academic Summit will be the first such exercise in the history of the relationship between Japan and the Pacific Island countries. The meeting is a follow-up event to the Second Japan-South Pacific Forum Summit Meeting (PALM 2000), which was held this April in Miyazaki with the participation of the 16 leaders of the South Pacific Forum members and Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
6. Official website in various languages for the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit Meeting uploaded today

   Mr. Harada: The official website of the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit started today to send information in French, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Chinese, in addition to Japanese and English. We hope that more people will access our official website of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Meeting.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
7. Press report about Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's visit to the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Q: The Japanese newspapers recently reported that Prime Minister Mori plans to visit India and Pakistan to pressure them to sign the CTBT. It is said that the visit may take place in August of this year. Do you have any comments?

   Mr. Harada: I am aware of that press report. Concerning Prime Minister Mori's visit abroad, at this stage nothing has been decided, so I cannot make any specific comments on this matter.

   Q: The report said that Prime Minister Mori would be pressuring them to sign the CTBT, but do you think that a country like India can be pressured into doing something that it does not want to do? India has already said it has decided to sign the CTBT after achieving national consensus. Do you think that pressure will work?

   Mr. Harada: You are talking about the press report, not the position of the Government of Japan. First of all, again I have to repeat that we have not decided on Prime Minister Mori's visit abroad during the summer. On the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), I am sure you are very much familiar with the position of the Government of Japan. We do have a strong expectation that the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will sign the CTBT as soon as possible. On various occasions, we have conveyed our position to these countries. However, that does not mean that Japan is exerting pressure on other countries. We are presenting our position and encouraging these countries to sign the CTBT as soon as possible.

   Related Information (Japan-India Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
   
8. Plans of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation and President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America to conduct bilateral Summit meetings with Prime Minister Mori

   Q: Can you confirm reports that President Putin wants to go to Okinawa directly and have a meeting with Prime Minister Mori in Okinawa?

   Mr. Harada: When Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryozo Kato visited Moscow, we agreed with the Russian side that we should have a bilateral Summit meeting with the Russian Federation on 20 July in Tokyo. However, recently we received a request from the Russian side to rearrange that date, and in response to that request, we are now coordinating with the Russian side to rearrange the bilateral Summit meeting. I cannot confirm at this stage whether it will be held in Okinawa or in Tokyo.

   Q: Does "rearranging" mean that you are rearranging the date? The agreement was to hold the meeting on 20 July in Tokyo. Does this mean that you are rearranging the whole process, the date and venue?

   Mr. Harada: The agreement was on the morning of 20 July in Tokyo. I can just tell you that the Russian side wants to rearrange that agreement.

   Q: Have they proposed any new date?

   Mr. Harada: We are now coordinating with the Russian side. We have various bilateral meetings, so it will take some time to rearrange it.

   Q: Have you confirmed if President Clinton will be stopping over in Tokyo before going to Okinawa?

   Mr. Harada: We are expecting President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of America in Tokyo.

   Related Information (Japan-Russia Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
9. Questions concerning the cancellation of the attendance at the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America

   Q: Concerning Secretary of State Albright's cancellation of her visit to Japan, I read some reports that described the decision as causing dismay among Japanese officials. Is Japan very much upset about this cancellation? To what extent will this cancellation influence the Foreign Ministers' Meeting?

   Mr. Harada: Regarding the absence of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright of the United States of America at the Foreign Ministers' in Miyazaki, Foreign Minister Kono had a telephone conversation with State Secretary Albright yesterday.

   State Secretary Albright explained that because of the trilateral summit in Camp David, it turned out that she would not be able to attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki. In response, Foreign Minister Kono said that he was surprised and that it was unfortunate that State Secretary Albright would not be able to attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki, because he expected that she would play an important role there. At the same time he said that he clearly recognized the importance of the Middle East peace process and understood that the United States has to exert maximum efforts to bring about development of the process. He also expressed his expectation that the efforts of the United States will achieve success.

   As you can understand from this telephone conversation, Japan was surprised by this decision, but at the same time we recognize and understand the reason for the absence. Japan hardly believes that the absence of State Secretary Albright will influence the result of the meeting.

   Q: Do you think that Japan should have been consulted about this issue before?

   Mr. Harada: We were informed by the United States side prior to the announcement.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
10. Japan's position in regard to the trial of the Jewish-Iranians and Muslims in the Islamic Republic of Iran

    Q: I read recently a statement from the Foreign Ministry that expressed concern about the sentence of the trial being held in Iran against certain people accused of spying. What is the background of the Japanese position on this?

    Mr. Harada: This concerns the statement on the verdict of the trial of the 13 Jewish-Iranians and eight Muslims in the Islamic Republic of Iran. I will have to repeat the statement because the answer is in the statement. The sentences of the trial on the 13 Jewish-Iranians and eight Muslims were announced in Shiraz on 1 July. Although neither death penalties nor life sentence are included in those verdicts, Japan is concerned about the fairness and transparency of the trial proceedings.

    Japan has repeatedly called on the Government of Iran to ensure the fair and transparent nature in trial proceedings and will continue to monitor this case closely while taking note of the possibility of appeal to a higher court by the defendants.

    Q: I do not seem to remember, though I may be wrong, that Japan expressed similar concern in the past over trials of certain people in different countries in the Middle East. Has Japan suddenly decided to express concern because of the background of the defendants?

    Mr. Harada: I will have to check whether this is the fist time that we have expressed such concern about the trial proceedings in the Middle East. However, since spring 1999 Japan has consistently appealed to the Government of Iran in this regard. We made this statement not suddenly; we have consistently taken this position.

    Q: Is this going to be Japan's policy from now on regarding other countries in the Middle East? Is Japan going to express concern if this trial is not conducted fairly? Or are you going to always request that the trials in that area should be carried out transparently?

    Mr. Harada: Only when we have reason for concern about the fairness and transparency of trial proceedings, we will express our concerns. This is not necessarily limited to the Middle East countries.

    Q: Sometimes in other parts of the Middle East there were some trials and there were concerns expressed by some parties, but I have not heard any reaction from Japan.

    Mr. Harada: I will have to check whether that is correct or not, because I do not have the material with me on similar cases and whether we expressed our concern or not.

    Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
    
11. Other issues

    Q: Has any announcement been made concerning the visit by the Omani Minister?

    Mr. Harada: If you are interested, I can share some information with you. The visit to Japan of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah of the Sultanate of Oman is an unofficial, private visit. He will be coming to Japan from 8-12 July. I understand that his main purpose of visiting Asia is to attend the 27th Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in Malaysia. He will take that opportunity to visit Japan as well, where he will have a meeting with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yutaka Kawashima on 11 July. That will be the official contact with us.

    Q: I heard some reports that there was an attack on Yokota Air Base. I heard that there were some investigations. Do you have any update on this issue?

    Mr. Harada: We are aware of this incident and an investigation is now taking place, but I do not have any specific information to share with you at this moment.