Press Conference 29 September 2000

1. Announcement on the recent elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
2. Announcement on the visit to Japan of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Yahia of the Republic of Tunisia
3. Announcement on the postponement of the visit to Japan of President Hugo Banzer Suarez of the Republic of Bolivia
4. Announcement on the Japan-Iranian Dialogue on Human Rights
5. Announcement on Japan's contribution to the peace process in the Republic of Burundi
6. Question on Japan's view on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Summit Meeting and the issue of the release of Japan's strategic oil reserves
7. Follow-up questions on the postponement of the visit to Japan of President Banzer
8. Japan's position on extending food aid to North Korea
9. Question on Japan's conditions for the recognition of a Palestinian State

1. Announcement on the recent elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to start with five announcements.

   Yesterday on 28 October, the Yugoslav Election Administration Commission announced the final results of the elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

   Even these results demonstrate that a large number of Yugoslav people call for democratic reform and a new leader. This is a large forward movement toward democracy. President Slobodan Milosevic of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia must seriously accept the will of the Yugoslav people. We have been in close contact with other countries and international organizations, such as other G8 members, the European Union (EU), and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), on what measures the international community should take for the realization of democracy and the stability of Yugoslavia. Japan will continue to monitor closely the situation in Yugoslavia.

   Related Information (Japan-Serbia and Montenegro Relations)
   
2. Announcement on the visit to Japan of Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Yahia of the Republic of Tunisia

   Mr. Harada: Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Yahia of the Republic of Tunisia will visit Japan from 3-9 October as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   During his stay in Japan, President Yahia will meet Minister of International Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma and Minister of Transport Hajime Morita on 4 October, and on 5 October will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, hold talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, and meet with President Kunihiko Saito of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and others concerned with economic cooperation.

   Relations between Japan and the Republic of Tunisia have been favorably developing, centering on frequent visits by Tunisian leading figures, including that of President Ben Ali of the Republic of Tunisia as a state guest in 1996, and on economic cooperation. The present visit by Foreign Minister Yahia is to confirm and further strengthen those friendly and cooperative relations. Taking the opportunity that Tunisia is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for two years from this year, the two foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on wide-ranging issues, such as United Nations reform, as well as the international situation, including the Middle East peace process.

   As a footnote, Foreign Minister Yahia was Tunisia's first ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1981. He is known in Tunisia for his extensive knowledge on Japan.

   Related Information (Japan-Tunisia Relations)
   
3. Announcement on the postponement of the visit to Japan of President Hugo Banzer Suarez of the Republic of Bolivia

   Mr. Harada: The official working visit to Japan of President Hugo Banzer Suarez of the Republic of Bolivia and Mrs. Banzer, which was announced on 5 and 22 September 2000, has been postponed, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Bolivia.

   Related Information (Japan-Bolivia Relations)
   
4. Announcement on the Japan-Iranian Dialogue on Human Rights

   Mr. Harada: The Japan-Iranian Dialogue on Human Rights is to be held on 1-2 October in Tehran. From the Japanese side, Director of the Human Rights and Refugees Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kuniko Ozaki and others, and from the Iranian side, Director of the Human Rights and Social Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seyed Hossein Rezvani and others will attend this meeting. They will exchange views on the current situation concerning human rights in the international community and both countries. Japan welcomes the realization of this dialogue as demonstrating Iran's positive posture to tackle human rights.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
5. Announcement on Japan's contribution to the peace process in the Republic of Burundi

   Mr. Harada: Japan has been supporting the so-called Arusha peace process and extended financial support totaling US$100,000 for the holding of meetings pertaining to the peace process.

   This time, the Government of Japan has decided to contribute US$100,000 to the Burundi Peace Negotiations Office of the facilitators in the United Republic of Tanzania to support the peace process in the Republic of Burundi.

   In Burundi, a peace agreement was signed in August in the absence of certain parties to the negotiations. Later on 20 September, all the parties concerned signed a peace agreement, and they decided to continue negotiating a ceasefire and other remaining issues.

   The Government of Japan has decided on a contribution to support the efforts of the United Nations to peacefully resolve the conflict and to promote peace in Burundi and friendly relations between Japan and Burundi.

   Related Information (Japan-Burundi Relations)
   
6. Question on Japan's view on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Summit Meeting and the issue of the release of Japan's strategic oil reserves

   Q: I would like to ask what your comment is on the OPEC meeting today and what Japanese government policy is toward releasing part of its strategic oil reserves?

   Mr. Harada: My answer to your first question, since the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Summit Meeting held in Caracas finished only yesterday, and we have not completely finished our assessment of the result of the Caracas Summit Meeting, would be a preliminary one.

   The Summit Meeting issued the Caracas Declaration in which OPEC countries express their firm commitment to continue providing adequate, timely and secure supplies of oil to consumers at fair and stable prices. We highly appreciate such firm commitment. Japan also positively appreciates that in the Declaration OPEC has also demonstrated a posture to actively seek channels of dialogue between oil producers and consumers. In this context, the Declaration refers to the 7th International Energy Forum, which is to be held in Riyadh in November. The 7th International Energy Forum will be co-hosted by Japan, and Japan will naturally take an active part in this forum.

   We hope OPEC will carry out its responsibility for the stability of the oil market and also for the growth of the word economy.

   In answer to your second question, at this stage the International Energy Agency (IEA) members, including Japan, do not believe it is necessary to jointly release the oil reserves in stock. However, Japan will respond quickly taking into account discussions in the international community, including the IEA, if any need arises, for example, in the case of a shortage of oil supply. Prime Minister Mori made a comment the day before yesterday in the Diet to the same effect.

   Related Information (Atomic Energy)
   
7. Follow-up questions on the postponement of the visit to Japan of President Banzer

   Q: Are there any specific reasons for the postponement of the visit to Japan of the Bolivian president?

   Mr. Harada: According to the explanation of the Bolivian side, the visit has been postponed owing to an internal situation in Bolivia.

   Q: Is there expectation as to a rearrangement date for the visit?

   Mr. Harada: We had been looking forward to this visit, although unfortunately it has been postponed. However, I am sure we will consult with the Bolivian side to rearrange the visit in the future. At this stage, there is no concrete timing or date for the rearrangement of the visit.

   Related Information (Japan-Bolivia Relations)
   
8. Japan's position on extending food aid to North Korea

   Q: Regarding relief to North Korea, South Korea announced yesterday that it would be providing 600,000 tons of rice. Do you think that will effect the Japanese government's consideration regarding the extension of food aid?

   Mr. Harada: The Government of the Republic of Korea announced its food aid to North Korea yesterday to the total amount of 600,000 tons, and we hope this decision will lead to further improvement of the North- South relationship and the reduction of tension on the Korean Peninsula.

   As far as Japan' food aid to North Korea is concerned, in response to the recent announcement of the World Food Programme, we are now studying what we should do. We have not come to any conclusion yet. I can only say at this moment that we are studying this food aid from the overall perspective.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
9. Question on Japan's conditions for the recognition of a Palestinian State

   Q: According to a report by Jiji, they say that Japan is ready to recognize unconditionally the Palestinian State if the Middle East peace talks collapse and the Palestinians agree with Israel not to discuss the complicated issues, such as territorial borders. Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Harada: We are closely following the final stage negotiations. Since the parties concerned are seriously engaged in negotiations for the realization of peace, at this moment I do not think it appropriate to make a comment on a hypothetical basis.

   Japan has been supporting and will continue to support the efforts by the parties concerned for the realization of a permanent peace.

   Japan's basic position on a Palestinian State is that Japan will immediately consider the recognition of a Palestinian State once the Palestinians declare their independence in a peaceful manner. This basic position has not changed.

   Also, in August when President Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority met with Foreign Minister Kono, Foreign Minister Kono gave President Arafat friendly advice that it would not be advisable to declare independence without agreement from the State of Israel. If the Palestinians declare unilaterally the independence, the loss would be huge for the Palestinians, so Foreign Minister Kono expressed his hope that the parties concerned would continue to be engaged in negotiations patiently.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)