Press Conference 2 October 2001

1. Introduction
2. Measures in response to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America
3. Follow-up questions on measures in response to the terrorist attacks
4. Questions on the dispatch of Special Envoys to the Middle East
5. Question concerning reports of information about the terrorist attacks
6. Question regarding overseas visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka

1. Introduction

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Before proceeding further, I would like to welcome the two journalists from the Kingdom of Thailand who are visiting Japan at the invitation of the Foreign Press Center.

2. Measures in response to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America

   Mr. Hattori: First of all, I would like to touch upon the measures that the Government of Japan has taken and is going to take in response to the terrorist attacks in the United States of America.

   I believe that you have received a long summary of the measures that we have taken up until now. Actually, the Government ministries and agencies concerned and the coalition political parties are working on legislation that is going to be brought before the Diet some time later this week, hopefully, on 5 October. As of last night, the three coalition parties that form the Government have agreed on the gist of the new legislation to be brought before the Diet. Since this morning, the draft of that legislation has been under discussion by each of the parties, particularly those of the ruling coalition, so that it can be finalized before it is brought before the Diet later this week. I would like to avoid getting into the details of that legislation because it is still under discussion before being finalized.

   Today, I also have the pleasure to announce that from this week the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will give regular briefings on this issue once or twice a week. Director Kazuyoshi Umemoto of the Policy Coordination Division will give the first briefing on Thursday, 4 October, and notice of future briefings will be given in due course.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
3. Follow-up questions on measures in response to the terrorist attacks

   Q: Thank you, Mr. Hattori. I hope that we, as the foreign press, will have more chance to have the Minister herself speak on some occasion, because we do not have such an opportunity on that side. On Japanese preparations, what is the latest on Japan's preparation on the military front?

   Mr. Hattori: Before going into that subject, I should mention some our recent efforts on the diplomatic front. Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura is now visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran as a Special Envoy of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi is now going to send former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto as his Special Envoy to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto will visit Egypt from 7 October and travel to the United Arab Emirates on 9 October. The visits of these Special Envoys are part of our diplomatic efforts in the fight against terrorism.

   In regard to your question, on preparations "on the military front", I do not know if it is appropriate for us to use that kind of description in connection with the efforts that we are making. As I said at the last press conference, whatever the Japanese Government does, particularly in relation to utilizing the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), it is going to be activities outside the battlefield and details of the activities of the SDF are going to be defined by new legislation that will be discussed next week. I am not in a position to go into details of those eventual activities of the SDF. I have to say that we are now focusing rather on diplomatic efforts such as sending Special Envoys and letters from Prime Minister Koizumi to concerned countries. In addition, we are also assisting the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with grant assistance for their efforts to take care of refugees. And also as I said at the last press conference, assistance for refugees will be contemplated in relation to other neighboring countries if there should be any need for that.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
4. Questions on the dispatch of Special Envoys to the Middle East

   Q: Mr. Koumura and Mr. Hashimoto, concerning their trips, are they going to discuss oil-related issues with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, such as securing an oil supply to Japan in case of some military action?

   Mr. Hattori: With regard to those two Special Envoys, their primary purpose is going to be to discuss common joint efforts to fight against terrorism; but that does not exclude talking about bilateral issues and other issues such as the situation in the Middle East. However, I do not anticipate that the discussions by those two Special Envoys with the leaders of the countries that they are visiting will include the issue that you have raised.

   Q: Is Mr. Koumura visiting Iran because the United States requested that Japan send a certain message to Iran?

   Mr. Hattori: It is not because we received a request from somebody else that we are going to send a Special Envoy to Iran. As you know, we have been enjoying a very friendly and cordial relationship with Iran and the United States has not done the same. We are of the view that there is a part that we can play in having a cooperative stance from that country.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
5. Question concerning reports of information about the terrorist attacks

   Q: I read a report in Jiji Press claiming that Mr. Koizumi stated that he had hard evidence that bin Laden is involved in the attack and he got that evidence from Mr. Bush?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not think Prime Minister Koizumi has made such a statement. Jiji Press, I understand, reported that the US Government is now preparing to provide allies with some intelligence information. I have to say that the Japanese Government and the US Government have been exchanging intelligence information, and this exchange has been greatly strengthened in the wake of these terrorist attacks, and I believe that there will be further such exchanges.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
6. Question regarding overseas visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka

   Q: Is Foreign Minister Tanaka planning any overseas trips in the near future?

   Mr. Hattori: I have no information on that.