Press Conference 12 October 2001

1. Announcement on emergency aid to the Republic of Tajikistan
2. Announcement concerning an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
3. Follow-up questions on aid to Tajikistan
4. Question on a recent visit to Japan by a delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran
5. Questions concerning the situation in Afghanistan
6. Questions regarding the delivery of aid

1. Announcement on emergency aid to the Republic of Tajikistan

   Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have a couple of announcements to make today. My first announcement concerns emergency aid to the Republic of Tajikistan for refugees from Afghanistan.

   On October 12, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid totaling 240 million yen (approximately US$2 million) to the Republic of Tajikistan to assist the Government of Tajikistan provide care for Afghan refugees.

   This emergency grant aid is extended as part of Japan's "humanitarian, economic and other necessary assistance to surrounding and affected countries" which was included in "Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States" announced on 19 September.

   About 15,000 Afghan refugees are camping out in Tajikistan at present, and due to the opening of the US military operation in Afghanistan, more refugees are expected. Therefore, on the visit of Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Muneo Suzuki, Member of the House of Representatives, on 8 October, President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan requested the Government of Japan to extend emergency aid. The aid provided at this time is being extended in response to this request.

   Related Information (Japan-Tajikistan Relations)
   
2. Announcement concerning an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

   Mr. Hisaeda: My second announcement concerns an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka is going to the Republic of Singapore to attend a WTO informal ministerial meeting, which is scheduled to be held on 13 and 14 October. In that meeting, ministers from 21 countries and areas will have an informal exchange of views in anticipation of an early launch of a new round of WTO negotiations.

   Related Information (WTO)
   
3. Follow-up questions on aid to Tajikistan

   Q: In relation to this emergency aid to Tajikistan, Japan is to extend 240 million yen in aid, is that to cover mainly food or some other materials?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I do not have the precise list of contents, but it is grant assistance, and I think the content of the aid is similar to that which we sent to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in relation to Afghan refugees.

   Q: Who will take care of this aid?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I have no information on that, so I will check that for you.

   Q: The Japanese Self-Defense Forces, will they also visit Tajikistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: To my knowledge, there is no specific plan for the use of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for that purpose.

   Related Information (Japan-Tajikistan Relations)
   
4. Question on a recent visit to Japan by a delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Q: A delegation of Iranian lawmakers recently came to Japan and met with Foreign Minister Tanaka. Could you give me some information about the discussion that took place?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, certainly. The parliamentary delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Foreign Minister Tanaka on the afternoon of 10 October. In a friendly atmosphere, Foreign Minister Tanaka and the Iranian delegation exchanged views on our bilateral relationship and the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States of America.

   Foreign Minister Tanaka welcomed the delegation and expressed Japan's position to fight against terrorism. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Tanaka voiced appreciation for the stance expressed by President Mohammad Khatami of Iran, and went on to state that the basic positions of Japan and Iran against terrorism are very much the same.

   In response to that statement, the leader of the Iranian delegation said that the Iranian side abhors such acts as terrorism and the leaders of Iran had issued a statement against such terrorism and Iran is ready to resolve this issue in cooperation with the international community. That is an outline of the meeting.

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
5. Questions concerning the situation in Afghanistan

   Q: Do you have any idea about the results of the operations in Afghanistan, the bombing of the targets there? Do you receive updates or information about this from your ally, the United States?

   Mr. Hisaeda: We receive information from the US side from time to time, but I cannot comment on the contents of our exchange of information.

   Q: Do you mean it is secret information?

   Mr. Hisaeda: We are not going to comment on the exchange of such information.

   Q: How many Japanese ships, SDF ships, are now in that area?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I do not think that there are any SDF vessels there at this moment.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
6. Questions regarding the delivery of aid

   Q: The other day, I received a press release from Médecines Sans Frontières. Aid dropped from the sky, as the United States is doing in Afghanistan, may actually frighten refugees: it is a kind of bombing. If the United States wants to deliver such aid, it should be taken care of by hand delivery, as is the case with Japanese aid. Is there any assistance by the SDF in Afghanistan? Can they take care of US aid? Or could it be done through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or some United Nations group? Could such UN people handle US aid, and deliver it to Afghanistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I am not going to answer any hypothetical questions, but what is very clear to us is (1) we are not going to use the Self-Defense Forces in areas where combat is actually going on; (2) our transportation of relief assistance of food and other materials to the Afghan refugees is destined for Pakistan, not Afghanistan; (3) I do not have any information on NGOs or private Japanese citizens or organizations operating in areas in Afghanistan where bombing is taking place, so I cannot answer on whatever the possibility may be there; and (4) I am not going to comment on the way in which food aid is being delivered by US forces-that is a question for the United States.

   Q: During the Second World War, in Taiwan, we received a lot of aid in a similar way, from the sky. We on the ground thought that it was dangerous, that we cold not take it and eat it. I am wondering whether or not the Afghan people might hold the same feeling. If the United States wants to deliver aid I think the delivery method should be considered. If you are in the appropriate position, could you pass that opinion on to Foreign Minister Tanaka or to the Cabinet?

   Mr. Hiseda: I do not think we share your view, and so I do not think we are likely to express such an opinion to the United States.

   Related Information (Japan' Assistance)