Press Conference 16 October 2001

1. Question regarding the reconstruction of Afghanistan
2. Questions on the current situation in Afghanistan
3. Questions concerning evidence about the terrorist attacks in the United States of America
4. Questions on the scope of the campaign against terrorism
5. Questions in relation to Japan's diplomatic efforts in the campaign against terrorism
6. Questions on the visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Republic of Korea

1. Question regarding the reconstruction of Afghanistan

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have no announcements at the outset so I would be delighted to answer any questions that you might have.

   Q: I read in some reports that Mr. Koumura, former Foreign Minister, proposed that Japan host a conference regarding the reconstruction of Afghanistan or something like that. Do you have any update or any information on this?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not know if it is correct to say that we have officially announced our will to host such a conference. However, it is true that for a long time the Japanese Government has flagged its willingness to play a principal role, by, for example, hosting a conference once such efforts become possible, in order to contribute to the rebuilding and reconstruction of the war-battered country that is Afghanistan. I think former Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura has reiterated such an intention on the part of the Japanese Government.

   Q: Did you receive any response from the parties concerned?

   Mr. Hattori: To my understanding, I do not think that we have seen a very concrete response-either positive or negative-to such an expression of our intention. Nonetheless, we are quite sure that at some point this kind of international gathering will become necessary, and we are also sure that our positive intention would be welcomed by the international community.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
2. Questions on the current situation in Afghanistan

   Q: Moving to the battlefield, do you have any updates on what is going on in Afghanistan now?

   Mr. Hattori: I think the international news media has been reporting the information to its full extent. I do not know whether or not they are accurate [in their coverage]. But I would like to refrain from making any comments on what is happening on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

   Q: But, basically, Japan supports what is happening on the battlefield?

   Mr. Hattori: Of course, it is our firm intention, and it has been very clearly stated by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, on many occasions, that Japan firmly stands by the United States of America and the international community as a whole in the fight against terrorism.

   Q: There are reports that many innocent people are becoming victims due to these bombings. Are you aware of these reports, and does Japan care if fighting terrorism requires killing innocent civilians as a necessity?

   Mr. Hattori: It is very regrettable that innocent people become victims of this campaign, and it is our wish that such situations whereby innocent people become victims should be avoided to the extent possible.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Questions concerning evidence about the terrorist attacks in the United States of America

   Q: There were many reports in the press in Arabic and Islamic countries suggesting that the evidence obtained by the United States is not really valid, or would not be valid if it were referred to a court. Do you agree with this, or what is Japan's point of view on this?

   Mr. Hattori: On this point, I think the position of the Government of Japan is very clear; as Prime Minister Koizumi himself has said very clearly in the Diet, during exchanges of questions and answers in the Diet, the evidence shown by the United States to our Government is sufficient to lead us to believe that Mr. Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban were responsible for the attack on the United States.

   Q: So why did you not release this evidence to the public?

   Mr. Hattori: You must understand that there are many intelligence facts and other confidential information contained in the evidence shown to us by the United States, and we also have our own sources of information pertaining to these terrorist attacks. We regard all of that information as [providing] sufficient [basis] to believe that those parties mentioned in connection with this incident were responsible.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
4. Questions on the scope of the campaign against terrorism

   Q: There were also some American officials calling to bomb other countries in the next stage of operations. Namely, they wanted to bomb Syria, Iraq, Libya, or Iran. Does Japan also support this kind of second-stage bombing against Arab countries?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not understand that either the United States or the United Kingdom are intending to shift the battlefield from Afghanistan to other countries at this point in time.

   Q: In case they shift it in the future, is Japan ready to?

   Mr. Hattori: That is too hypothetical for me to make any comment on.

   Q: But some American officials have already announced that they are going to do this, and others have said no. So there are kinds of conflicting reports there. Where does Japan stand on this?

   Mr. Hattori: We have not confirmed that.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
5. Questions in relation to Japan's diplomatic efforts in the campaign against terrorism

   Q: Do you have more in your diplomatic campaign?

   Mr. Hattori: As I explained in my last conference, we have already sent envoys to those countries that are very closely involved in this affair. At this point in time I do not think we are contemplating, for example, sending other representatives to other countries, but it will depend on developments in the situation.

   Q: Do you expect some officials might visit Japan in this circumstance?

   Mr. Hattori: No, not to my understanding.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
6. Questions on the visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Republic of Korea

   Q: On Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Korea, could you tell me what he has done in Korea on his trip this time?

   Mr. Hattori: Prime Minister Koizumi, on his visit to the Republic of Korea, met with President Kim Dae-Jung and also Prime Minister Lee Han Dong. In the conversations that took place between the leaders, they discussed the bilateral relationship including history-related issues, and the responses to the terrorist attacks in the United States. In addition, the leaders exchanged views on respective policies toward North Korea, and in a forward-looking manner they discussed the future bilateral relationship.

   On top of these discussions, Prime Minister Koizumi paid a visit to Seodaemoon Independence Park, and in the wake of his visit to that site Prime Minister Koizumi made comments about his feelings and what he had seen there. This visit served to [help] establish the personal relationship between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Kim Dae-Jung, and also made it possible for both of our countries to lay the groundwork for preparing for the World Cup in 2002, which will be hosted jointly by Japan and the Republic of Korea. Therefore, we are of the view that this visit ended with great results and consequences for our two countries.

   Mr. Kang: Do you know if they exchanged any kind of memorandum or some such thing?

   Mr. Hattori: As you know, this visit was not intended to issue any kind of document; the idea of issuing a memorandum or some kind of formal statement was not on the agenda of this visit.

   Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)