Press Conference 19 October 2001

1. Assistance for the Kosovo Assembly elections
2. Food aid for Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
3. Additional humanitarian support for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
4. Questions regarding the situation in the Middle East

1. Assistance for the Kosovo Assembly elections

   Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have three announcements to make today. My first announcement is on Japan's assistance for the Kosovo-wide elections.

   In order to assist the fair implementation of the Kosovo-wide elections, which will be held on 17 November, the Government of Japan, on the basis of the International Peace Cooperation Law, has decided to prepare for a dispatch of election monitors from around mid- to late November to the international election monitoring activities conducted by the Council of Europe.

   In addition, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch two Balkan specialists from around late October until the end of November to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo Mission, which conducts the elections under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

   In addition to these personnel contributions, as financial assistance Japan has decided to extend about US$270,000 (approximately 32,500,000 yen) through the United Nations Human Security Fund to UNMIK, which will conduct election public relations activities aimed at citizens of ethnic minorities.

   The elections are being held to elect members to the Kosovo Assembly and are important since a provisional self-government will be established in Kosovo after their conclusion. Japan will continue to cooperate for the establishment of a democratic and multiethnic society in Kosovo.

2. Food aid for Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

   Mr. Hisaeda: My second announcement relates to food aid for the Afghan refugees in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Government of Japan has decided to extend food aid worth 500 million yen through the World Food Programme (WFP) to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Notes to this effect were exchanged on 17 October in Islamabad between Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Sadaaki Numata and Country Director Daly Belgasmi of the WFP Pakistan Office.

   In Afghanistan, prolonged internal conflict and such natural disasters as drought have generated significant numbers of refugees, of whom approximately two million have flowed into Pakistan. Furthermore, as the armed strikes by the United States of America and others have started in Afghanistan, another massive exodus of Afghan refugees is expected into Pakistan.

   Taking into account the serious food shortage among the refugees, Japan has decided to extend food aid in wheat worth 500 million yen, from a humanitarian point of view, while conferring on the matter with the Government of Pakistan.

   This food aid will be extended as part of the 4.7 billion yen grant aid from the "Emergency Economic Assistance for Pakistan" announced on 21 September, which is one item of "Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States".

   Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Additional humanitarian support for Afghan refugees in Pakistan

   Mr. Hisaeda: My last announcement is concerning additional humanitarian support for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The Government of Japan decided to supply 500 tents to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is conducting humanitarian support for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

   One tent accommodates 10 persons; so 500 tents will provide shelter for 5,000 people. I said this was an additional measure because it will be extended in addition to the measure announced on 5 October. I think you may remember that among the goods and materials that we extended earlier there were 315 tents capable of accommodating a total of roughly 3,150 people. For this additional supply of goods for humanitarian support, all the tents will be purchased and supplied to the UNHCR in Pakistan and so, unlike the last time, there will be no question of transportation from Japan to Pakistan.

   Related Information (Japan' Assistance)
   
4. Questions regarding the situation in the Middle East

   Q: I would like to know how the Japanese Government evaluates the mixed developments in the Middle East in the last two or three days. I would also like to know if there has been any contact between the Government of Japan and the parties concerned in the region to settle down the current tense situation.

   Mr. Hisaeda: Our efforts have been ongoing in the area and communication has been made to both parties through diplomatic channels, which I cannot comment on precisely. I draw your attention to the fact that we released a statement by the Press Secretary that condemned the act of assassination that occurred on 17 October. Such terrorism cannot be justified for any reason; we feel indignation toward such an act and resolutely condemn it. The Government of Japan strongly wishes that the mutual commitments reached at the meeting between Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres of the State of Israel on 26 September will be implemented at the earliest possible time and lead to an end to the violence and a resumption in negotiations.

   Q: Just to follow up, you mentioned that Japan condemns terrorism and there is no excuse for terrorism. That means that this also includes the targeting of the Palestinian leaders who were killed over the last few days?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, it does. We also condemn the policy of so-called targeted attacks by the Government of Israel. For instance, we released a press announcement on 2 August strongly condemning targeted attacks and urging all the parties concerned to exert maximum self-restraint in order to stop the vicious circle of violence and retaliation.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)