Press Conference 16 November 2001

1. Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Republic of India
2. Visit to Japan by President Robert Kocharian of the Republic of Armenia
3. Emergency assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria
4. Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan
5. Question on the reaction of the Government of Japan to developments in Afghanistan
6. Questions concerning Japan's role in Afghanistan
7. Questions with regard to the classification of terrorist organizations
8. Follow-up questions on the Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan
9. Comment on travel advice and warnings
10. Questions regarding the activities of agitators

1. Visit to Japan by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Republic of India

   Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have several announcements to make today.

   My first announcement concerns the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Republic of India. Prime Minister Vajpayee, accompanied by a suite, will pay an official visit to Japan from 7 to 11 December. During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Vajpayee will be received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Furthermore, His Majesty the Emperor will host a court luncheon in honor of Prime Minister Vajpayee.

   In addition, Prime Minister Vajpayee will meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Prime Minister Koizumi will host a dinner in honor of the Indian Prime Minister.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of Prime Minister Vajpayee, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and India.

   Related Information (Japan-India Relations)
   
2. Visit to Japan by President Robert Kocharian of the Republic of Armenia

   Mr. Hisaeda: Secondly, President Robert Kocharian of the Republic of Armenia, accompanied by an entourage, will make an official working visit to Japan from 19 to 22 December. While in Japan, President Kocharian will make a state call on His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor will hold a court luncheon in honor of President Kocharian. Furthermore, President Kocharian will also meet with Prime Minister Koizumi.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of President Kocharian, which will further strengthen the friendly relations that exist between Japan and Armenia.

   Related Information (Japan-Armenia Relations)
   
3. Emergency assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria

   Mr. Hisaeda: My next announcement is on emergency assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria. On 16 November, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of US$200,000 and materials comprising 50 tents and 6,2000 blankets (equivalent to approximately 10 million yen) to Algeria, which has sustained damage from a torrential rainstorm.

   The Government of Japan has decided to extend this emergency assistance from a humanitarian point of view, taking into account the seriousness of the disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Algeria.

   Related Information (Japan-Algeria Relations)
   
4. Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan

   Mr. Hisaeda: Lastly, a Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan is scheduled to be held on 20 November in Washington D.C. at the under-secretary level. The meeting will be co-chaired by Japan and the United States of America and attended by delegates from countries and international organizations that are expected to play an important role in the future reconstruction of Afghanistan.

   Participants at the meeting will discuss how efforts should be made by the international community for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Dr. Sadako Ogata, Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Japan for assistance to Afghanistan, will attend the opening session of the meeting.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
5. Question on the reaction of the Government of Japan to developments in Afghanistan

   Q: What is Japan's reaction to the recent military developments in Afghanistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: We are now discussing the matter with the United States and other countries concerned, particularly with regard to (1) the assessment of the present situation, and, very importantly, (2) the question of achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan.

   I think there are two key issues, namely, peace and political stability in Afghanistan and reconstruction of Afghanistan. In connection with the first issue, Japan supports the efforts made by the United Nations, namely, the activities of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, the Secretary-General's special representative for Afghanistan. The second issue, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, may include humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. The under-secretary level meeting that I announced earlier concerns the second issue. Japan wishes to play an important, active role both in the peace process and the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
6. Questions concerning Japan's role in Afghanistan

   Q: How about the Japanese role in the current military operations?

   Mr. Hisaeda: The efforts that the Government of Japan has taken so far relate to both restoring peace in Afghanistan and extending humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan as well as eradicating the hotbed of terrorism. Japan strongly supports the military efforts by the United States and other countries. For instance, we have already dispatched three Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels to the Indian Ocean for information gathering. We are now working intensively on the Basic Plan, within which our Self-Defense Forces (SDF) play an important role under new legislation. I think the Basic Plan will be announced shortly. I expect that it will clarify what kind of activities our SDF will be engaged in.

   Q: So far Japan has not provided any military assistance or participated in the fight inside Afghanistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: That is correct. And even under the Basic Plan, the activities of the SDF will be limited in the non-combat area, but, surely, they will provide certain assistance to the US forces engaged in combat operations within the framework of Japan's Constitution.

   Related Information (Japan' Assistance)
   
7. Questions with regard to the classification of terrorist organizations

   Q: The United States considers some Palestinian and Lebanese organizations, such as Hezbollah, as terrorist organizations. Does Japan follow the US classifications and consider these organizations as terrorist organizations?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I can only say that we are having close consultations with the United States on the matter.

   Q: Do you consider these groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations or not?

   Mr. Hisaeda: The definition of a terrorist organization is a difficult issue and it depends on the objective for such a definition. I do not wish to comment on the issue except to say that, under our common effort to stop the flow of money and capital to the Taliban and relevant individuals and groups, we are using the list issued by the United Nations.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
8. Follow-up questions on the Senior Officials Meeting on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan

   Q: Regarding the Senior Officials Meeting, who will represent Japan other than Dr. Ogata?

   Mr. Hisaeda: First of all, Dr. Ogata is not regarded as an under-secretary level representative. As for the selection of an under-secretary level official to represent the Government of Japan, it is to be decided upon and announced shortly.

   Q: Do you know which ministries will be represented?

   Mr. Hisaeda: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   Q: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs only?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I am sure that the representative to attend this meeting will be an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but, as for others, I think I should wait for the final decision.

   Q: I understand that the venue for the meeting was changed and also that it was initially supposed to be a ministerial-level meeting. Do you know the reason why it was changed?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I would rather refrain from making any comment on what happened or what was discussed during the decision-making process. I can only say that it was decided to extend invitations for this meeting in Washington D.C.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
9. Comment on travel advice and warnings

   Q: Yesterday, one television company reported that a travel advisory to the United States is not issued at the moment and that this is unfair. Recently, for travel advisory warnings, the level of the warning and the country is reported in detail to the public. For example, in terms of travel advisory level 5, we have a lot of journalists operating in the Afghanistan area. Although the television company said that not issuing a travel advisory to the United States was unfair, I personally have family living in the United States and so I do not want you to issue any severe travel advisory warnings for the United States. Nonetheless, I too feel it is a little unfair. In the future, I would like you to take up this kind of travel advisory in your briefing. Maybe it would be informative for the foreign press.

   Mr. Hisaeda: Thank you for your comments. We issue travel advice and warnings, as well as information, taking many aspects into consideration, including the capability of the country in question in terms of controlling public security, public order, access to transportation, availability of hospitals, emergency hospitals, and so on.

10. Questions regarding the activities of agitators

    Q: When I was coming here this afternoon I noticed a few trucks with Japanese flags and loudspeakers. As I do not speak Japanese, I asked a colleague what they were screaming about over their loudspeakers. He told me that they were criticizing the Foreign Minister or the Foreign Ministry. So, is this allowed in Japan, that a certain group can create a lot of noise and spread its propaganda anywhere it likes?

    Mr. Hisaeda: Of course, we have laws and regulations to control such activities, but, at the same time, freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution.

    Q: But is there some kind of limit, or, no matter how loud, it is okay to carry on such activities?

    Mr. Hisaeda: I think there are stipulations to control this kind of activity, but I do not know the details of the circumstances under which the police authorities will apply the laws and regulations to control the activities of a group. Therefore, I do not want to get into any specific case, but as far as I understand we do have laws and regulations to control such behavior, which means that the police authorities can intervene if these activities hinder the pursuit of normal government activities.

    Q: Do you think that somebody might be arrested in this case?

    Mr. Hisaeda: I cannot speculate on that. While I might be wrong, I cannot recall any specific case in which a person was arrested for their demeanor in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though.