Press Conference 11 December 2001

1. Comment by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the fight against terrorism
2. Announcement on the Japan-India Joint Declaration
3. Announcement of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
4. Question with regard to air transportation between Japan and countries surrounding Afghanistan

1. Comment by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the fight against terrorism

   Assistant Press Secretary Daisuke Matsunaga: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have several announcements to make today.

   First, a comment by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was issued this morning on Japan's resolve to continue to fight against terrorism. An English translation of the comment is available for collection from my office, so please feel free to stop in following this conference.

   Prime Minister Koizumi states:

   "I myself and the people of Japan are together with President George W. Bush and the people of the United States in that we shall never forget the September 11 tragedy and our common resolve to fight against terrorism.

   Japan is resolved to continue to stand by the United States in its determined fight against terrorism, and to contribute actively, on its own initiative, to the efforts of the international community in order to prevent and eradicate international terrorism and to ensure that such terrorist acts will never be repeated.

   Further, Japan will continue to work on the diplomatic and other fronts to reinforce the international coalition against terrorism, to bring peace and reconstruction to Afghanistan, to provide assistance to the countries neighboring Afghanistan and to the displaced persons in and around Afghanistan, and to strengthen international legal frameworks against terrorism."

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
2. Announcement on the Japan-India Joint Declaration

   Mr. Matsunaga: Yesterday evening the Japan-India Joint Declaration was issued. In the Joint Declaration, the two countries not only discuss measures to further invigorate our bilateral relationship, but also set out concerted efforts to address global challenges. Copies of this document are also available for collection from my office.

   Related Information (Japan-India Joint Declaration)
   
3. Announcement of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

   Mr. Matsunaga: Third, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Japan is co-hosting the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children together with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, & Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The congress will be held from December 17 to 20 in Yokohama.

   The objective of the congress is to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation of children. This congress follows the first congress that was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1996.

   Representatives from the governments of 118 countries are scheduled to attend the congress as well as representatives from international organizations and NGOs.

   I would like to emphasize that the congress will be attended by dignitaries from all over the world including Her Majesty Queen Sylvia of Sweden, who will make a speech at the opening ceremony, and Executive Director Carol Bellamy of UNICEF. In addition, Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kaori Maruya will attend. In fact, Parliamentary Secretary Maruya will chair the meeting. Furthermore, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado will also make some remarks.

   Further information is already available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, so I encourage those of you interested in this event to access the website.

   Related Information (Human Rights of the Children)
   
   
4. Question with regard to air transportation between Japan and countries surrounding Afghanistan

   Q: There are several countries surrounding Afghanistan: Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and so on. I understand that we have relations with Uzbekistan in air transportation. They stopped operating flights in October and November, but I heard they would resume again in January. Is there any other similar country with which we have such relations in air transportation, that is, with regular flights?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Certainly there are regular flights to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Other than that, I will have to look into the matter to fully answer your question.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)