Press Conference 18 December 2001

1. Comment regarding economic assistance to East Timor
2. Question on trade talks between the Government of Japan and the People's Republic of China
3. Question concerning the freezing of a terrorist-related organization's assets
4. Question concerning terrorist attacks in Israel
5. Question about the establishment of a counter-terrorism division
6. Question on updates on activities in the war against terrorism

1. Comment regarding economic assistance to East Timor

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

   On 18 December, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance, totaling approximately US$19,270,000, to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the steady progress of the process toward independence and nation building in East Timor. The Government of Japan announced in December 1999 its decision to extend US$100 million in total for East Timor's rehabilitation and development over the following three years, and the decision made today is part of this assistance.

   The assistance will be extended for six projects of the UNDP, and the nature of assistance is as follows: urgent rehabilitation and improvement of the distribution network for the Dili water supply; urgent rehabilitation and improvement to water supplies to Liquica, Los Palos and Manatuto; urgent rehabilitation of the Dili Port west container stacking yard; urgent rehabilitation of the Laclo irrigation system; Timor Loro Sae Scholarship by the Government of Japan for East Timmorese students; and urgent rehabilitation of the Faculty of Engineering East Timor National University.

   Related Information (Timor-Leste Situation (Archives))
   
   
2. Question on trade talks between the Government of Japan and the People's Republic of China

   Q: I would like to ask a question about Japan-China trade talks.

   Mr. Matsunaga: I understand there has been no conclusion to those talks yet. It was announced today that the Japanese Government and the Government of the People's Republic of China would hold vice-ministerial level consultations tomorrow, here in Tokyo.

   Q: Neither side appears likely to back down, and both sides are saying there is a good chance this will go to the WTO. I am wondering, is Japan willing to engage in what could be a major trade battle with China over mushrooms, leeks and rushes--insignificant agricultural products?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The Government does not define differences over these items as a trade battle. It was agreed upon between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Premier Zhu Rongji of the People's Republic of China, during Prime Minister Koizumi's one-day visit to Beijing, that this matter should be handled in a business-like manner, between officials. To that end, consultations are now being held in a business-like manner, as agreed by the two leaders.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
   
3. Question concerning the freezing of a terrorist-related organization's assets

   Q: I read a report today saying that the Japanese Government would freeze, assets of an organization accused by the United States as supporting Hamas. What is the real reaction by the Japanese Government?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The Government announced today the freezing of assets of an organization related to terrorists. That action was taken in conjunction with the freezing of the assets of additional individuals, along with the previous freezing of assests of organizations and individuals.

   Q: How much?

   Mr. Matsunaga: We do not have information about the amount of the assets.

   Q: You mean the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no information? Or, you do not know whether there are assets in Japan?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I do not have the information here, however I can provide you with the relevant contact numbers if you have further inquiries.

   Q: You said the word "terrorists." So does Japan officially consider the Hamas organization as a terrorist organization?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The Japanese Government has no practice of designating, and naturally has not designated, any organization as a "terrorist organization."

   Q: But you just mentioned, one minute ago, you have frozen the assets of a "terrorist organization," or something like that?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I mentioned that the Government is getting information about an organization, the Holy Land Foundation, as being related to terrorists. I did not refer to any other specific group as a terrorist organization.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States)
   
   
4. Question concerning terrorist attacks in Israel

   Q: Last week, the Press Secretary issued a statement condemning, what he called terrorist attacks by Palestinians--suicide bombers. So, in that statement there was no mention of what the Arab side called terrorist attacks by the Government of Israel; it seems you took only the Israeli interpretation of the difference. There are more victims of Israel in that area than victims of Palestinians. Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The Japanese Government is not taking sides, and condemns all terrorist acts by anyone. The Government also encourages both sides to maintain lines of communication. The Japanese Government is continuing dialogue and maintaining close contact with Chairman Yasir Arafat of the Palestinian Authority. The Japanese Government does not choose one side over the other.

   Related Information (Japan-Israel Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
   
5. Question about the establishment of a counter-terrorism division

   Q: I understand the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established an international counter-terrorism cooperation division at the beginning of December. Is it possible to have some news issued from there?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Yes. Your newspaper would like to write an article on the establishment of the new division?

   Q: Yes, I would like to have any news in English about its establishment, but also I would like to issue news about it.

   Mr. Matsunaga: Certainly, it is quite all right for your newspaper to carry the news of the establishment of the new division. Second, I will look into what kind of printed documents are available for you about the establishment of the division.

   Related Information (Counter Terrorism)
   
   
6. Question on updates on activities in the war against terrorism

   Q: Is there any update about the Japanese responses in the war against terrorism? What the Japanese ships have done so far? Have there been any casualties, or something like that?

   Mr. Matsunaga: There are no casualties, and the ships, transporting relief materials for refugees, have completed their mission of unloading the relief goods and are now returning to Japan.

   Q: How about the information-gathering ships?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I have no information on information-gathering ships.

   Q: Did you provide the United States forces with any fuel?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Yes, while at sea.

   Q: Was it a donation from Japan, or will you get something for this?

   Mr. Matsunaga: If I remember correctly, the US forces were not charged for the fuel.

   Q: Do you have an idea how much fuel? And was it from Japanese oil imports? What was the source?

   Mr. Matsunaga: As you know, Japan does not produce much oil.

   Q: Oil products?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Oil products refined in Japan?

   Q: Did you provide crude oil, or oil products?

   Mr. Matsunaga: It was usable fuel.

   Related Information (Counter Terrorism)