Press Conference 24 April 2001

1. Announcement on parliamentary elections in Montenegro
2. Announcement on the conclusion of the hostage episode in Istanbul
3. Announcement on assistance to the Palestinians
4. Comment on the decisions of US Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo on the Ehime Maru incident
5. Japan-US initiatives on submarine visits to Japanese ports
6. Follow-up questions on aid to the Palestinians
7. Questions on developments in the Middle East
8. Visit by Director-General Toshinori Shigeie of the Middle East and African Affairs Bureau to the Middle East
9. Follow-up questions on the hostage episode in Turkey
10. Communication between Japan and the Republic of Korea on the issue of junior high school history textbooks

1. Announcement on parliamentary elections in Montenegro

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to give you a couple of announcements this afternoon. My first announcement is on the recent parliamentary election in Montenegro.

   The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the parliamentary election in Montenegro, in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, took place on 22 April calmly and essentially, in a fair manner.

   Japan supports a democratic Montenegro within a democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Moreover, Japan expects Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to initiate serious dialogue on their future relations, based on the principles of democracy and their existing constitutions, without harming stability in the region.

   Related Information (Japan-Serbia and Montenegro Relations)
   
2. Announcement on the conclusion of the hostage episode in Istanbul

   Mr. Hattori: My second announcement is with regard to the incident that occurred in Istanbul, Turkey.

   The Government of Japan welcomes the peaceful outcome of the incident in Istanbul, with the release of all the hostages that were being held, including some Japanese citizens.

   Since the incident took place, Japan had asked the Government of Turkey to resolve the situation with top priority on the safety of the hostages. On the basis of the efforts undertaken by the Turkish side, we were able to see a peaceful solution to the incident. Consequently, the Government of Japan wishes to convey its sincere gratitude to the Government of Turkey.

   Related Information (Japan-Turkey Relations)
   
3. Announcement on assistance to the Palestinians

   Mr. Hattori: The next item concerns assistance to the Palestinians.

   The Government of Japan recently decided to extend emergency aid, job-creation aid and food aid, totaling US$8.3 million to the Palestinians to alleviate the adverse conditions that they are experiencing. I will not go into detail about the assistance now. For further details, please refer to the press release that has been distributed.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
4. Comment on the decisions of US Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo on the Ehime Maru incident

   Mr. Hattori: Lastly, with regard to the collision between the USS Greeneville and the Ehime Maru.

   Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, has handed down his decisions on Commander Scott Waddle and other members of the USS Greeneville's crew.

   The Government of the United States of America has acknowledged its responsibilities in all regards, since the incident occurred. With the decisions handed down by Admiral Fargo, the responsibilities of Commander Waddle and other members of his crew were made clear.

   It has been a strong desire on the part of the Government of Japan that the US Navy court of inquiry would look fairly into the causes of the collision. The report of the court of inquiry that has been forwarded to Admiral Fargo elucidates the causes of the collision.

   The Government of Japan expects that appropriate measures will be taken on the basis of this report to prevent similar events from occurring. Japan would like to ask the US side to continue to tackle the remaining issues, such as the raising of the Ehime Maru and the question of compensation, and so on.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
5. Japan-US initiatives on submarine visits to Japanese ports

   Q: Regarding visits by US nuclear powered submarines to Japanese ports, I understand that Japan and the US have worked out some new measures?

   Mr. Hattori: Yes, the governments of Japan and the United States of America have agreed upon some measures to be taken with regard to US submarines entering Japanese ports. A joint press statement on the measures has just been announced and it is available for you if you wish.

   Q: What exactly is new?

   Mr. Hattori: The first point of the joint statement is to confirm the well-established procedures for prior notification in the event of visits by US submarines into Japanese ports.

   Contained in the third paragraph of the statement you will find the second key point of the discussions between both governments: "These measures relate to operational messages dealing with submarine movements and administrative steps to confirm the accuracy of information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." This point is about improving the accuracy of information. I understand that the last incident, which concerned prior notification, was due to the mishandling of information from the US side to Japan.

   Q: In that paragraph that you mentioned it says that "additional telecommunications equipment to facilitate the receipt of notifications" will be required. Do you have any idea what this equipment is?

   Mr. Hattori: Yes, this is technical support that is required to implement the new measure, but I do not know what the equipment is.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
6. Follow-up questions on aid to the Palestinians

   Q: Concerning your assistance to the Palestinians, you mention here that it is based on the clashes between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, but you notice that the losses of the Palestinians are much greater than those of the Israelis. Do you consider that Israel is responsible for this damage to the Palestinian economy?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not think we can measure the percentage of responsibility on either side. But the result of the clashes between the two sides is important, and damage to Palestinian life and property is part of that result. The assistance is being extended to alleviate the damages and difficulties experienced.

   Q: Japan has been taking a very important role in supporting the Palestinian side. This assistance comes at a time when a new LDP president has been elected. Does that carry a message that the new government will carry on this policy in a more aggressive way? Could you point to the reason?

   Mr. Hattori: The election for the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was concluded just a couple of hours ago. It is expected that a new cabinet will be in place in a few days time.

   I would like to stress that what matters in diplomacy is continuity and consistency. Since the main framework for the cabinet will remain, as it has been, with the LDP at the center of the coalition, I do not expect major changes in Japan's diplomacy. In particular, with regard to our efforts in relation to the Middle East, we would like to continue the policies that we have in place in a more vigorous manner.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
7. Questions on developments in the Middle East

   Q: Recently, Israel destroyed the houses of Palestinian people. What is Japan's reaction to this?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not have any comment on that issue, because I do not have the facts at hand.

   Q: But it was shown on television.

   Mr. Hattori: It may have been shown on television, but I cannot comment on your question, as I do not have detailed information.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
8. Visit by Director-General Toshinori Shigeie of the Middle East and African Affairs Bureau to the Middle East

   Q: On the Middle East issue, I think the Director-General of the Middle East section visited the region. Do you have any details of that visit?

   Mr. Hattori: Director-General Toshinori Shigeie of the Middle East and African Affairs Bureau made a trip to the region between 11-22 April, on the instruction of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono, following discussions between Foreign Minister Kono and Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Peres of the State of Israel and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Sha'ath of the Palestinian Authority on 5 April.

   Director-General Shigeie visited the Arab Republic of Egypt, Syria, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.

   In Jordan, Director-General Shigeie met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdel-Elah al-Khatib. In Israel, he met with Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Ayalon and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Melchior. In Palestine, he met with President Yasser Arafat and Dr. Saeb Erekat.

   In those meetings, Director-General Shigeie underscored the importance of a cessation to the violence, and he pointed out that in order to stop the violence the utmost exertion of self-restraint by all parties is needed. Furthermore, Director-General Shigeie called for all parties concerned to engage in dialogue.

   Director-General Shigeie's mission represents just a part of Japan's ongoing efforts directed at bringing a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region. Japan will continue working toward this end.

   Q: Did he discuss any other important issues?

   Mr. Hattori: Such as?

   Q: Energy issues?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not have sufficient information on the content of the conversations, but given the purpose of the visit, I do not presume that Director-General Shigeie engaged in discussions on such issues.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
9. Follow-up questions on the hostage episode in Turkey

   Q: Concerning the hostage taking in Turkey, do you consider this a terrorist attack?

   Mr. Hattori: As you know, over the past couple of days, we have been very concerned with the Japanese hostages involved in the incident. I do not think we are in a position to make any analysis on the background of the incident.

   Related Information (Japan-Turkey Relations)
   
10. Communication between Japan and the Republic of Korea on the issue of junior high school history textbooks

    Q: In regard to the textbook issue, the Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs sent an official letter to Minister Kono. Do you know if any response has been made by the Japanese Government?

    Mr. Hattori: Yes, Ambassador Choi Sang Yong of the Republic of Korea, on his return to Tokyo, brought a letter from Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Seung-Soo Han addressed to Minister for Foreign Affairs Kono.

    At this juncture I am not in a position to give you any information as to how or when we might respond to that letter, but I can say that the contents of the letter are being studied.

    Related Information (Japan-Republic of Korea Relations)