Press Conference 11 May 2001

1. Visit to Japan by President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
2. Dispatch of a survey mission on economic and technical cooperation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
3. Questions on the economic espionage case in the United States of America involving Japanese nationals
4. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by President Obasanjo of Nigeria
5. Questions on host nation support
6. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage of the United States of America

1. Visit to Japan by President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

   Deputy Press Secretary Chikahito Harada: Good afternoon. I have two announcements to make today.

   My first announcement is in regard to the visit to Japan by President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

   President Obasanjo will pay an official working visit to Japan from 21-24 May.

   On 23 May, President Obasanjo will make a state call on His Majesty The Emperor of Japan. That same day, His Majesty The Emperor of Japan will host a Court Luncheon in honor of President Obasanjo.

   President Obasanjo will meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on 22 May. That evening Prime Minister Koizumi will host a dinner in honor of President Obasanjo.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan by His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria)
   
2. Dispatch of a survey mission on economic and technical cooperation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

   Mr. Harada: My second announcement is on the dispatch of a survey mission on economic and technical cooperation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

   The Government of Japan will dispatch a survey mission on economic and technical cooperation to Yugoslavia from 13-19 May.

   Since the new government came into power in October last year, Yugoslavia has been moving toward democratization and a market economy. Japan supports such reform efforts, and the mission will collect information and survey sectors, projects, and other areas in which assistance is required in order to study how Japan can assist Yugoslavia's reconstruction and reform efforts.

   Related Information (Japan-Serbia and Montenegro Relations)
   
3. Questions on the economic espionage case in the United States of America involving Japanese nationals

   Q: As you are probably aware, the United States plans to ask Japan to extradite the Japanese scientist, Dr. Okamoto, who is charged with stealing genetic material. I am wondering what is the Government's response? And secondly, how do you think this incident, which is quite surprising, because it seems quite rare, will effect relations between the two countries?

   Mr. Harada: We are aware of the fact that the US Department of Justice and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio issued a press release stating that they had brought an indictment against two Japanese nationals. But at this stage the case is under investigation by US judiciary authorities, so we would like to refrain from making any comments.

   You asked about the extradition of a Japanese national. I cannot comment on whether we have or have not received an extradition request. However, should we receive such a request, we have an extradition treaty with the United States, and we have our own relevant laws, and therefore we would consider the request in accordance with the treaty and the relevant legislation.

   Q: What does the treaty say regarding a situation like this?

   Mr. Harada: I do not have the treaty at hand, but I can get it for you later.

   Q: Do you know of any previous similar cases to this, or is this the first case of medical/economic espionage case that you know of?

   Mr. Harada: Concerning extradition, I am sure this is not the first case. There have been cases in the past in which we have consulted with the United States on extraditions. As for this current case, I do not have information on whether a similar case has happened in the past.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
4. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by President Obasanjo of Nigeria

   Q: Concerning the visit of the Nigerian president, could you please give us some idea about the topics that Japan is planning to raise in the discussions? Does it have any relation to oil or energy matters?

   Mr. Harada: I am sure you remember that former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori visited Africa and that Japan attaches importance to its relations with African countries. When President Obasanjo visits Japan I am sure that he will conduct dialogue on bilateral and regional issues. At this stage I do not have the specific agenda issues to be taken up, so I cannot give you anything more concrete.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan by His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria)
   
5. Questions on host nation support

   Q: Regarding the defense relationship between Japan and the United States, and with the recent visit of Mr. Armitage, I know that Japan pays a lot of money for those troops; it covers about 60% of the cost. Is there any discussion, given Japan's current economic problems and the relative health of the United States, to reduce the amount of money that Japan pays to host the US troops here? Is that part of the discussion, or is that something that the new administration will bring up with the United States?

   Mr. Harada: I do not think that the issue of host nation support was taken up at the meetings. Last year we concluded the Special Measures Agreement on host nation support, and it passed the Diet, and we will continue to provide a financial contribution in accordance with that agreement. When we concluded the agreement last year, for the current fiscal year's budget, I think we made some reduction compared with the previous fiscal year. However, we do not have any sort of policy to continue to reduce host nation support. We understand that our host nation support has been highly appreciated by the US government, and we also understand that this plays an important role in maintaining a US military presence in Japan.

   Q: Do you have the exact figure from this budget?

   Mr. Harada: I can get that data to you later.

   Q: This budget, is it constitutional? Does the Constitution allow this budget?

   Mr. Harada: Of course, we cannot make a budget that violates the Constitution.

   Q: The Constitution, I think, prohibits any support for war or acts of violence?

   Mr. Harada: Host nation support is not funds for supporting war.

   Q: But part of the American forces that benefit from this support do some war activities outside Japan, originating from Japan, so maybe this money goes indirectly to these kinds of activities?

   Mr. Harada: The US forces in Japan conduct operations in accordance with the Japan-US Security Agreement, which is of course within the framework of the Japanese Constitution. Consequently, I do not understand your logic that host nation support is something that violates the Constitution.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
6. Follow-up question on the visit to Japan by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage of the United States of America

   Q: I did not get the Japanese reply to Mr. Armitage's explanation about the defense initiative by President Bush. So, does Japan agree or support this initiative, or is it against it?

   Mr. Harada: I can repeat what Prime Minister Koizumi and the Japanese officials responded to Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on the missile defense issue.

   There were five points made:

   (1) Japan shares the recognition with the United States that the proliferation of ballistic missiles is causing a serious threat to our security.

   (2) Japan and the United States are conducting cooperative research on ballistic missile defense technologies. As such, bilateral cooperation is important for the security of Japan, and we will continue to cooperate on this research.

   (3) Japan expresses the understanding that the United States is considering the missile defense program while making various diplomatic efforts to address the proliferation of ballistic missiles.

   (4) Japan welcomes President Bush's reference, in his recent speech, to further cuts in nuclear weapons.

   (5) Japan hopes that the missile defense issue will be dealt with in a manner conducive to the improvement of the international security environment, including in the areas of arms control and disarmament. Japan welcomes the renewed announcement by the United States of the US side's intention to conduct close consultations on this issue with its allies and other interested states, such as the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China.

   Q: On this policy, there are certain countries that have some missile cooperation. For example, according to Japanese reports Korea has some cooperation on missile development or research with countries in the Middle East, and I remember that Japan opposed this...

   Mr. Harada: With North Korea?

   Q: Yes, North Korea. I remember, it was some time ago, some of the statements by the Foreign Ministry on North Korea doing some missile cooperation with countries in the Middle East. Now we see Japan doing similar research with the United States. So, you oppose other countries, but Japan does this same kind of research with the United States. Do you think this kind of policy is contradictory?

   Mr. Harada: No, I do not think so. This missile defense is for a purely defensive purpose: to shoot down missiles directed toward Japan. This is something we have to consider because the proliferation of ballistic missiles is causing a serious threat to our security. I do not think that we can put these things on the same level.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)