Press Conference 19 June 2001

1. Questions on the visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka to the United States of America
2. Question concerning recent developments in the Republic of Lebanon

1. Questions on the visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka to the United States of America

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

   Q: Mr. Hattori, I would like to ask you what is your reaction, and the Ministry's reaction, to Foreign Minister Tanaka's performance in the United States and Washington, meeting all these top people and discussing various issues?

   Mr. Hattori: In a word, I think Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka performed very well. Foreign Minister Tanaka accomplished her mission, in that, as she said in the news conference she gave following her meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, she went to the United States of America to lay the groundwork for the visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the United States next weekend. In that sense, I think she has done a very good job. Foreign Minister Tanaka met with first of all, her counterpart, Secretary of State Powell, and various officials from the US State Department, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage amongst others. In addition, Foreign Minister Tanaka had the opportunity to meet with National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. And indeed, Foreign Minister Tanaka had the great pleasure of meeting President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney at the same time. Thus, we are of the view that Foreign Minister Tanaka accomplished her mission to the United States. On top of that, Foreign Minister Tanaka visited the school that she attended as a high school student, and in that sense also I think she was very successful in raising the attention of the US public to her experience at a young age in the United States.

   Q: I have been hearing through Japanese reports that Foreign Minister Tanaka has been expressing that she would be willing to pay for some of her trips within the United States, and even for her meals. Is this true, and where is this coming from?

   Mr. Hattori: Well, the party has not yet returned to Tokyo, so we do not have any information on that.

   Q: I am sorry if I missed some parts of your statement, but concerning the missile defense issue, could you please give us a little bit more background about what Foreign Minister Tanaka expressed to the US side?

   Mr. Hattori: If my memory is correct, I have already given our basic position on this issue, during my previous press conferences. What Foreign Minister Tanaka conveyed to the US side during her visit was of course based on our basic position. I do not think I need to reiterate that position, as I believe it is already well known to you.

   Q: Will we get to see something on a sheet of paper with regards to Foreign Minister Tanaka's meetings with US officials? Will there be an outline, or some details of some sort, a press release with regard to the Minister's meetings with US officials?

   Mr. Hattori: As you know, Foreign Minister Tanaka herself gave a press conference in the wake of the series of meetings that she had with her US counterparts. We have, of course, received reports on that press conference, but since the party is not back yet to Tokyo, I would like to refrain from giving any details on the conversations that Foreign Minister Tanaka had with her US counterparts.

   Q: When will they be returning to Tokyo?

   Mr. Hattori: Shortly, I believe.

   Q: And you will be releasing something then, after they return?

   Mr. Hattori: I do not think we will be releasing anything in terms of a formal document. There will be a condensed meeting of the Diet Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow at which Foreign Minister Tanaka will make a complete report.

   Related Information (Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka's Visit to the United States of America)
   
2. Question concerning recent developments in the Republic of Lebanon

   Q: I am wondering if you have any comment on the news reports regarding the Syrian military's withdrawal from Beirut, Lebanon?

   Mr. Hattori: I am sorry, as I have not been briefed on that before coming to this conference, I am hesitant about giving any comments on that.

   Related Information (Japan-Lebanon Relations)