Press Conference 11 September 2001

1. Announcement on the outcome of the Constituent Assembly elections in East Timor
2. Questions concerning the United Nations Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
3. Questions concerning terrorism warnings issued by the United States of America
4. Question on a meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly

1. Announcement on the outcome of the Constituent Assembly elections in East Timor

   Press Secretary Norio Hattori: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I would like to make an announcement about the elections held recently in East Timor.

   In East Timor, on 10 September the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced the final results of the Constituent Assembly elections that were held on 30 August. The voter turnout was as high as 91.3 percent and 88 assembly members were democratically elected.

   The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the elections were held in a free, fair and smooth manner. The Government also highly evaluates the endeavors so far made by such related organizations as the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), the IEC, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and also by the international electoral observers and the people of East Timor.

   The Government of Japan strongly hopes that all the political parties in East Timor will respect the election results, that the East Timorese will promote nation building in concert, and that at the Constituent Assembly, which will be convened from 15 September, a constitution will be established that reflects the will of every Timorese based on free discussion. The Government of Japan together with the international community intends to continue to support East Timor's nation building toward its independence.

   Related Information (Timor-Leste Situation (Archives))
   
2. Questions concerning the United Nations Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

   Q: I would like to ask about Japan's position during the UN anti-racism conference in South Africa.

   Mr. Hattori: The United Nations Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance has ended with the outcome documents adopted by consensus. The fact that the conference was held in South Africa where the wisdom of the people of that country overcame apartheid is very important. While difficult issues were encountered in relation to the Middle East problems and slavery, the conference was successful in adopting the outcome documents by consensus, and the Japanese Government appreciates that very much.

   Q: What was the Japanese Government's reaction to the withdrawal of Israel and the United States?

   Mr. Hattori: We are not in a position to make any comments on the positions taken by other delegations in that conference.

   Related Information (Human Rights)
   
3. Questions concerning terrorism warnings issued by the United States of America

   Q: The United States Embassy issued a warning last Friday. Do you have any comment on that?

   Mr. Hattori: We know that the Spokesman of the US State Department in Washington D.C. as well as the section in charge in the US Embassy here in Tokyo have issued press releases, and we understand that the appropriate measures are being taken by the appropriate authorities of both Japan and the United States in order to cope with this problem.

   Q: Could you please elaborate more about that?

   Mr. Hattori: Since this relates to very delicate issues, I would like to refrain from making any comments on that.

   Q: So Japan takes seriously this so-called threat?

   Mr. Hattori: As I stated, I understand that the appropriate measures are being taken by the authorities concerned.

   Q: Do you usually share information on such issues with the United States on a regular basis?

   Mr. Hattori: I understand that there is an exchange of information between the authorities concerned in a routine manner, and if measures are taken then they are based upon these operations.

   Q: Does Japan consider Mr. bin Laden, who has been accused by the United States of masterminding terrorist attacks, as a threat to its security?

   Mr. Hattori: At this point in time, I have no comment on that.

   Q: How do you evaluate this person?

   Mr. Hattori: As I said, I do not have a comment on that.

   Q: Do you feel worried about Japanese nationals working at US bases in Japan? Did you ask them to take extra measures?

   Mr. Hattori: I think I have to repeat that appropriate measures have been taken.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
4. Question on a meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly

   Q: Do you have any comment on the meeting currently being held between Foreign Minister Tanaka and the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation?

   Mr. Hattori: We would like to welcome the Kuwaiti parliamentarians who are visiting Japan for the first time as an official mission of the Kuwaiti National Assembly. Thus, this visit is noted with great appreciation, and we would like to hope that on the basis of such exchanges between parliamentarians of both countries that the friendly relations between our two countries will be further enhanced. I am sure that the meeting currently underway between Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka and the members of the Kuwaiti National Assembly is going very well. The Kuwaiti mission still has several more days in Japan, and we hope that the mission goes back to Kuwait with a good impression and a feeling of necessity toward enhancing the good relations between our two countries.

   Q: This meeting comes after the announcement yesterday by both sides concerning Arabian Oil Co. Do you think this issue is related to the visit?

   Mr. Hattori: No, this is just a coincidence. With regard to the agreement reached between the two sides, it is very much a welcome development, but I understand that there is still further work to be done before agreement is reached on the actual details. We hope that negotiations on these details also go well.

   Related Information (Japan-Kuwait Relations)