Press Conference 18 January 2002

1. Special briefing on the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan
2. Press conference by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
3. Assistance to Afghanistan and neighboring countries
4. Visit to Japan by President Ion Iliescu of Romania
5. Japan-EU Regulatory Reform Dialogue in Brussels
6. Question concerning the scope of assistance to Afghanistan
7. Question related to attendance at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan
8. Question concerning visits to Japan by cabinet-level officials of the United States of America
9. Question regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1. Special briefing on the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan

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

   First, as you all know, the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan will be held on 21 and 22 of January, and a special background briefing in connection with this will be provided 30 minutes from now on the eighteenth floor of this building in Room 1816. Everybody is welcome to attend the briefing, which will last for probably one hour. No cameras will be allowed, but you can quote the briefer as a "Foreign Ministry official", and, of course, after the briefing you will have the chance to ask questions.

   Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)
   
2. Press conference by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi

   Mr. Matsunaga: Also, please note that there is a press conference today by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at 16:00. If you have access to the Foreign Press Center, simultaneous interpretation of the conference will be available. Alternatively, if you are a member of the Japan Press Club, upstairs in the same building, I presume that you can attend the conference itself. So, if you do not understand Japanese you can hear Prime Minister Koizumi's press conference, starting at 16:00 today, at the Foreign Press Center.

3. Assistance to Afghanistan and neighboring countries

   Mr. Matsunaga: Again, related to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda made a statement this morning on Japan's Afghan-related assistance, which is separate from the commitment that might be announced at the conference itself. So, please note that this is something separate from what donor countries might pledge at the upcoming conference. Handouts should be available later on, but if I may read from the document I have in front of me,

   As part of Japan's refugee assistance announced last October, Japan will provide approximately US$59.5 million to relevant international organizations and others in addition to the approximately US$42.71 million already provided. This will include assistance for de-mining efforts, approximately US$15.4 million for a project to provide de-mining equipment in Afghanistan, and approximately US$2.82 million for de-mining activities conducted by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

   Secondly, Japan will provide US$1 million to the UN Afghan Interim Authority Fund, which will be used by the Interim Authority for administrative purposes.

   Thirdly, in order to assist neighboring countries of Afghanistan as part of the already announced US$300 million assistance for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Japan will provide grant aid of 5 billion yen in addition to the 4.7 billion yen that has already been disbursed. Furthermore, to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Japan will provide 1 billion yen in grant aid and to the Republic of Tajikistan another 1 billion yen in grant aid.

   Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)
   
4. Visit to Japan by President Ion Iliescu of Romania

   Mr. Matsunaga: President Ion Iliescu of Romania will pay an official working visit to Japan from 12 to 15 February. During his stay in Japan, President Iliescu will make a state call on His Majesty the Emperor.His Majesty the Emperor will host a court luncheon in honor of President Iliescu.

   In addition, President Iliescu will have a meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the President and hopes that his visit will strengthen our friendly relations with Romania.

   Related Information (Japan-Romania Relations)
   
5. Japan-EU Regulatory Reform Dialogue in Brussels

   Mr. Matsunaga: My last announcement is with regard to the holding of the Japan-EU Regulatory Reform Dialogue in Brussels. A meeting between Japan and the European Union on regulatory reform will be held in Brussels on January 23. The meeting will be co-chaired by Director-General Shinichi Kitajima of the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Director-General Fernando Valenzuela of the External Relations Directorate General of the European Commission. Handouts on this dialogue are also available to you for collection together with another handout on Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Southeast Asia. Before you leave the room please make sure that you take a copy of each.

   Those are all the announcements that I wanted to make, and I would be delighted to answer any questions that you might have.

   Related Information (Japan-EU Relations)
   
6. Question concerning the scope of assistance to Afghanistan

   Q: There have been some reports that Japan will announce that it is going to provide up to US$500 million to the Afghan reconstruction. Can you confirm that and also go into some detail as to what the money will be used for?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I cannot confirm the figure. As for what purposes the money is going to be used, that will also be discussed at the reconstruction conference. However, I note that there are discussions and reports about such areas as de-mining, medicine, education, and refugee repatriation assistance. I would not be surprised if these issues were taken up as possible areas to work on.

   Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)
   
7. Question related to attendance at the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan

   Q: Can you confirm how many nations have accepted invitations to the Afghan conference?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I understand that more than 50 countries and entities will attend. If you come to the special background briefing by a senior official to be held 15 minutes from now, I am sure you will be able to collect a copy of the list of attendants at the upcoming conference.

   Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)
   
8. Question concerning visits to Japan by cabinet-level officials of the United States of America

   Q: Secretary of State Powell will be arriving tomorrow I understand. Will he be meeting with the Prime Minister or Japanese officials on Saturday, Sunday or Monday? And also Treasury Secretary O'Neil will be coming too?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Yes, they are coming soon. Their detailed itineraries, as I understand, are being worked out right now. So, perhaps you might also want to ask the Embassy of the United States of America.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
9. Question regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

   Q: Are you all moved in now? Have you lost anybody, any files?

   Mr. Matsunaga: As I understand, this should be the last day of moving. We have been transferring things in stages and, theoretically, by the end of the day the moving process should be over. But I think the new environment is going to take some getting used to the new environment. If you have any other questions please feel free to either come to me in private or call me on the telephone. Thank you very much.