Press Conference 19 February 2002

1. Announcement regarding emergency assistance of US$5 billion to Afghanistan for the prevention of infectious diseases
2. Announcement on the re-opening of the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan
3. Statement concerning the trip to Japan by President George Walker Bush of the United States of America
4. Questions regarding Charges d'Affaires ad interim Kinichi Komano
5. Questions concerning travel advisories
6. Questions on the supply of a measles vaccine for Afghanistan

1. Announcement regarding emergency assistance of US$5 billion to Afghanistan for the prevention of infectious diseases

   Deputy Press Secretary Joji Hisaeda: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, I have two announcements to make.

   First, a follow up on the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan, which was held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January. During the conference, the Government of Japan pledged up to US$5 billion for the reconstruction of Afghanistan over the next two and a half years. Considering that one of the key priority areas for reconstruction was health and sanitation and that the rate of death for children under five years old is extremely high in Afghanistan, the Japanese Government decided to extend, as emergency assistance, US$5 million for the prevention of infectious diseases such as measles and polio, major causes of death of small children in Afghanistan. This US$5 million is a part of the US$5 billion pledged by the Japanese Government at the conference and will be in the form of grant aid extended to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
2. Announcement on the re-opening of the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan

   Today, the Government of Japan decided to reopen the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan and to notify the Interim Administration of Afghanistan of this decision. Charge d'Affaires ad interim Kinichi Komano will move to Kabul from Islamabad today and will assume his diplomatic activities in Afghanistan.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Statement concerning the trip to Japan by President George W. Bush of the United States of America

   I believe that President George W. Bush of the United States of America and his delegation that was visiting Japan will be leaving shortly. I will not repeat the contents of the Summit Meeting, as I believe that you have been briefed already. As for the overall evaluation of President Bush's visit to Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs a little more time.

   Although I am not in a position to give you an overall evaluation at this time, President Bush's visit to Japan has been a significant, important, and successful one, and I would like to cite a few important points.

   First, it was meaningful for both of the leaders to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-US Security Alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace and security, for not only Japan but also the Asia-Pacific region.

   Second, I think the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between Japan and the United States to cope with not only regional issues but global issues as well. A very good example is the common fight against terrorism. As Prime Minister Koizumi stated in the joint press conference yesterday, the two leaders agreed on the importance of carrying forward our cooperation for fighting against terrorism.

   Third, Prime Minister Koizumi explained his determination for structural reform, fighting deflation, and to resolutely take all necessary measures to revitalize the Japanese economy. President Bush showed his understanding towards this and expressed his strong support for Prime Minister Koizumi's policy. President Bush said in the press conference that he was confident in Prime Minister Koizumi's strategy for the Japanese economy. President Bush also pointed out the importance of a growing Japanese economy and supported Prime Minister Koizumi's efforts. It was also meaningful that the two leaders exchanged views on various regional issues, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the environment, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, security cooperation, and so on.

   Fourth, I believe that all of you probably listened to President Bush's address to the Diet this morning. I have not heard the reaction of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi or Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the address. However, I thought President Bush's speech was impressive and encouraging for us. I was especially impressed with phrases such as, "Japan and America share a vision for the future of the Asia-Pacific region" as a "fellowship of free Pacific nations." President Bush then went on to say that Japan and the United States seek a region with a strong institution of economic and political cooperation that is open to trade and investment on a global scale. President Bush reaffirmed the United States' commitment to a forward presence in this region. As for the Korean Peninsula and the People's Republic of China, President Bush stated, "We will deter aggression against the Republic of Korea." President Bush also said, "America will remember our commitments to the people of Taiwan." Those are my impressions and sometime later I hope I will be able to speak to you on behalf of Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of His Excellency George Walker Bush, President of the United States of America, and Mrs. Laura Welch Bush)
   
4. Questions regarding Charges d'Affaires ad interim Kinichi Komano

   Q: You mentioned Mr. Komano is now Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad.

   Mr. Hisaeda: Mr. Komano was appointed Charges d'Affaires ad interim to Afghanistan and until now has been in Islamabad. But now he will be going to Kabul.

   Q: As?

   Mr. Hisaeda: As Charge d'Affaires.

   Q: And you will appoint an Ambassador sometime in the future then?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, I hope so.

   Q: And Mr. Numata is still Ambassador in Pakistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, that is correct.

5. Questions concerning travel advisories

   Q: I understand the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a mission to Afghanistan to assess the level of safety. Now, the travel advisory is level 4 or 5. That is a very serious advisory that has been issued for Afghanistan. But maybe in the future the Ministry of Foreign Affairs might consider a "downgrade" of this area for Japanese, not tourists but visitors. Is there any report from this mission yet?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Not yet. I think the mission is still working on it. So when the report is finished it will be made available for you.

   Q: Do you still have a travel advisory on Nepal, since they just had the big Maoist insurgency?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I do not have that information now but will take care of it for you later.

6. Questions on the supply of a measles vaccine for Afghanistan

   Q: On the vaccine for measles, I did not know there was a vaccine in Japan, because most people just send their kids to school even though they have measles. I think you mentioned, this was in the US$5 million, that a vaccine for measles would be supplied to Afghanistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: I do not have any information about where the vaccine would be procured. I was speaking about the fund that would be extended to UNICEF.

   Q: I know they do not usually tout the vaccine in Japan for the Japanese children. So I was wondering why they would be including that? Ia that is a disease that is very fatal in Afghanistan?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes, that is right.

   Q: Is it not considered serious in Japan, because they let children go to school with measles here? The average person does not keep their kids at home. I had this experience with my children in school here.

   Mr. Hisaeda: I suppose in Afghanistan there are many problems like malnutrition.

   Q: Which makes it worse?

   Mr. Hisaeda: Yes.

   Q: They must not consider it a disease here, really.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)