Press Conference 5 April 2002

1. Dispatch of the second Afghanistan assistance survey mission
2. Meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura and Israeli Ambassador to Japan Yitzhak Lior
3. Message conveyed to Chairman Arafat
4. Follow-up question on the survey mission to Afghanistan
5. Questions concerning the visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Afghanistan
6. Question regarding a conference on Middle East peace

1. Dispatch of the second Afghanistan assistance survey mission

   Assistant Press Secretary Daisuke Matsunaga: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have a couple of announcements to make today. First, the dispatch of the second Afghanistan assistance survey mission.

   The Government of Japan will send the second Afghan survey assistance mission from 5 to 19 April. This mission is composed mainly of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The mission will be involved in a survey concerning the rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools, medical facilities, and so forth. The mission will also survey such areas as education, health and medicine, and assistance related to women. In addition, the mission will gather information about internal security, which constitutes a prerequisite for reconstruction efforts.

   My second and third announcements concern the Middle East situation.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
2. Meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura and Israeli Ambassador to Japan Yitzhak Lior

   Mr. Matsunaga: On 4 April, yesterday, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura received Israeli Ambassador to Japan Yitzhak Lior in his office and had talks on the Middle East situation.

   Senior Vice-Minister Sugiura expressed great concern about the situation and urged the termination of military operations by the Israeli forces and their withdrawal from the occupied area, and the lifting of the confinement of Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

   Ambassador Lior said that Israeli's fight was not one against innocent Palestinians but a fight against terrorism. The Ambassador also mentioned the Camp David negotiations in July 2000 in which he claimed that the Palestinians were supposed to be able to create a Palestinian state without recourse to terrorism; but the Palestinian side, he lamented, had responded with terrorism. Ambassador Lior requested Japan to urge the Palestinian side to stop terrorism. Furthermore, Ambassador Lior asked Senior Vice-Minister Sugiura for Japan to exercise its influence with Syria so that Syria would press Hezbollah to refrain from attacking Israel's northern border area from Lebanon.

   Senior Vice-Minister Sugiura said that Japan had been conveying Israeli's concerns to Syria.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)
   
3. Message conveyed to Chairman Arafat

   Mr. Matsunaga: My third announcement is about our talks with the Palestinian side. Ambassador in charge of International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Hiroshi Shigeta is now in the Middle East. He met with Chairman Abu Ala of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), to whom he handed a letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi addressed to Chairman Arafat, and he also explained the contents of the letter, which can be summarized in the following points.

   First, Japan is greatly concerned about the current situation, particularly about terrorism and the Israeli forces' invasion into Palestinian autonomous areas and Chairman Arafat's confinement.

   Second, Japan considers it essential to put a stop to the vicious cycle of violence, and Japan is urging the Israeli side to exercise maximum constraint, including the immediate withdrawal of forces from the Palestinian autonomous areas.

   Third, Japan and the international community would like Chairman Arafat to crack down on the extremists so that terrorist attacks are not repeated. The letter also conveys the statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres of Israel that they would withdraw forces if a ceasefire were achieved.

   Fourth, Japan requests the Palestinian side to respond positively to the efforts by US Special Envoy Anthony Zinni.

   Lastly, Japan requests the Palestinian side to take action in the direction of peace.

   Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
   
4. Follow-up question on the survey mission to Afghanistan

   Q: When is the survey mission to Afghanistan leaving Japan, or have they left?

   Mr. Matsunaga: They are supposed to leave Japan today.

   Q: Later today?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Whether it will be later today or whether they have already left I do not know, but I can check for you.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
5. Questions concerning the visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Afghanistan

   Q: Is Minister Kawaguchi scheduled to visit the Afghan region next month or at the end of this month?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Yes, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed her intention to visit Afghanistan during Golden Week if she is given Diet approval.

   Q: Is there any plan to move ahead and visit the Palestinians?

   Mr. Matsunaga: Well, the schedule is now being worked out, so whether or not Foreign Minister Kawaguchi is going to extend her journey and visit the Middle East, that is something that has not yet been decided.

   Q: What is the main reason behind the trip?

   Mr. Matsunaga: The purpose of Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit is centered on our assistance efforts for Afghanistan in its reconstruction and nation- building.

   Q: Talks with Arafat or the Israeli Prime Minister are not on the schedule?

   Mr. Matsunaga: As I mentioned, the itinerary is now being worked out. I have been briefed that, basically, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit concerns Afghanistan. As to whether or not Foreign Minister Kawaguchi visits some other countries-that is now being worked out. Of course, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi occasionally contacts both sides so that Japan can urge them to exercise self-restraint. At the end of March, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi called Foreign Minister Peres of Israel to urge self-restraint.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
6. Question regarding a conference on Middle East peace

   Q: When can I expect the Japanese Government to announce more details about the Middle East peace conference, which it is expected to organize?

   Mr. Matsunaga: I think Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, in her speech to the Japan Press Club on 18 March, mentioned the possible hosting of peace-promoting-people from both the Israeli side and the Palestinian side, so that they could have dialogue with each other. I think that they are still working on it, but the moderates, those who are ready to talk to the other side, will be invited and they will have a chance to deepen their thinking here. To my understanding, the dates have not yet been fixed, but as soon as the schedule becomes available, I would like to let you know about it.

   Related Information (Japan-Middle East Relations)