Press Conference 28 October 2003

1. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Republic of Tunisia
2. Statement by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi on terrorism by series of bombing attacks in Baghdad
3. Dispatch of election monitoring team for general election in Republic of Guatemala

1. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Arab Republic of Egypt and Republic of Tunisia

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Today I have three remarks.

   Firstly, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi was in the Arab Republic of Egypt on 26 and 27 October, and she had meetings with Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher El Sayed of Egypt and Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa on 26 October. Then, on 27 October, she paid a courtesy call on Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak and held meetings with Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Youssef Boutros Ghali and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Fayza Abul Naga with whom she signed an Exchange of Notes regarding a yen loan project.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi is in the Republic of Tunisia today and tomorrow. She is scheduled to have meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Habib Ben Yahia, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and will also pay a courtesy call on President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

   Related Information (Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the Ministerial Meeting of the International Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq, and to Visit Egypt and Tunisia)
   
2. Statement by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi on terrorism by series of bombing attacks in Baghdad

   Mr. Okuyama: Secondly, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi issued the following statement yesterday.

   The Government of Japan cannot contain its strong indignation at the series of bombing attacks in Baghdad which occurred after 8:00 a.m. on 27 October local time (Japan time: after 2:00 p.m.), especially at the fact that a car bomb set off near the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) caused many deaths and casualties. Japan extends sincere sympathy for those who died in the incidents and condolences to the bereaved families, and prays for a quick recovery for the injured.

   Such repeated terrorism targeting the staff of international humanitarian organizations that are striving for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq is a contemptible and barbarous act, which Japan strongly condemns.

   The Government of Japan is determined to continue cooperating with the rest of the international community for the reconstruction of Iraq without giving in to despicable terrorism.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Terrorism by Series of Bombing Attacks in Baghdad)
   
3. Dispatch of election monitoring team for general election in Republic of Guatemala

   Mr. Okuyama: Thirdly, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch six election monitors, comprising two private researchers on Central America and four officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the general elections of the president, parliament members and others to be held on 9 November, in response to the request from the Guatemala Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

   These are the second general elections after the peace agreement was concluded and the peace process started in 1996, putting an end to the civil war in Guatemala that had lasted for 36 years.

   Japanese election monitors will monitor voting and vote counting activities as part of the Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission from 3 to 13 November. The current general elections are extremely important from the viewpoint of progress of the peace process in Guatemala and the consolidation of democracy in the country. The international community is watching the elections with keen interest.

   In connection with the elections, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency grant assistance of approximately US$90,000 to the OAS and also to provide approximately US$140,000 (at the current exchange rate of 109 yen to US$1) grassroots and human security grant assistance to cover two projects related to the elections.

   Related Information (Japan-Guatemala Relations)