Press Conference 11 March 2003

1. Exchanges of Notes Concerning the Contribution of Supplies and Services to the Armed Forces or Other Similar Entities of Italy, the Netherlands and Spain
2. Telephone conversations by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi with counterparts of the United Nations Security Council
3. Upcoming Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga
4. Question concerning supply of fuel in the Indian Ocean
5. Question concerning former President of Peru, Mr. Alberto Fujimori
6. Question concerning further telephone conversations with leaders of UN Security Council members

1. Exchanges of Notes Concerning the Contribution of Supplies and Services to the Armed Forces or Other Similar Entities of Italy, the Netherlands and Spain

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have three announcements I would like to make.

   The first announcement is about the supply of fuel to naval vessels in the Indian Ocean by Japanese vessels. The arrangement to supply fuel to the naval vessels of the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Spain in the Indian Ocean from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships was finalized today by the Signings and Exchanges of Notes between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and the Ambassadors to Japan of these three countries. With this new arrangement, the Government of Japan will be supplying fuel to the naval vessels of eight nations in total in conjunction with the war against terrorism.

   Related Information (Exchanges of Notes concerning the Contribution of Supplies and Services to the Armed Forces or Other Similar Entities of Italy, the Netherlands and Spain)
   
2. Telephone conversations by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi with counterparts of the United Nations Security Council

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the telephone conversations between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi with their respective counterparts in conjunction with the situation in Iraq.

   In an effort to assist strengthening the unity and solidarity among the members of the United Nations Security Council in regard to the situation in Iraq, Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi had a series of telephone conversations with the leaders and foreign ministers of seven nations last night.

   While Prime Minister Koizumi spoke with the heads of the United States of America, the Republic of Chile and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi had discussions with the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Guinea. Both Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed Japan's support of the British amendment to the draft resolution presented to the UN Security Council last Friday and said that it is extremely important that the UN Security Council is united and take decisive action against Iraq. Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi are expected to make further telephone calls to other members of the UN Security Council.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Upcoming Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the Third World Water Forum.

   Please be reminded that the Third World Water Forum will be held in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka Prefectures from 16 to 23 March. During the last two days of the Forum, namely on 22 and 23 March, a Ministerial Conference will be held at Kyoto International Conference Hall (KICH). During this Ministerial Conference, it is expected that the Portfolio of Water Actions, which will contain more than 380 actions from 32 countries and 13 international organizations, will be announced and a Ministerial Declaration on Water will be adopted.

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4. Question concerning supply of fuel in the Indian Ocean

   Q: On the refueling in the Indian Ocean, there are some people that say that supplying fuel to these countries will indirectly provide support to the United States Army while the US is preparing for a war on Iraq. What is your response to this?

   Mr. Takashima: The supply of oil for the naval vessels of those nations is for the war against terrorism that is now being fought mainly in Afghanistan and some parts of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and it has nothing to do with the situation in the Republic of Iraq. Even if military action were taken in Iraq, the Government of Japan has no intention or plan to supply fuel to the naval vessels which may be participating in the war against Iraq.

   Related Information (Exchanges of Notes concerning the Contribution of Supplies and Services to the Armed Forces or Other Similar Entities of Italy, the Netherlands and Spain)
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5. Question concerning former President of the Republic of Peru, Mr. Alberto Fujimori

   Q: I have a question on a different topic concerning former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. I know that an international arrest warrant has been issued. What is Japan's reaction to that?

   Mr. Takashima: That matter, especially the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO), is handled by a different agency of the Government of Japan. However, upon a phone inquiry made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agency concerned responded to us that no information on an arrest warrant being issued for former President of Peru Mr. Fujimori has reached Japan yet.

   We understand that the Government of Peru has not issued any sort of extradition request or formal request for his handover to the Government of Japan up to today. Therefore, there is no action to be taken vis-à-vis Mr. Fujimori.

   Furthermore, the basic position of the Government of Japan is that Mr. Fujimori is confirmed to be a Japanese citizen by birth. Since there is no international treaty or arrangement between Japan and Peru to hand over criminal suspects, we have no plan to extradite and hand him over from Japan to Peru.

   In Japan, the criminal prosecution act calls for the specific issuance of an arrest warrant by a judge or by the court. Without such a warrant, nobody can be arrested except in ongoing criminal cases. Therefore, this is also a matter to be considered vis-à-vis the reported ICPO arrest warrant.

   Q: Could I get one thing sure about this case? You said that because he is a Japanese citizen, Japan cannot hand him over. Is this even if the Peruvian government makes a request?

   Mr. Takashima: At this moment, there is no agreement between Japan and Peru to hand over persons of Japanese nationality.

   Q: So even if there is a request made by the Government of Peru, there is no way that the Government of Japan can hand Mr. Fujimori over or extradite him in any way?

   Mr. Takashima: If the request is made by the Government of Peru directly to the Government of Japan, or the arrest warrant is issued by the ICPO, then the matter would be considered by the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Prosecutors Office in this country. It is not a case to be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Therefore, at the moment, I have no answer to the question of what will happen to that case.

   Q: I am not really sure about the procedures, but if he is a Japanese citizen, then there is no way that a request would be considered in any of the ministries. Is my understanding correct?

   Mr. Takashima: Japan is a member of the ICPO, so if a warrant were issued by the ICPO, then this issue would be considered by the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutors Office of Japan. However, I have no answer on whether an arrest warrant would actually be executed.

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6. Question concerning further telephone conversations with leaders of UN Security Council members

   Q: You referred to other telephone conferences with members of the UN Security Council. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi was saying that she was planning a telephone conference with her counterpart in the Republic of Angola. Is there any specific time?

   Mr. Takashima: Arrangements are still being made and no definite time has been set yet.

   Q: Is it more likely to be in the evening or later at night?

   Mr. Takashima: That is a possibility, but we still do not have any confirmation at this time.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)