Press Conference 18 March 2003

1. Announcement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi regarding Japan's position on the situation in the Republic of Iraq
2. Peace talks regarding the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
3. Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia over the Khmer Rouge Trials
4. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
5. Question concerning North Korea in the context of the situation in Iraq
6. Questions concerning Japan's assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq
7. Questions concerning financial assistance by Japan
8. Question concerning the last conversation between Prime Minister Koizumi and President George W. Bush of the United States of America
9. Question regarding the United States notifying Japan of the timing of attacks on Iraq
10. Question concerning possible conferences and meetings at the Security Council
11. Question concerning relations between Japan and the French Republic
12. Questions concerning weapons of mass destruction developed by the United States
13. Question concerning a possible mission from Japan to the Middle East

1. Announcement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi regarding Japan's position on the situation in the Republic of Iraq

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I apologize for the delay of the beginning of this press briefing. Today I have four announcements I would like to make. The first one is on the Iraqi situation.

   The Government of Japan expressed its support for the decision of the Government of the United States of America to take military action against the Republic of Iraq if President Saddam Hussein and his sons fail to leave Iraq within 48 hours. This support was expressed during Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's meeting with the press this afternoon at the Prime Minister's Office in which Prime Minister Koizumi said as follows.

   The Government of Japan has been vigorously pursuing the peaceful solution of the Iraqi situation through diplomatic efforts and international solidarity, but the Iraqi Government and President Saddam Hussein have missed the opportunity to comply with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

   President George W. Bush of the United States must have made the decision to use force with much difficulty, and the Government of Japan, as a partner of the alliance with the United States, considers it appropriate to support his decision. Although President Bush offered the last and very limited chance for the peaceful settlement, namely the departure of Saddam Hussein and his sons, the Government of Japan considers that the possibility for this is very little and military action will be almost inevitable.

   Prime Minister Koizumi made it clear that because of the constitutional constraints, Japan will not participate in any military action against Iraq. However, the Government of Japan will make a thorough study on how to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction of post-war Iraq and contribute to international peace and stability while making utmost efforts to secure the safety of Japanese nationals and to prevent any economic disruption.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Peace talks regarding the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement that I have is that the sixth round of peace talks between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) opened this afternoon in Hakone, which is on the outskirts of Tokyo, as scheduled. This round of talks is being attended by Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of Constitutional Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anton Balasingham, Political Advisor of LTTE and Mr. Vidar Helgesen, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, among others. This meeting will continue for four days until Friday, 21 March, and it is expected that the participants will discuss such issues as strengthening the implementation measures in regard to peace, a ceasefire agreement, human rights and the agenda for the International Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka to be held in Tokyo in June 2003.

   Related Information (Sri Lanka Peace Talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be held in Japan)
   
3. Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia over the Khmer Rouge Trials

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the Cambodian situation. Japan welcomes that the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the United Nations have reached a basic agreement concerning their cooperation towards the prosecution under Cambodian law of crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea.

   After the announcement by the United Nations in February last year to end talks with the Government of Cambodia, Japan has been facilitating the realization of the Khmer Rouge Trials, especially by urging the two parties to resume talks and sponsoring the draft resolution to give the United Nations Secretary General a clear mandate to reopen negotiations with the Government of Cambodia.

   It is the position of the Government of Japan that, respecting the will of the Cambodian Government and people to the fullest, the former Khmer Rouge leaders involved in the atrocities during the period of Democratic Kampuchea should be properly punished. Japan thus hopes that the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations will continue to collaborate based on this agreement, with support from the international community, towards the implementation of the Khmer Rouge Trials.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the agreement between UN and the Government of Cambodia over Khmer Rouge Trials)
   
4. Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I would like to make is on the situation of an unknown disease spreading in Asia.

   The Government of Japan decided to dispatch from 16-25 March a Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, which is suffering an epidemic of a non-specific type of pneumonia of unknown origin, which is feared to be spreading rapidly. The team comprising three members, including health care professionals, will be dispatched to provide advice and instruction on treatment and infection control.

   The Government of Japan is also cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to cope with this unknown disease, which is rapidly spreading to various parts of Asia.

   Related Information (Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team to Viet Nam for Epidemic Outbreak of Non-specific Pneumonia)
   
5. Question concerning North Korea in the context of the situation in Iraq

   Q: On North Korean issues, now people are starting to worry that maybe North Korea will do something right after the American attack on Iraq. I wonder if the Japanese Government still keeps a diplomatic channel and dialogue with the North Korean Government.

   Mr. Takashima: We are keeping a very careful watch on the North Korean situation, because we recognize that they have already started operations at the nuclear reactor site in Yongbyon. This is totally against the commitment that they had made under the terms of the Agreed Framework and the agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), not to mention the Pyongyang Declaration, which was signed between the North Korean leader and Prime Minister Koizumi.

   Insofar as contact between North Korea and Japan, we have been in touch with North Koreans through various channels, but I will not discuss the content or details of these contacts. But I can safely say that through those channels, we have been urging North Koreans not to heighten the tension and not to pursue brinkmanship, but rather to go back to the commitment they have made with international organizations, as well as Japan and other parties.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration)
   
6. Questions concerning Japan's assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq

   Q: You said that Japan will do a thorough study of how to contribute to post-war reconstruction efforts. I am wondering how, and if you could give us any specifics about exactly what kinds of areas which we could expect to see Japan contribute to, in view of its efforts after the Gulf War and the peacekeeping operations in the 1990s onward. Can you give us some idea of the kinds of contributions that Japan might consider?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, it is simply impossible to assume what sort of damage Iraq will suffer because of military action during the war. It would be very difficult for us to make sort of an estimate at this moment, since the war has not started yet. But during the course of the development of the situation, we will make the assessment.

   Also, this is not the only contribution we are considering. For the assistance of the neighboring countries that will suffer from economic difficulties because of the situation in Iraq, we would extend a helping hand to them financially and technically and so forth.

   At the same time, we are discussing with international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the rescue operations for refugees that are expected to flow out from Iraq when the war starts. Those are the contributions we are considering.

   Going back to the question of rehabilitation and reconstruction, we believe that we will wait and see what sort of a situation develops in that region. Q: Could helping refugees involve, for example, Self-Defense Forces under the umbrella of UN peacekeeping operations?

   Mr. Takashima: This is one of the considerations, but it has not materialized yet. This involves lots of legal questions insofar as Japanese Self-Defense Forces are concerned. Therefore, at this moment, what is concrete is financial assistance to international organizations, as well as probably the dispatch of civilian relief teams to the area.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)
   
7. Questions concerning financial assistance by Japan

   Q: The reports mention that Japan is preparing around US$1 billion as aid in terms of yen loans and grants to the countries surrounding Iraq, including US$250 million to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and up to US$900 million to the Republic of Turkey. Do you have any confirmation on the details of such assistance?

   Mr. Takashima: I can confirm that studies are being made, but I cannot confirm any figures, because no concrete figure has been announced.

   Q: But is that money going to be to help neighboring countries or rehabilitation and reconstruction? Is Japan going to use it for war expenses?

   Mr. Takashima: We are considering helping the neighboring countries as well as the refugees and so forth, but we are not planning to pay any part of the direct costs of military actions.

   Q: Including oil or fuel to the vessels that will attack Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: The supply of fuel to the naval vessels is currently limited to the vessels engaged in operations in the Indian Ocean and the war against terrorism. They have nothing to do with the Iraqi situation.

   Q: So you are sure that the fuel is not going to the vessels that are going to attack Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: Those are the terms and conditions that are written into the memorandum exchanged between the Japanese Government and the countries concerned.

   Q: You said that Japan is considering various kinds of financial assistance. Have there been new requests from Gulf countries, or is this is purely from the Government of Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: Some preliminary talks are underway, but there is no formal request, and there is no formal offer yet. This is a kind of a study on paper.

   Q: These are talks with the United Nations, the US or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

   Mr. Takashima: With various parties. But it is a little bit too premature to discuss that in detail, because the study is just preliminary. No concrete figures or concrete plans have been decided yet.

   Related Information (Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq)
   
8. Question concerning the last conversation between Prime Minister Koizumi and President George W. Bush of the United States of America

   Q: On the Iraq situation, the Japanese Government has decided to completely support American policy. I presume that the Japanese Government keeps talking with the US Government, and I wonder when was the last time Prime Minister Koizumi talked with President Bush.

   Mr. Takashima: It was done on 10 March. Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush have been having discussions from time to time over the phone and in person in September 2002, as well as on other occasions, such as the Summit Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Mexico.

9. Question regarding the United States notifying Japan of the timing of attacks on Iraq

   Q: Some reports say that the United States will inform Japan in advance of any developments. Does that mean that you will know in advance the details on the timing of the attack?

   Mr. Takashima: In the past, there have been such incidents, but this time, we do not know if that will be the case.

   Q: It is based on a meeting Ambassador Howard Baker of the United States, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, Ambassador Baker visited Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi yesterday. They discussed the situation in Iraq. My understanding is that Ambassador Baker informed the Japanese side of the time of the President Bush's speech, but I am not in a position to discuss any further.

10. Question concerning possible conferences and meetings at the Security Council

    Q: I understand that Prime Minister Koizumi is going to convene the Security Council. When is it going to be, and what specific issues are going to be discussed regarding Iraq?

    Mr. Takashima: We have not announced the plan of the conferences or the Security Council meeting, but certainly we will have meetings along the course of developments in Iraq. That is a possibility, but it has not been confirmed yet.

    The issue is that, as I have said, Prime Minister Koizumi has already given instructions to his Cabinet and each of the Ministers that they should take utmost efforts to secure the safety of Japanese nationals and guard against economic disruption that might stem from the sudden change in the situation. In order to make these things happen, the necessary measures will be taken and necessary conferences held.

11. Question concerning relations between Japan and the French Republic

    Q: I also understand that there was some communication with the French Republic, and apparently the position of Japan is very much different than that of France, because France does not support the war while Japan does. Do you think the relations between Japan and France are a little bit shaky? Do you think that there is any chance that the Japanese might apply sanctions or boycott against French products in the same way that some Americans have been?

    Mr. Takashima: Last night Foreign Minister Kawaguchi made a phone call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin, and they discussed the situation in Iraq. There were some differences of views on the situation, especially about what was happening in the Security Council. At the same time, the two Ministers confirmed the good and strong bilateral relations between France and Japan, which are traditional and ongoing, and which will continue into the future.

    Q: Japan wants Self-Defense Forces to help Japanese evacuate. Does Japan have to make any changes?

    Mr. Takashima: Regarding the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces transport airplanes to various places to help evacuation of Japanese nationals, the Defense Agency is making a study on it, but no complete plans have been decided.

    Related Information (Japan-France Relations)
    
12. Questions concerning weapons of mass destruction developed by the United States

    Q: I think recently the US tried a new weapon, which they called the "mother of all bombs," and they showed it on television in a way that was similar to a nuclear blast. How does Japan react to this, or do you have any comment on such arms being developed by the same country that is accusing other countries of owning arms of mass destruction?

    Mr. Takashima: We saw the press reports and also the television report on the test of a massive bomb, but I have no immediate comment except to say that my understanding is that it is a continuation of the development of conventional weapons.

    Q: So Japan supports the continuation of conventional weapons?

    Mr. Takashima: We do not support it, but we do not have any objection, because this is a military affair to be handled by the Government of the United States.

    Q: But you are making the same stance regarding other countries?

    Mr. Takashima: We are totally against their possession of weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, we have made various decisions not to have weapons of mass destruction for our Self-Defense Forces.

    Q: Has Japan expressed any opinions to the United States not to use any weapons of mass destruction in a possible attack on Iraq?

    Mr. Takashima: No, we have not said so except in general terms at the multilateral venues.

    Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
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13. Question concerning a possible mission from Japan to the Middle East

    Q: Do you have anybody visiting the Middle East, such as a mission?

    Mr. Takashima: At this moment, we have no plan to dispatch any special envoy.

    Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)