Press Conference 23 March 2003
- Questions concerning Japan's reconstruction assistance
- Question concerning reports on developments of military action
- Questions concerning Japan's support
- Question concerning the Iraqi regime
- Question concerning economic impact
- Questions concerning security status
- Question concerning North Korea
- Question concerning financial assistance to neighboring countries of Iraq
- Question concerning discussion at the United Nations Security Council
- Question concerning relations with Arab countries
- Questions concerning Japan's reconstruction assistance
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this special briefing.
I do not have any announcements to make so I would be happy to take any questions you may have.
Q: On the issue of aid, there has been some talk today by Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) Taku Yamasaki. And yesterday in your briefing his 20% figure was mentioned and you said that the figure reflects Japan's United Nations contribution. Today, Mr. Yamasaki was saying that any aid package or help really would depend on there being UN resolutions, that Japan has to work through the UN rather than make any direct contribution. Could you clarify that position a little further?
Mr. Takashima: Actually, the Government of Japan is expecting to see the United Nations come up with resolutions to enable the international community to assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of postwar Iraq. If that materializes, then we will certainly make a contribution to that effort. However, since war is still underway and we do not know what sort of outcome there will be. We are waiting for the UN Security Council's action and also the result of this military action.
Q: Obviously Japan is not a member of the UN Security Council so in that respect, it is sort of limited what Japan can do, but as Japan is the second biggest contributor to the UN budget it has influence in that respect on that organization. So next week, what kind of efforts will Japan make at the UN to secure these resolutions?
Mr. Takashima: Our permanent representative office in New York is working closely with the Secretariat of the United Nations on that matter and we have also been consulting with the United States of America and other UN Security Council member countries on the postwar reconstruction matters. As you have said, not being a member of the UN Security Council itself, our ability is rather limited and we are hoping and urging the members of the UN Security Council to come up with a practical and workable plan for the reconstruction.
Q: When would you want the resolutions passed?
Mr. Takashima: As soon as possible of course, so that we can be in a better position to make preparations for that.
Q: When do you think is the earliest date when it would be feasible in terms of the process to get a resolution?
Mr. Takashima: We do not have any specific date in mind. It would depend upon the situation on the ground in the Republic of Iraq and in the Middle East.
Related Information (Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi)
Related Information (The Outline of Measures based on the Action Guidelines)
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
- Question concerning reports on developments of military action
Q: Do you receive updates about the progress of the American attacks against Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: We have been monitoring the action through the press reports as well as reports from our embassies, but since the military action is being accelerated on the ground, we have simply been trying to follow the events and there are not many independent information sources available to us.
Q: Do you not get information from the United States?
Mr. Takashima: The contact between Japan and the United States is going on but we do not discuss the details of it except to say that we have been informed properly.
Q: According to television reports, there are increasing civilian casualties, and there were two stray missiles that hit Iran. What is Japan's reaction to this?
Mr. Takashima: As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said to President Bush during his telephone conversation the day before yesterday, Japan hopes that this military action will be concluded as quickly as possible with minimum casualties among civilians. We hope that this kind of accident or collateral damage can be kept to a minimum.
- Questions concerning Japan's support
Q: What kind of support is Japan giving to the American war?
Mr. Takashima: At the moment, there is no direct or indirect support. We are still supplying fuel to the American vessels in the Indian Ocean which are participating in the war against terrorism mostly in Afghanistan. Other than that, there is none.
Q: At what point would Japan dispatch personnel, not necessarily Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel, but maybe medical or so on?
Mr. Takashima: Five doctors are already in the Arab Republic of Syria, and they have already arrived at the designated hospital in the border area between Syria and Iraq. Other doctors and nurses who would be dispatched to the refugee camps when these are ready will follow.
Q: In terms of military personnel, would there have to be a new legislation in the Diet? Would you have to have approval of the lawmakers for dispatching them?
Mr. Takashima: We have a so-called peace-keeping operations (PKO) law which enables Self-Defense forces to participate in peace-keeping operations under certain conditions. On whether those conditions are being met in this situation in Iraq, we have to make a study of it to find out if that is the case. At the moment, we have not yet reached any conclusion.
Q: What kind of conditions are those?
Mr. Takashima: For example, a ceasefire agreement and assurance by the concerned parties of the safety and security of the SDF personnel among others.
Related Information (UN Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) and other International Peace Cooperation)
- Question concerning the Iraqi regime
Q: From the Japanese perspective, what is the goal of this war?
Mr. Takashima: To disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
Q: And what about the Government of Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: One of the biggest hurdles or difficulties which hinders the international effort to disarm Iraq has been the Iraqi regime headed by President Saddam Hussein. Therefore, the removal of Saddam Hussein and his regime would be one of the paths that we would have to take in order to achieve the goal of disarming Iraq.
Q: So Japan supports clearly the removal of the regime of Saddam Hussein?
Mr. Takashima: As part of the whole operation of disarming Iraq.
Q: Can we say that Japan will ask or support toppling any regime which you believe to be developing arms of mass destruction?
Mr. Takashima: We believe that in the case of Iraq, it is the subject of a number of UN Security Council resolutions concerning weapons of mass destruction, and this military action is based upon those resolutions. Without having that sort of international understanding and action, we cannot support any military action, sanctions or pressure applied to a country even though it may possess weapons of mass destruction. This all has to be done with international coordination and by international decision.
Q: I understand that the war was not supported by a big part of the international community. Basically in the UN Security Council, the second resolution that Japan lobbied for did not materialize. How can you say now that you are trying to topple the Iraqi regime with the support of the international community?
Mr. Takashima: We regret and are disappointed that the second resolution did not materialize. It had aimed to strengthen the international solidarity and to apply more pressure on Iraq. However, UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and previous ones such as 687 and 678 clearly state that Iraqi non-compliance would lead to action by the international community. Our position is that this military action is based upon the decision by the international community, namely at the UN Security Council. Furthermore, there is growing support for this action, not only ours but other countries' as well.
Related Information (Press Conference by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi)
- Question concerning economic impact
Q: On the economy, there are a number of estimates by securities houses and think tanks about the impact economically of a war for Japan. At the moment, the assumption is that it is going to be a short war and that has helped markets recover at the end of last week. However, President George W. Bush has indicated that it might not be as quick as people think it will be. The Government here is also considering contingency plans, so if there is an impact on the US that is going to impact Japan as well. There is really nothing that Japan can do to avoid that whatever contingency plan it takes. One estimate that I have seen says that if war is over within six weeks, Japan will still have a 0.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the next fiscal year; another one I have seen is that if it is twelve weeks, that will cut Japan's growth to negative GDP growth of 0.5%, and it carries along with it higher oil prices. Has the Government itself made any assessments of different scenarios and what the impact might be on the economy?
Mr. Takashima: I have no information or knowledge on that. Prime Minister Koizumi has instructed his Cabinet to be prepared for any economic emergency or disruption, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Treasury as well as the Bank of Japan are making a contingency plan for that sort of situation.
Related Information (The Outline of Measures based on the Action Guidelines)
- Questions concerning security status
Q: On the security side, what is the status of alert for Japan's Self-Defense forces?
Mr. Takashima: At the moment, security is heightened because of the possibility of a terrorist attack, but otherwise there has been no change of the status at all. At other important installations such as American military bases or Embassies and Consulate Generals' Offices in various cities in Japan as well as at governmental offices, security has been tightened.
Q: How many Japanese nationals are there in Iraq at the moment?
Mr. Takashima: At the moment, the number of Japanese nationals in Iraq has been increasing since the outbreak of war, and currently stands at 40.
Q: How many of those are so-called human shields?
Mr. Takashima: Seven are registered as human shields. There are 40 in Iraq, 86 in Kuwait, 557 in Israel and 88 in Kafdi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Those areas and nations are designated as places where Japanese should evacuate from.
Q: Obviously, you cannot stop them from traveling overseas, such as the human shields.
Mr. Takashima: We are making efforts to persuade them to leave the country.
Q: Are there any Japanese government officials among those people?
Mr. Takashima: In Iraq, there are no Japanese officials, but in Kuwait and Israel there are still embassy staff remaining there.
Q: Have you confirmed the safety of these people in Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: As of this morning, yes.
Q: If something happened to those people, do you consider that a result of the American attack on Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: They are obviously staying in a very dangerous zone because of the military action underway and that is the reason why we are urging them and trying to persuade them to leave.
Q: Is this the first time in Japan's history that Japanese people have voluntarily chosen to be human shield in a war?
Mr. Takashima: I have no knowledge of previous cases.
Q: How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs feel about the extent of the opposition to the war in the society when people are ready to die for it?
Mr. Takashima: It is their own decision and we cannot enforce or interfere.
Q: If any of these people requested evacuation, what would the response of the Government of Japan be?
Mr. Takashima: They would have to do it by their own means.
Q: So you would give them up?
Mr. Takashima: We have not given them up. We have been trying to be in touch with them through the telephone and making our best efforts to let them understand the dangers of staying in Baghdad or in Iraq.
- Question concerning North Korea
Q: Since the US attack began on Iraq, have there been any indications of any unusual movements for possible preparations of a possible missile attack by North Korea? Is there anything worrying happening there for the Japanese Government at this time?
Mr. Takashima: We do not have any information to that effect except to say that they made a statement condemning the military action and also criticized Japanese support for it. Otherwise, there have been no visible signs for the escalation of the tension.
Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
- Question concerning financial assistance to neighboring countries of Iraq
Q: On the Japanese assistance to the countries surrounding Iraq, I read some reports saying that you might give to Turkey as much as US$900 million. Do you also take into consideration that Turkey must accept the American request for war to get more assistance from Japan?
Mr. Takashima: I cannot comment on the press report concerning the possible financial assistance to Turkey. However, in general, the financial assistance that we have given or are planning to give to the neighboring countries are not based on American policy or decision but on our own assessment of the needs and decisions that are made by ourselves.
Related Information (Measures to be Taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Response to the Military Actions Taken Against Iraq)
- Question concerning discussion at the United Nations Security Council
Q: If there is a resolution, obviously someone would have to propose it to the UN Security Council. Would that be the US? I mean, if Japan were urging for a resolution to be passed, then would the US do it on Japan's behalf?
Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that some preliminary talks amongst members of the UN Security Council are under way, and we are keeping a close eye on them.
Q: Is that between all the members or just the permanent?
Mr. Takashima: All the members and the Secretary General's Office as well, I presume.
Q: Are these talks specifically for a resolution or for the discussion of postwar reconstruction?
Mr. Takashima: Not only for postwar reconstruction, but on how to assist Iraqi people because the oil for food program has been terminated or at least stopped because of the situation. The information that we have received indicates that there is a strong need for very quick action in order to avoid any sort of unnecessary hardship for the people in Iraq.
Q: What would be the purpose of having preliminary talks? Will there be a decision?
Mr. Takashima: They need a new resolution to renew or resume and take action for the oil for food program.
Q: So it is like the members informally discussing what should be included within a resolution, and then one of the members will introduce that to the Council. Is that right?
Mr. Takashima: This is what is currently being done in New York.
- Question concerning relations with Arab countries
Q: Does Japan have any contact with Arabic countries with regard to maintaining the current good relations since the war might create some tension between Japan and certain Arab countries that are opposing the war?
Mr. Takashima: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi issued a statement on 20 March which strongly expressed the Government of Japan's intentions to maintain the good relations with Arab and Islamic countries. We have been and will keep on trying our best to maintain and improve those relations.
Q: Are you concerned that there is big opposition among the Arabic countries at the people's level against the war, and consequently Japan's image as a country that is supporting the war?
Mr. Takashima: We are not supporting the war against Arabic countries or against the Islamic world. We are supporting the war against weapons of mass destruction possessed by the Iraqi regime, so we will make our effort to disseminate the information regarding the Japanese basic position as such to the people in the Arab world and also our strong wish to have good relations with them. We will be making further efforts next week probably by making additional diplomatic contact with various countries of the Arab world to explain what Japan has been doing and will do vis-&gravevis the situation in Iraq.
Q: They are more complaining that Israel's possession of weapons of mass destruction is being totally ignored by the international community including Japan. They consider the Israelis the biggest threat to Arabic countries. That is why countries such as Iraq are trying to counterbalance the Israeli weapons of mass destruction. Does Japan feel the same way and do you feel that after Iraq, Israel should be the target of international inspections to return the balance of power to the Middle East?
Mr. Takashima: We are urging the Government of Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and other international schemes to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction including chemical and biological weapons.
Q: There were also reports on missile parts or missiles that were exploded in Iraq that were made in Israel. Do you have any information on this?
Mr. Takashima: I have not seen the reports and have no information on that.
No more questions? Thank you very much.
Related Information (Toward peace and stability in the Middle East (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs))
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