Press Conference 25 March 2003
- Emergency assistance to Afghanistan
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the indiscriminate killing in Kashmir
- Emergency assistance for meningitis epidemic in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Questions concerning launch of intelligence-gathering satellite
- Questions concerning funding of emergency and postwar assistance
- Question concerning development of military action
- Emergency assistance to Afghanistan
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I have three announcements that I would like to make.
The first announcement is about the emergency assistance to Afghanistan. The Government of Japan today decided to provide US $22 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance of Afghanistan, of which US $21 million will be disbursed to five international organizations for the project aimed at the rehabilitation of refugees and creation of job opportunities among other things, while US $770,000.00 will be used for the preparation of the Loya Jirga, the National Assembly of Afghanistan, to be held in October 2003.
Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the indiscriminate killing in Kashmir
Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is on the situation in Kashmir. The Government of Japan strongly condemns the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians which took place on 24 March in Kashmir. The Government of Japan expresses its deep sorrow over the people who were murdered in this attack and sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the people of India.
The Government of Japan reaffirms its position that terrorism cannot be justified, whatever kind it may be, and resolutely condemns again terrorism in any form.
Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Indiscriminate Killing in Kashmir)
- Emergency assistance for meningitis epidemic in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the emergency assistance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Government of Japan decided to provide emergency assistance in kind (vaccination, syringes and trash boxes for discarded syringes) equivalent to about 6.8 million yen (approximately US $56,000.00) to the Government of the Nigeria, which has been suffering from a growing meningitis epidemic since September last year.
We hope that this assistance will help the Nigerian effort to eradicate this disease which has so far claimed 193 lives.
Related Information (Emergency Assistance to combat the Meningitis Epidemic in Nigeria)
- Questions concerning launch of intelligence-gathering satellite
Q: On Friday, an information-collecting satellite is going to be launched in Tanegashima. What is the purpose of this launch?
Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan believes that the international situation surrounding Japan requires constant monitoring in order to maintain the security of the nation. At the same time, the Government wants appropriate means to collect necessary information regarding large-scale natural disasters, both domestic and abroad. To meet these requirements, the Government of Japan decided to establish the information-gathering satellite system that includes four satellites and ground stations for satellite control, data collection and data analysis. Upon completion of satellite launch, we will be able to obtain the necessary information, namely the pictures and imagery information, to ensure the national security of Japan. This information will be used by the Government of Japan to formulate foreign and defense policies, as well as for crisis management.
Q: Last week, the North Korean side said that this launching of the satellite would violate the spirit of the Pyongyang Declaration, and North Korea might take it as a different message. Also, North Korea warned last week that if you launch that satellite, it might void the Declaration. What is the reaction of the Government of Japan to the words from North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: North Korea made a promise to put a freeze on the missile launch testing in and after year 2003 when it signed the Japan-Democratic People's Republic of Korea Pyongyang Declaration with us.
Talking about the Government's plan to establish this information-gathering satellite system, it is something that has been in preparation for years. This is for the purpose of information-gathering and is not of an offensive nature or to interfere in any other nations' security whatsoever. It is for the sake of Japanese national security as well as crisis management.
Q: Ambassador of the United States of America to Japan Howard Baker met the coalition parties, including Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Taku Yamasaki. During their conversation, he mentioned that there were signs of possible North Korean preparations for launch. He reiterated or made a comment that these signs were there of a launch. Is there any concern that the Japanese launch might be followed by a North Korean launch?
Mr. Takashima: We do not have any information which indicates an imminent restart of missile tests by the North Koreans, but we are monitoring closely what is happening in North Korea in conjunction with missile testing, as well as the nuclear development programs.
In addition, as I have said, this establishment of an information-gathering satellite system does not constitute an offense or interference against North Korea and is not a violation of any international agreement. We are abiding by the commitment we made. Our policy on space exploration is only for peaceful purposes.
Q: Would you say that as you launch the satellite you will step up your monitoring of North Korea?
Mr. Takashima: This satellite will enable us to monitor the situation surrounding us more closely by our own means, but it is not necessarily directly connected to any particular incident or agenda. The things that we will be looking at will be decided after we have confirmation that the whole system works properly.
Q: The satellite will give you an independent means not just monitoring of North Korea but of other areas that you would like to as well. Obviously, this will be used by the Defense Agency, the Government of Japan, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Do you know in terms of the percentage, who will use this?
Mr. Takashima: There is no percentage or fixed share of the usage of the information. Rather, it will be coordinated by the Government as a whole and will be operated in accordance with the needs which arise from time to time. For example, if there is a large-scale natural disaster in some part of the world and there arises the necessity for Japan to provide some emergency assistance, then the pictures will help us to make our own policy plan to cope with the situation. In addition, the information will be used for the formulation of Japanese foreign as well as defense policy.
Q: At the moment, how do you monitor North Korean activities? Is it through US images or commercial sources?
Mr. Takashima: There are many sources of information, but since it is a matter of intelligence, we cannot disclose them.
Q: Obviously, satellite launches are inherently a risky business, and failure of rockets is not uncommon, so have you insured the satellite?
Mr. Takashima: This is not for commercial use. The Japanese Government does not insure a satellite that is launched for governmental use.
Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
- Questions concerning funding of emergency and postwar assistance
Q: President George W. Bush has asked the American Congress to approve new spending in relation with the war in Iraq. Specifically, he has asked for US $74.7 billion, most of which will be used at the Department of Defense; about half of that spending has actually already been done and the remainder is for further spending; and then the remaining US $8 billion will be used to rebuild Iraq after the conflict has ended. This is not the full amount; it is the first installment for the cost of the war. Japan has not yet made any formal proposal for an additional budget. In view of the fact that the US is now requesting a lot of money and requesting extra funding from its Congress, what will happen in Japan in terms of the budget?
Mr. Takashima: We have made an announcement of several measures to be taken as initial assistance in regard to the current situation. As for postwar reconstruction or rehabilitation of Iraq, as I have previously said, we have to wait and see what sort of outcome this military action will lead to. Since the situation in Iraq looks somewhat different from initial predictions or projections, I think that it is premature to give a fixed figure or any kind of estimate in financial terms.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will set up a kind of task force, which will make a thorough study of the possible Japanese assistance for postwar Iraq, in close consultation with other relevant ministries of the Government of Japan, including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Q: Has that task force already been formed, or is it that it will be formed?
Mr. Takashima: It is not a task force as such but a very loose forum for discussion among concerned departments of these ministries including the Economic Affairs Bureau, the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, as well as Foreign Policy Planning divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Q: You have said that it is a loose structure, but has a team already been selected and are you already consulting with the Ministry of Finance?
Mr. Takashima: Those who are involved in the study form a team and hold spontaneous discussions.
Q: So it is ad-hoc and not set?
Mr. Takashima: Yes.
Q: Has the budget for the next fiscal year already been passed?
Mr. Takashima: It is still under discussion at the Diet.
Q: In terms of wanting to give assistance, you obviously have a budget already there. At the moment, what is the budget that you have available for use without having to appropriate new funds?
Mr. Takashima: I cannot say one way or the other, because it can be disbursed from various sources, and since there is no figure available at the moment, it is simply impossible to predict.
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
Related Information (The Outline of Measures based on the Action Guidelines)
Related Information (Measures to be Taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Response to the Military Actions Taken Against Iraq)
- Question concerning development of military action
Q: You mentioned that at the moment the situation is different from your initial predictions. In what way is the situation different, and how would you assess the situation at the moment?
Mr. Takashima: We are still hoping sincerely that this military action will be concluded as quickly as possible with minimum civilian casualties, and we trust that the Americans and British and other members of the coalition will keep their word that they will try their best to do so.
Q: Would you say that it seems to be taking longer than initially expected? Is the Government of Japan surprised by the level of resistance?
Mr. Takashima: We understand that so far the commanders and the Government of the United States have expressed their satisfaction that the whole operation has been going smoothly as planned.
Q: Would you say that from your point of view, it is going as you had expected?
Mr. Takashima: We are just keeping our eyes open and are monitoring the situation.
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
Related Information (The Outline of Measures based on the Action Guidelines)
Related Information (Measures to be Taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Response to the Military Actions Taken Against Iraq)
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