Press Conference 2 April 2003
- Question concerning Japan's suspension of humanitarian assistance on the border area of the Syrian Arab Republic
- Question concerning civilian casualties in the war in the Republic of Iraq
- Question concerning the freedom of movement of Iraqi nationals
- Questions concerning the time frame of the war in Iraq
- Question concerning Japan's aim on the diplomatic front
- Question concerning contact with Iraqi opposition leaders
- Question concerning Japan's characterization of the war in Iraq
- Question concerning Japanese refueling operations in the Indian Ocean
- Question concerning Japanese nationals in Iraq
- Question concerning Japan's suspension of humanitarian assistance on the border area of the Syrian Arab Republic
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this special briefing.
Q: I read today on your web page that Japan has stopped its assistance to the Syrian Arab Republic. I am not sure if you have more information on that.
Mr. Takashima: It is not a stoppage of assistance. Actually, we have been conducting some humanitarian assistance on the border area of Syria but due to security reasons and the situation on the refugees, we suspended it and called back the medical teams from that region. Two medical teams in Syria are returning home.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they estimated at the time of the outbreak of the war that there would have been many refugees coming out of Iraq, but this has not been the case.
Another reason is because of the bombardment of the Syrian bus heading toward Baghdad. That sort of situation led us to suspend the humanitarian assistance. We will consider the resumption of humanitarian assistance when the situation improves or if there is a sudden outbreak of a humanitarian crisis due to an emergence of refugees.
Q: Is there any link between your decision and the American announcement that Syria is sending some goggles?
Mr. Takashima: Yes, we are aware of that American criticism on the possible Syrian assistance of the Iraqi war effort and this might heighten the tension in the border area. This was also a factor we took into account.
Q: Did you take any procedures against Syria along with the United States?
Mr. Takashima: That is not the case.
Q: So I understand that Japanese-Syrian relations are the same. There has been no change?
Mr. Takashima: There has been no change in our bilateral relations. Actually, the medical teams, which completed their mission, made a report to Syrian authorities before they left Damascus.
Related Information (Preparatory Mission for Dispatch of a Medical Team of Civilian Experts for Iraqi Refugee Aid)
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
- Question concerning civilian casualties in the war in the Republic of Iraq
Q: There are also reports talking about a lot of civilian casualties in the war. What is your reaction to this?
Mr. Takashima: We are very much saddened to see scenes of civilian casualties in press reports as well as television reports and so forth. We do hope that this military action will be concluded as quickly as possible. We still trust that the American and British armed forces would make every effort to minimize civilian casualties.
- Question concerning the freedom of movement of Iraqi nationals
Q: I have a friend who has a tour operator business based in Iraq and according to his information, the Government of Iraq required of the residents that if you leave your home, the Government will take it over. That is why all the people are not free to leave their homeland and become refugees. Do you think this information is true?
Mr. Takashima: No, we do not have that information but we suspect that the reason why very few number of refugees have been appearing from Iraq so far might have been that the Iraqi regime still controls the people and those who are suffering from the military situation there are not able to leave their homes. But we have no information to the effect of what you have said.
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
Related Information (Refugees)
- Questions concerning the time frame of the war in Iraq
Q: You mentioned that Japan would like the war to end quickly. What time frame do you mean by "quickly?"
Mr. Takashima: As soon as possible.
Q: Will it be days, months, weeks?
Mr. Takashima: Since we are not a member of the coalition forces, we cannot say regarding the development, but we still hope that this war will be as short as possible.
Q: When do you think the war should end?
Mr. Takashima: We still believe that the purpose of this military action is to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and when this aim is fulfilled, the military action will be concluded.
Q: Do you think that can be done with President Saddam Hussein's government staying in power?
Mr. Takashima: Since Saddam Hussein has been the biggest obstacle of disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction for the past 12 years or so, one of the means to fulfill that mission would be to displace Saddam Hussein and his regime. Otherwise it would be very difficult for the international community to see Iraq with no weapons of mass destruction.
Q: So from now on, we expect Japan to support wars that displace regimes that are suspected of having weapons of mass destruction?
Mr. Takashima: As part of the military operation and as part of the means of military operations, we have been supporting the displacement of Saddam Hussein.
Q: So in the future we expect Japan to help or support topple governments that are suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction?
Mr. Takashima: If there is international will expressed by a United Nations Security Council Resolution, then we will support it.
Q: Even if there are some differences in opinion amongst the Security Council members?
Mr. Takashima: Still, our opinion is that the Security Council has already acted positively in making a Resolution at the time of Resolution 1441 and previous Resolutions which were mentioned in Resolution 1441.
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
- Question concerning Japan's aim on the diplomatic front
Q: On the diplomatic front, what is now Japan's main aim?
Mr. Takashima: We are calling for the reestablishment of the solidarity amongst the international community in order to have a united effort to rehabilitate and reconstruct Iraq when this military operation ends and also in order to help the Iraqi people to recover from the ruins of the war. We do believe that the international community should be united. For that reason, we would make utmost efforts to tell the international community to come forward with helping hands for the people of Iraq and in the Middle East region as a whole.
Q: Do you have any specific steps for assistance?
Mr. Takashima: We are considering various steps, including a possible visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to various countries and to have talks with leaders or counterparts.
Q: Including Middle Eastern countries?
Mr. Takashima: That is a possibility, but nothing has been decided yet.
Related Information (Japan's Humanitarian Assistance, Assistance to Neighboring Countries and Reconstruction Assistance)
Related Information (Toward peace and stability in the Middle East (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs))
- Question concerning contact with Iraqi opposition leaders
Q: Does Japan have any contact with the so-called Iraqi opposition leaders?
Mr. Takashima: Before the outbreak of the war, we through the Middle East Research Institute of Japan invited some members of the anti-government factions and groups of Iraqi expatriates. After that we have had no plan or ongoing project right now.
Related Information (Japan-Iraq Relations)
- Question concerning Japan's characterization of the war in Iraq
Q: I heard today a statement by an American military leader. He was talking beside Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and he said this war against Iraq is a continuation of our war against terrorism. Does Japan share the same opinion as that?
Mr. Takashima: We do not have any independent information that connects Al Qaeda with Iraq, but we are aware that US Secretary of State Colin Powell mentioned it at the session of the United Nations Security Council meeting. So we are closely watching what will be found during the course of this military campaign there.
Q: So up to this moment, Japan does not consider this war a continuation of the war against terrorism?
Mr. Takashima: This is a war to prevent weapons of mass destruction being proliferated to the hands of dictators or terrorists all around the world.
Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
- Question concerning Japanese refueling operations in the Indian Ocean
Q: If we go back to the assistance that you are giving now there, the ships on the high seas, I think I read some reports that you might have reduced the number of nations to which you supply fuel.
Mr. Takashima: No, rather we recently increased the number of nations from eight to ten to which we supply fuel in the Indian Ocean.
Q: You are sure that none of those ships do anything related to the war against Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: They are participating in the war against terrorism. The war has been and is being done in Afghanistan and its vicinity. It has no connection with the Iraqi War.
Q: That is based on your trust and not on your investigation?
Mr. Takashima: Actually, we exchanged diplomatic notes between those governments, which specifically calls for the terms and conditions that these fuels and materials be used.
Related Information (Exchanges of Notes concerning the Contribution of Supplies and Services to the Armed Forces or Other Similar Entities of Canada and Greece)
Related Information (Counter Terrorism)
- Question concerning Japanese nationals in Iraq
Q: In spite of the return advisory from Iraq to Japanese people, we still have around 30 people there.
Mr. Takashima: Today, I believe it is 41 people.
Q: Is there a possibility that the Japanese Government requires people legally to return from Iraq?
Mr. Takashima: No, they have freedom of movement and we cannot enforce any type of thing except to give them advice.
Q: Japan does not have an exit visa system, right?
Mr. Takashima: No, it does not.
Q: Very good freedom.
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