Press Conference 7 April 2003

1. Non-project grant aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America
3. Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa
4. Travel advice concerning severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
5. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China
6. Follow-up question concerning Japan's humanitarian assistance
7. Follow-up questions concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit

1. Non-project grant aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Today I have several announcements to make.

   The first announcement is about the non-project grant aid to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

   Over the weekend, there were Exchange of Notes to effect Japan's provision of 6 billion yen as non-project grant aid to the Government of Jordan. The Notes were exchanged on Sunday in Amman between Ambassador of Japan to Jordan Koichi Obata and Dr. Bassem I. Awadallah, Minister of Planning of Jordan.

   The economic structure of Jordan, whose main industry is tourism, is fundamentally fragile and it is heavily dependent on Iraq economically as its crude oil supply depends entirely on Iraq and more than 20% of the country's total export goes to Iraq. The use of force against Iraq by the United States of America and the United Kingdom is having a great impact on Jordan's economy.

   This non-project grant aid is aimed to support Jordan, which is playing an important role for the stability of the Middle East region, and will be used for the purchase of necessary goods to ease the economic impact of the military operations of the US and the UK. It will be implemented as part of the US$ 100 million grant aid to Jordan that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi announced on March 23.

   As mentioned, this grant aid is part of Japan's assistance measures that have been announced so far, which include this portion of US$ 100 million to Jordan, and US$ 4.2 million of food assistance to the Palestine Autonomous Areas through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This is in addition to the measures which we previously announced on March 20, namely, US$ 5.03 million through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as US$ 3.3 million through Japanese non-governmental organizations for humanitarian assistance. The overall amount of Japan's assistance measures specifically designed for the situation in Iraq is US$ 112.53 million (see http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/issue2003/announce0323_2.html).

   I may also refer you to Japan's effort in the area of intensifying dialogues and exchanges with the Islamic world. For this purpose, we have allotted in FY2003, US$ 2.45 million for the Japan Foundation for further exchanges and dialogues with the Islamic world (see http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/peaceprocess/measure0303.html).

   Although this news may have reached you already through fax or email, I may just reiterate a portion of the press conference on April 6 by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi on the Iraqi situation. When he was asked about Japan's current thinking on its assistance to the situation in Iraq, including the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq, he said, "We are watching with keen interest what comes out of the summit talks [between the United States and the United Kingdom], and all the more so as Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi is planning to visit the UK, Germany and France later in the week. We need soon to come with our responses to the UN Flash Appeal for the Humanitarian Requirements of the Iraq Crisis. As regards rehabilitation and reconstruction we do not yet have clear prospects on what needs to be done, and it is too premature to talk about what the reconstruction package will be and what Japan will do thereof."4

   Related Information (Non-Project Grant Aid to Jordan)
   
2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America

   Mr. Okuyama: The second announcement is about the telephone conversation last Friday between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States.

   The contents of the conversation between the two have been sent by fax or email to the foreign press people mainly resident in Japan, so I will not repeat it. They will appear on the English website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (http://www.mofa.go.jp/index.html). Therefore, I will refer interested people to that website.

   Related Information (Special Announcement by the Press Secretary (April 4))
   
3. Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa

   Mr. Okuyama: The third announcement is about the appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa.

   On April 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Mr. Keitaro Sato, former Japanese Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, currently working as Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa.

   Japan is striving for "consolidation and peace," an essential platform for development and one of the priority areas of cooperation for Africa. In Africa, there still remain challenging issues from a "human security" perspective such as frequent regional conflicts and a large number of refugees and displaced persons generated by them.

   The appointment of an Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa aims to respond more expeditiously and elaborately to conflict and refugee-related issues from a standpoint of people in Africa facing various threats generated by conflict. Ambassador Sato, with his field-oriented approach acquired from years of experience in Africa, will collect wide-ranging information on conflict and refugee-related issues in Africa, encourage relevant parties to seek a peaceful solution to conflicts, observe refugee camps, participate in related international conferences, and conduct other missions.

   We expect Ambassador Sato to play an important role in the preparation for the upcoming summit conference of African and other interested leaders all around the world, the third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III), to be held in Tokyo from September 29 to October 1, 2003.

   For your reference, in August last year, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi announced Japan's intention of supporting efforts of African countries for "consolidation of peace" when she visited the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Angola, which are in the rehabilitation process from conflicts.

   Related Information (Appointment of Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa)
   
4. Travel advice concerning severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

   Mr. Okuyama: The fourth announcement is about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

   To remind you on what we have done on this so far, cumulatively, the travel advice by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs covers the following areas with respective notices:

   The areas in which we advise Japanese nationals to exercise utmost caution to protect themselves against SARS are the Republic of Singapore; Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; Toronto, Canada; Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China; Macau Special Administrative Region; and Taiwan.

   In addition, for Hong Kong and Guangdong Province of China, we advise those who are planning to visit these areas to consider whether the travel is essential or urgent. In other words, we advise that those travels which are not urgent and non-essential to be reconsidered. We are also sending some masks to Consulate Generals in Hong Kong and Guangzhou to be distributed among the Japanese residents in these two areas (see in Japanese, http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/sars/index.html)

   Related Information (WHO | World Health Organization)
   
5. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China

   Mr. Okuyama: The fifth announcement is about Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit to the People's Republic of China.

   As notified about before the weekend, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi arrived in Beijing yesterday to have talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing. This took place yesterday afternoon. Today, she is having meetings with Director of the Information Office of the State Council Zhao Qizheng and State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, former Foreign Minister. She is expected to see Premier Wen Jiabao in the afternoon.

   I can only report to you on the outcome of her meeting with Foreign Minister Li. I will give you the skeleton of what transpired. The first of three areas covered is the bilateral relations between Japan and China.

   Both sides agreed on three points: First, both sides agreed on the expansion of the common benefit between Japan and China bearing in mind that this year is the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of the Japan-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and also the establishment of the new leadership in China. Second, both sides agreed on the acceleration of high-level exchanges, and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi extended invitations to Foreign Minister Li as well as to Premier Wen to visit Japan at an early date. Third, both sides agreed on the commencement of the negotiation to conclude an international agreement relating to consular relations between the two countries. We expect this to happen in as early as April.

   The second area is the regional situation and regional cooperation. On North Korea, the two sides agreed that they will cooperate with each other for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue. The two sides also exchanged views on the situation of Iraq(*), and the trilateral cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3 (Association of Southeast Asian Nations + Japan, China, Republic of Korea).

   [(*)Additional Note: Minister Kawaguchi explained about Japan's persistent efforts at the peaceful solution of the Iraq issue and the reason for Japan's support for the military action, and expressed Japan's wish that the fighting come to an early end and the concerns over the possible proliferation of weapons of mass destruction be removed. Minister Kawaguchi referred to Japan's five principles on the reconstruction of Iraq: the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq be maintained; the future of Iraq be decided by the Iraqi people; the UN be sufficiently involved; seamless engagement on the way to full-scale reconstruction; and collaboration with NGOs and the private sector.

   Minister Li replied that while he agreed to the first three of the five principles, he had a different view on the military action. He said that China was advocating for an early end to the military action and the solution through dialogue and that the UN should play a central role in the reconstruction of Iraq.]

   The third area is the SARS epidemic. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi requested further information to be provided by the Chinese side through such international organizations as the World Health Organization (WHO). In response, Foreign Minister Li said that China is now providing relevant information to the WHO on a daily basis.

   Related Information (Visit to the People's Republic of China by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
6. Follow-up question concerning Japan's humanitarian assistance

   Q: I do not understand the US$ 112.53 million-figure. Is it the sum already realized or just planned?

   Mr. Okuyama: The figure that I gave you is the total sum pledged. Some of it is already being implemented, such as the portion to Jordan on which there were Exchange of Notes over the weekend.

   Related Information (Japan's Humanitarian Assistance, Assistance to Neighboring Countries and Reconstruction Assistance)
   
7. Follow-up questions concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's visit

   Q: What are the directions of the cooperation between Japan and China in dealing with the North Korean problem? What does Japan expect China to do to help?

   Mr. Okuyama: To be short, we expect China to exercise its influence as a country which has traditionally maintained friendly ties with North Korea, to work on North Korea to give up its nuclear development program, namely to go back to the nuclear freeze which North Korea maintained up until the end of last year, and to dismantle its uranium enrichment program.

   As regards the discussion between Foreign Ministers Kawaguchi and Li, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue are a common objective for Japan and China. She regarded it as important to guide North Korea to act as a responsible member of the international community. Japan continues to look to China's role in this and Japan would like to continue to closely collaborate with China for the purpose of establishing a multilateral framework, and to achieve a peaceful solution of this issue.

   In response, Foreign Minister Li said that China highly values and supports Japan's efforts aimed at the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea as exemplified by the visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Pyongyang. China places importance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a peaceful solution of the issue. China does not support the withdrawal by North Korea from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), nor does it support the nuclear development in North Korea. However at the same time, China is of the view that the sovereignty of North Korea should be respected. In order to solve this issue through dialogue and consultation, China would like to cooperate with Japan.

   Q: Did China support the Japanese formal call for multilateral negotiations with the Republic of Korea?

   Mr. Okuyama: By agreement with the Chinese side, we cannot reveal what the specific response by the Chinese side was in relation to a multilateral framework.

   Related Information (Visit to the People's Republic of China by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs)
   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)