Press Conference 9 April 2003

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Europe
2. Questions concerning Japan's position on the role of the United Nations in postwar reconstruction of Iraq
3. Question concerning visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China
4. Questions concerning Japanese nationals remaining in Iraq
5. Question concerning upcoming meeting of the Japan-US Private Sector/ Government Commission

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Europe

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to this special briefing. Today I have no announcements to make.

   May I remind you however that tonight Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi will be leaving from Narita airport for Europe to have talks with her counterparts, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer of the Federal Republic of Germany, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic, and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of the United Kingdom, before heading back to Tokyo on 12 April.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expects to have exchange of views on rehabilitation and reconstruction of postwar Iraq with those three foreign ministers. Furthermore, she wishes to explain the basic Japanese policy on this issue, which is based upon the five principles that I have mentioned before. These are that the postwar Iraqi rehabilitation and reconstruction should be done in such a way, firstly, to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq; secondly, to let the Iraqi people decide their own form of administration and governance of the nation; thirdly, the plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction should be completed with sufficient involvement of the United Nations; fourthly, the Government of Japan would provide assistance in a seamless manner, that is to say, without any interruption, from immediate humanitarian assistance to the development assistance for the reconstruction of the nation; and lastly, the fifth basic policy is for the Government of Japan to provide this assistance with the participation of Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as other entities from the private sector forming an all-Japan team to help the people of Iraq to rebuild their nation.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Questions concerning Japan's position on the role of the United Nations in postwar reconstruction of Iraq

   Q: Just yesterday, President George W. Bush of the United States of America and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom had their joint press conference. They said that the United Nations would have a "vital role" in Iraq. However, they also said that it would be the allies that would lead the reconstruction, that the UN would only play a vital role alongside other international organizations. Is this the kind of role that Japan envisages for the United Nations or does it want the UN to take the central role?

   Mr. Takashima: We highly appreciate the American and British leaders in showing the world through the joint statement as well as the joint press conference their clear idea of what sort of postwar administration they foresee in Iraq or of the way to handle the postwar Iraq issue. In particular, we appreciate the fact that the two leaders clearly expressed their intention to seek the adoption of UN Security Council resolutions and also, as you have said, that they expect the UN to play a vital role in postwar Iraq. At the same time, they clearly indicated that they wish to see the Iraqi people set up a postwar interim administrative system in their country.

   What we have to find out is that although they indicated three stages - immediate postwar humanitarian assistance through the coalition forces, then an Iraqi interim authority which would be followed by the government elected by the Iraqi people - nevertheless, what sort of interim administration would be set up through this process is not very clear. Therefore, it is rather difficult for us to make a comparison between the meanings of "sufficient role" and "vital role". What the difference is remains to be seen and we have to find that out. Hopefully, after Foreign Minister Kawaguchi has had a chance to meet with the British Foreign Minister, we will be able to have a better idea of what sort of plan the American and British leaders have discussed and have on their minds.

   Q: On the semantics of it, when Japan says "sufficient role", how would you define "sufficient role"? If you like, what would Japan's proposal for postwar Iraq be?

   Mr. Takashima: We recognize that the United Nations has the expertise, the experience, the history as well as able arms to cope with this kind of situation. Yet, what sort of role the United Nations can play on the field of Iraq has to be decided by the United Nations itself and by the nations concerned. It is a little premature for us to list up the roles that the United Nations can play at this early stage. However, we hope that the UN will play a role that is "vital" or "sufficient" - whatever the word may be. The United Nations certainly will be the leading figure in keeping this reconstruction work going and helping the nation recover from the scars of war as quickly as possible.

   Q: Is Japanese aid or financial assistance dependent on the United Nations having a leading role in Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: As a recipient of humanitarian assistance from Japan, the United Nations and its agencies would be the most convenient and appropriate beneficiaries, so we would like to see resolutions be adopted by the UN Security Council. UN Resolutions are very useful and significant, but we do not think that it is critical because there should be other ways to do that, but as a matter of speed and effectiveness, we would like to see UN Security Council resolutions be adopted.

   Q: You said last week that Japan would reply to the United Nations' request for funds for humanitarian aid of US$ 2.2 billion. Have you decided on what the plan is for that?

   Mr. Takashima: We will shortly announce our response to that UN Flash Appeal for the Humanitarian Requirements of the Iraq Crisis.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Question concerning visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China

   Q: During the recent visit by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China, was the issue of Taiwan raised during the talks she held with Chinese officials. If so, can you tell us what was discussed?

   Mr. Takashima: The Taiwan issue was picked up a few times during the talks between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Chinese officials. Mostly, the issue was taken up first by the Chinese side. They expressed their objection of issuing an entry visa to Japan to Mr. Lee Teng-hui, former president of Taiwan. In response, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed that the Government of Japan has handled and will handle the Taiwan issue based upon the basic principle stemming out of the Japan-China Joint Communiqué back in 1972 in terms of normalization of relations. That is to say, Japanese relations with Taiwan are non-governmental and business-oriented only. On the issue of visas, if there is an application for a visa, the Japanese Government would consider this issue based upon that stated basic principle.

   Related Information (Visit to the People's Republic of China by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs)
   
4. Questions concerning Japanese nationals remaining in Iraq

   Q: Bringing the topic back to Iraq, yesterday there were reports that US forces had attacked one of the hotels where a number of Japanese journalists and activists have been residing. Although there are no known reports of injuries, what is the Japanese Government's response to this?

   Mr. Takashima: We regret that there were casualties among reporters and civilians by this military action. On the Japanese reporters and civilians in Baghdad, we do not have any reports of injury or casualty among them, and we hope that they are all safe. At the same time, since the Government of Japan has already designated Baghdad and Iraq itself as a place that Japanese should immediately evacuate, we would like to urge them once again to leave Baghdad and Iraq as soon as possible in order to avoid unnecessary harm or injury.

   Q: There have been reports in the past that buses carrying civilians, including foreigners, some acting as human shields, had been fired upon while they were traveling out of Baghdad through the countryside which is obviously heavily patrolled by the US and coalition forces right now. Has there been any attempt to heighten the security for any Japanese national who is trying to evacuate Baghdad at this stage? Is there any new approach in trying to evacuate Japanese nationals?

   Mr. Takashima: At the moment, we do not have any embassy staff in Baghdad and communication has become very difficult between the outside and inside of Iraq, in particular for Baghdad. Therefore, unfortunately, we do not have any means to put together a safer atmosphere or environment for those Japanese still staying in Baghdad or Iraq. We can only tell them, firstly, to take utmost caution and to take the quickest way to get out of the country.

5. Question concerning upcoming meeting of the Japan-US Private Sector/ Government Commission

   Q: On Monday, there is a meeting scheduled of the Japan-US Private Sector/ Government Commission in Washington, D.C. Can I check if this scheduled meeting is still going ahead and whether all the Japanese executives, including from the Toyota Motor Corporation and other heads of Japan's leading companies are going to attend?

   Mr. Takashima: I am sorry but I do not have any information on that with me now. Let me check on it for you.

   Related Information (2003 Japan-U.S. Private Sector/Government Commission Meeting)