Press Conference 22 April 2003

1. Japan's assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq
2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov of the Russian Federation
3. Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of the Italian Republic
4. New travel advice concerning severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
5. Conference of Japanese ambassadors to African countries
6. Questions concerning Japan's reconstruction assistance to Iraq
7. Question concerning possible visit to the Middle East by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi
8. Question concerning possible visit to Europe by Prime Minister Koizumi
9. Question concerning Japan's stance on nuclear non-proliferation

1. Japan's assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Firstly, I would like to draw your attention to the paper issued yesterday after the second meeting of the Cabinet headquarters for the situation in Iraq which summarizes Japan's policies and measures on reconstruction assistance to Iraq (see http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/iraq/issue2003/assist0421.html).

2. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov of the Russian Federation

   Mr. Okuyama: Secondly, just before the weekend, a telephone conversation took place between the foreign ministers of Japan and the Russian Federation, and we provided the gist of the conversation to you.

   Related Information (Special Announcement by the Press Secretary (Foreign Minister's telephone conversation with Russia))
   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of the Italian Republic

   Mr. Okuyama: Thirdly, on that same day, there was a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of the Italian Republic.

   It lasted for about 10 minutes in the evening of 18 April. The leaders exchanged views on the recent situation in Iraq, and Prime Minister Berlusconi said that neither Italy nor Japan participated in the military action against Iraq but the two countries supported the military action. He was happy that the military action came to an early conclusion, and Italy recently decided to dispatch a force of 3,000 troops to Iraq. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi said that Italy made a courageous judgment in difficult circumstances and that he would like to deepen dialogue and cooperation with the Italian Prime Minister.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
4. New travel advice concerning severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

   Mr. Okuyama: Fourthly, I would like to draw your attention to the most recent information relating to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as far as Japan is concerned.

   On 20 April, we issued a new travel advisory relating to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China, which states anyone planning to travel to this region is advised to take the utmost caution and care.

   In addition to that, there was a press report that there was one suspected case of SARS involving a Japanese national in Beijing. The factual circumstances are as follows. After the press conference of the Chinese Vice-Minister of Health on 20 April, there was information that the Chinese side indicated that of the four suspected cases involving foreigners in the city of Beijing, one was Japanese.

   Our Embassy in Beijing made an enquiry to the authorities of the city of Beijing on 21 April, and they came back with a reply as follows. One Japanese infant was examined by a medical establishment in Beijing on 27 March. Initially, the infant was under suspicion that it may be suffering from SARS. However, after re-examination with the staff members of the Disease Control Center, the infant was found to be suffering from bronchitis. This information was reconfirmed by the city of Beijing through the establishment concerned, and the infant was cleared of suspicion of having SARS. For your information, the infant has now fully recovered.

   Related Information (WHO | World Health Organization)
   
5. Conference of Japanese ambassadors to African countries

   Mr. Okuyama: Lastly, I would like to announce the conference of Japanese ambassadors to African countries.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a conference of Japanese ambassadors to African here in Tokyo on 24 and 25 April. Attending this conference will be Japanese ambassadors and other representatives to sub-Saharan African countries, the French Republic (because the Japanese Embassy in France is accredited to the Republic of Djibouti), the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, and other high-ranking officials of the bureaus concerned of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   The conference will discuss Japan's diplomacy toward Africa, including the Group of Eight (G8) Summit in Evian, France, scheduled for June, and the Third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III) to be held from 29 September to 1 October 2003.

   Related Information (Conference of Japanese Ambassadors to African Countries)
   
6. Questions concerning Japan's reconstruction assistance to Iraq

   Q: There was a story this morning in the Nikkei that Japan may propose setting up a fund for Iraqi reconstruction. Since then comments have been made, and Minister of Finance Masajuro Shiokawa appeared to have confirmed that when this morning during his press conference he said that he wanted to see a fund established. However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda denied the report at his own press conference this morning. What is the actual situation? Is there any talk about Japan maybe proposing that the international community establish a fund for Iraqi reconstruction?

   Mr. Okuyama: As the Government of Japan as a whole, it is not actually a fact that it has decided that it is desirable to establish an international fund or that we will make a proposal to that effect to other countries. Basically we believe that there should be sufficient involvement of the United Nations in the reconstruction process of Iraq, and the reconstruction should be done with international collaboration and cooperation.

   There are various means to make contributions in this process: one is direct bilateral assistance to Iraq and the neighboring countries, another is assistance through international organizations. An international fund as such, in view of our experience in the past, is something that needs to be carefully considered, and that is where we are now.

   Q: So it is all a possibility under consideration?

   Mr. Okuyama: We can consider many things, and as in the case of Afghanistan, it is one of the possibilities, but we believe that we need to take due caution when considering the establishment of an international fund.

   Q: This fund was suggested because, it said, Japan preferred to be bilateral, but for that, Japan needed to sign an agreement with the Iraqi government, so it would not be able to have any bilateral agreements until there was actually an Iraqi government in place, and Japan does not consider the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) of the US Department of Defense to represent the Iraqi regime, and that could affect Japanese official development assistance (ODA). Can you comment on that?

   Mr. Okuyama: If that is the case, we do hope that there is not going to be a long spell of that kind of situation, but if we need to provide assistance in these circumstances, then we may have to rely on the involvement of international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and regional development banks. So there are other means even if there is not a fund.

   Q: In addition, there is still no estimate as to how much it is going to cost the international community to reconstruct Iraq. The overall cost plus what would be covered by oil revenue is still unclear. There are a lot of estimates out there, but there has been no official estimate by the Japanese nor the US government. However, in terms of any Japanese contribution to whatever the eventual cost may be, would this come from the ODA budget? And is there any decision as to whether this aid would be tied or untied?

   Mr. Okuyama: Basically, the entire Japanese budget comes under two headings: ODA and non-ODA. It really depends on which portion we use vis-à-vis Iraq. We cannot say that it is entirely one or the other. I think very generally speaking, it is going to be a kind of mixture. Having said that, ODA is specifically designed to assist in the needs of developing countries, so we expect that a sizeable portion of Japan's entire assistance at the end of the day will likely be counted as ODA. Whether it will be tied or untied, we need to see because we do not know as of now what kind of assistance we will give.

   Q: If it comes from the ODA budget, then in order to fund that portion, would that mean you would have to reduce funding to other ODA projects or get money possibly from a new budget or the Government putting in more money to give more ODA?

   Mr. Okuyama: I think we need a national consensus on this. Other parts of the world are in need of Japanese ODA, too. Whether there should be a supplement to pay for the additional assistance that we give to Iraq is something that needs to be decided by the Japanese people themselves through their Diet representatives.

   Related Information (Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Europe)
   
7. Question concerning possible visit to the Middle East by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi

   Q: Can you comment on the visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Kawaguchi to the Middle East?

   Mr. Okuyama: All I can say at the moment is that her foreign visits are being considered, but we have not yet come to a decision. There are reports that she intends to visit the Palestinian Autonomous Territories and Israel.

   We believe that the Middle East peace process is a very important issue as it relates to the stability of the Middle East region as a whole, and we believe that we need to exert further efforts on the Middle East peace process. On the other hand, whether she actually visits these two countries is still under consideration.

   There are also reports that she may visit the United States or neighboring countries of Iraq. We believe that it is important to have close exchanges of views with the United States and also neighboring countries of Iraq and others to discuss the rehabilitation and reconstruction process of Iraq and the Middle East situation as a whole. Again, no decision has been made yet whether she will visit these countries.

   Q: When will you make a decision?

   Mr. Okuyama: Of course before she goes.

   Q: What is the timeframe? I heard that these visits will be around Golden Week, so that is just around the corner?

   Mr. Okuyama: There are still several days left.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
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8. Question concerning possible visit to Europe by Prime Minister Koizumi

   Q: How about Prime Minister Koizumi's trip? Has that been decided?

   Mr. Okuyama: There are reports in the papers and I think we need an official announcement on exactly where he is going and what the dates are. However, there has been no official announcement yet.

   Q: There are only a few days left.

   Mr. Okuyama: We have several days left before the reported departure date of the Prime Minister to European countries.

   Q: Normally, Japanese usually decide months in advance when they travel. The Government is different, is that right?

   Mr. Okuyama: Coordination takes time, and it was Easter in Europe.

9. Question concerning Japan's stance on nuclear non-proliferation

   Q: I received a statement from the Mayor of Hiroshima who is protesting against the United States submitting a letter to its Congress requesting funds for the development of small nuclear weapons. I am wondering if the Government of Japan has any position on this issue.

   Mr. Okuyama: We have been making efforts over the years for the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons on this Earth, and our efforts to that end will continue, including specific efforts in the field of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, inviting countries to join the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), making use of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) frameworks, and our efforts for a nuclear-free world will continue.

   Q: Do you not feel that your reaction toward the United States and other nuclear powers producing weapons of mass destruction is very polite and almost not visible compared to your reactions to countries that are not friendly to the United States and are only suspected of producing arms of mass destruction? There is a big gap between your strong reaction to countries not supportive of America and your non-visible reaction to America and other nuclear powers that are developing arms of mass destruction.

   Mr. Okuyama: As far as nuclear non-proliferation is concerned, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as such presupposes that there are powers which possess nuclear weapons as well as powers which do not possess nuclear weapons. The Treaty is designed to prevent the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons to those who do not possess nuclear weapons.

   Our approach toward the US is as strong as our approach toward other countries. For your information, we are hoping to have arms control and disarmament consultation with the Islamic Republic of Iran at an early date. We are making realistic efforts to call on such countries as the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to join in the CTBT and other nuclear arrangements that are in place.

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