Press Conference 29 August 2003

1. Adoption of the new Charter of Official Development Assistance (ODA)
2. Upcoming overseas trip by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi
3. Conclusion of six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue in Beijing
4. Presidential election held in the Rwandese Republic
5. Situation in the Kingdom of Nepal
6. Questions concerning six-party talks
7. Question concerning new Taiwan passports
8. Follow-up questions concerning six-party talks

1. Adoption of the new Charter of Official Development Assistance (ODA)

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Today I several announcements I would like to make before answering any questions.

   The first announcement is about the adoption of the new Charter of Official Development Assistance (ODA) of the Government of Japan. At today's Cabinet meeting, the Government of Japan officially adopted a new ODA Charter. This new Charter was written since the original Charter, which was adopted in 1992, has become outdated because of various reasons including globalization of the world economy, slowdown of the Japanese economy and increased budgetary restraints on the side of the Japanese Government.

   The Japanese Government has been conducting the revision of the old Charter since last year. The new Charter is the product of extensive research and preparatory work including public hearings in three major cities of Japan, intensive discussions with interested parties such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and private corporations.

   The new Charter, which will be the basic policy guideline for Japan's ODA program for years to come, emphasizes three factors. First, it makes very clear that the objective of Japan's ODA is to contribute to the peace and development of the international community and thereby to help ensure Japan's own national interest, namely security and prosperity. Second, it proactively adopts a new theory of development assistance, namely the promotion of human security and consolidation of peace. Third, in order to mobilize public support for ODA in Japan, the Government will continue to hold public hearings on ODA and make its utmost efforts to make Japan's ODA transparent and accountable. The Japanese Government will make sure that the opinions expressed during the public hearings will be reflected in ODA policy planning in the future.

   The full text of the new Charter is available on our website.

   Related Information (PDF)
   
2. Upcoming overseas trip by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about an overseas trip that will be made by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi announced today that she will be traveling abroad for 17 days from next Sunday, 31 August. During this tour, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will be visiting Kiev in Ukraine, Vienna in the Republic of Austria, Geneva in the Swiss Confederation, Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium and Cancun in the United Mexican States.

   The focus of the first half of this trip will be the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and disarmament. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will give speeches in Vienna and Geneva at the International Conferences on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Disarmament. The latter part of the trip will be devoted to the trade issues including attending the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Cancun, Mexico.

3. Conclusion of six-party talks on North Korean nuclear issue in Beijing

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue in Beijing. The meeting was concluded at 12:45 Japan time today.

   The Japanese Government highly appreciates the efforts of the Government of the People's Republic of China to organize this meeting and also highly values the outcome of this meeting. This meeting reaffirmed the international wish to see the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the peaceful and diplomatic solution to the issues and the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

   The Government of Japan expressed its hope that this meeting will be continued in this form and will produce successful outcomes in the future round of talks.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
4. Presidential election held in the Rwandese Republic

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is about the situation in the Rwandese Republic. Japan considers the presidential election in Rwanda on 25 August, the first since the genocides in 1994, and the election of Mr. Paul Kagame as the new president, mark an important step forward in advancing democracy and rebuilding the nation in Rwanda. The democratization, stability and prosperity of Rwanda are not important not only for the Great Lakes region, but also for the African continent as a whole.

   Japan expects that the Government of Rwanda, all the political parties and the Rwandan people will continue their efforts for the country's democratization, reconciliation and nation building in a peaceful and fair manner.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Presidential Election in Rwanda)
   
5. Situation in the Kingdom of Nepal

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I have is on the situation in Nepal. It is regrettable that on 27 August, the Maoists announced that they would withdraw from the peace talks and terminate the ceasefire agreement with Government of Nepal.

   The Government of Japan requests the Maoists to continue to comply with the ceasefire agreement and to resume the peace talks. The Government of Japan also urges all the groups concerned to cooperate closely with each other for the sake of the welfare of the people of Nepal, with a view to achieving a peaceful resolution based upon the principle of democracy.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Maoists' Announcement to Withdraw from the Peace Talks and to Terminate the Cease-fire Agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Nepal)
   
6. Questions concerning six-party talks

   Q: There was a news report overnight that North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons. Do you have any reaction to this?

   Mr. Takashima: No I do not, but my understanding is that there was a reference to the nuclear weapons during the second-day discussions at the six-party talks. However, we would rather refrain from disclosing the details. My understanding is that it was not a kind of announcement that North Korea would utilize nuclear weapons in the way that you have just mentioned.

   Q: You are aware of the fact that North Korea has nuclear weapons and is willing to use them?

   Mr. Takashima: I would prefer not to use the word "threats," but they referred to nuclear weapons.

   Q: What is Japan's response to that?

   Mr. Takashima: As I have said, Japan has already expressed the importance of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and we are urging North Korea not to worsen the situation for the sake of a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this issue.

   Q: I have heard through the Japanese media that Japan is trying to hold some more bilateral meetings with North Korea. Will they be realized or do you have any hopes that they will be realized any time today?

   Mr. Takashima: We are hopeful and we are available any time if they are available for bilateral talks. Yesterday the Japanese delegation held two bilateral meetings with the North Korean delegation in Beijing. We made it very clear that we would be interested in having another round of bilateral talks any time today. But so far, I have no information on whether or not they have materialized today.

   Q: Is the abduction issue going to be a major part of the talks if the bilateral meetings are organized again?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, because the abduction issue is the number-one priority as far as the Japanese delegation is concerned. It involves human rights and separated families and we would like to see that all the children and family members are united with their parents and other family members. Also, we would like to have further clarification on the so-called "missing people." We would also like to see those issues be resolved in a satisfactory manner as soon as possible. That is the reason why we are urging the North Korean side to come to the discussions.

   Of course, we are very much interested in discussing other issues such as North Korea's nuclear weapons development program and missile development.

   Q: Is there any hope for a breakthrough regarding the abduction issue?

   Mr. Takashima: It is very difficult to predict, but we welcome any signs from North Korea that it is willing to talk with us. Ever since the last normalization talks that were held in Kuala Lumpur, nothing has materialized, but talks between North Korea and Japan were held yesterday in Beijing for the first time in ten months. We hope that this will be a starting point for future discussions.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
7. Question concerning new Taiwan passports

   Q: As you may know, Taiwan will issue a new passport from 1 September. The cover of the passport, in addition to the People's Republic of China, will have the word "Taiwan." What is your opinion on this?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, I have heard about the news, but I have no comment on that at this moment.

   Q: As you know, around 1 September, some people will come to Japan with this new type of passport. Will they be allowed entrance? Will there be any problems?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not see any problem for them to come to Japan.

   Related Information (Taiwan)
   
8. Follow-up questions concerning six-party talks

   Q: In the talks in Beijing, North Korea said that they already have nuclear weapons, the means to deliver them and that they are planning to test them. Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Takashima: I am aware of such press reports, mainly from the United States media, but I have no comment at this point.

   Q: Why not?

   Mr. Takashima: I am not in a position to disclose or comment on other parties' statements. However, generally speaking, we would like to see that North Koreans would refrain from any sort of action which would worsen the situation surrounding North Korea for the sake of a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this issue. Hopefully they will lend an ear to the international calls to dismantle all of its nuclear weapons development program verifiably and irreversibly.

   Q: So far, what is your evaluation of the talks in Beijing?

   Mr. Takashima: As I have said, we very much appreciate the Chinese efforts on organizing these talks and we highly evaluate the outcome of these talks, namely the fact that all the participating parties emphasized the importance of having the Korean Peninsula denuclearized, seeking a peaceful and diplomatic solution to this issue and the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Japan would like to see that the talks be continued.

   Q: Do you have some kind of schedule in mind whether the talks will be held again in October or anything of that sort?

   Mr. Takashima: I am aware of that press report, but at this moment I do not have any official confirmation or any other information. My understanding is that Mr. Wang Yi, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of this meeting, will hold a press conference in Beijing some time this afternoon.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)