Press Conference 21 December 2004

1. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the series of terrorist bombing attacks in Karbala and Najaf, Iraq
2. Assistance for the presidential runoff re-election in Ukraine
3. Additional support for the Middle East peace process financed by the FY2004 supplementary budget
4. Assistance through the Trust Fund for Human Security for supporting communities in southern Sudan through a fishery project
5. Questions concerning entry visa issued to Mr. Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan

1. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the series of terrorist bombing attacks in Karbala and Najaf, Iraq

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

   Firstly, the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the Iraqi situation in which it states as follows:

   The Government of Japan strongly condemns the series of terrorist bombing attacks in the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf that caused killing and injuring of many people. Terrorism cannot be justified on any grounds whatsoever. Japan reiterates its condemnation of terrorist atrocities, including those which have been taking place in Iraq, that have victimized many innocent civilians.

   Japan expresses its deep sorrow over those who had been killed by the past terrorist acts including the recent ones, and sends sincere condolences to the bereaved families. It also expresses its heartfelt sympathy for those who were injured and prays for their early recovery.

   As the Interim Government of Iraq has been working hard to carry out the National Assembly election scheduled on 30 January 2005, Japan intends to support its efforts in cooperation with the international community.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Series of Terrorist Bombing Attacks in Karbala and Najaf, Iraq)
   
2. Assistance for the presidential runoff re-election in Ukraine

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about Japanese assistance for the election in Ukraine.

   The Government of Japan will dispatch an election observation mission headed by Mr. Yuji Kurokawa, former Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine, to support fair implementation of the presidential runoff revote to be held on 26 December. The observation mission will comprise 26 staffers, of which seven will join the International Election Observation Mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Nineteen, including Mr. Kurokawa, will register themselves with the Central Election Commission of Ukraine as international election observers and monitor the revote in cooperation with other observation missions from the United States of America, Canada, Europe and other countries.

   In order to promote the implementation of a democratic election in Ukraine, the Government of Japan will also provide about US$43,000 as grassroots human security grant assistance for a local non-governmental organization (NGO) to distribute and post the posters to urge the importance of a fair election in more than 30,000 polling places all over the country.

   Related Information (Assistance for the Presidential Runoff Re-election in Ukraine)
   
3. Additional support for the Middle East peace process financed by the FY2004 supplementary budget

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about Japanese assistance for the Middle East peace process.

   To support the Middle East peace process, the Government of Japan has decided to provide financial assistance of US$60 million to the autonomous government of the Palestinians and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians through United Nations (UN) agencies.

   This aid will be extended to promote the Middle East peace process through supporting the economic and social development of the Palestinian Territories, in light of the recent development towards the resumption of the Middle East peace process such as the smooth transition of power to the new Palestinian leadership after the demise of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Ra'ees of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), as well as the ongoing preparations for withdrawing Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and other areas in and after March 2005.

   To support the election of the next Ra'ees of the Palestinian Authority scheduled on 9 January 2005, Japan has already announced its US$1.06 million financial support and is also preparing for the dispatch of an election monitoring mission.

   Related Information (Additional Support for the Middle East Peace Process Financed by the FY2004 Supplementary Budget)
   
4. Assistance through the Trust Fund for Human Security for supporting communities in southern Sudan through a fishery project

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I have is on the assistance for the Republic of the Sudan.

   The Government of Japan will provide US$1.02 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in order to implement the special assistance program to promote and develop the fishing industry in the southern part of Sudan.

   That project will include teaching fish processing and preservation mechanisms and promoting the establishment of a network of fishmongers among others.

   This project is expected to promote the further development of the reconstruction of communities in the southern part of Sudan.

   Related Information (Assistance through the Trust Fund for Human Security for Supporting Communities in Southern Sudan through a Fishery Project)
   
5. Questions concerning entry visa issued to Mr. Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan

   Q: Today, a visa was reportedly issued to former President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan. Can you give the background as to why the visa was issued?

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan today issued a single entry visa for 15 days to Mr. Lee Teng-hui, the former President of Taiwan. The purpose of this visa is to allow Mr. Lee Teng-hui and his family to have a sightseeing trip in Japan. Our understanding is that Mr. Lee Teng-hui's trip is only for personal reasons. He has no plans to make any public speeches, be interviewed or meet with politicians. Because of this background of his trip, the Government of Japan finds no reason to not issue a visa to him.

   Q: Yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said that reports on Mr. Lee Teng-hui should not be allowed. What do you think about this type of activity?

   Mr. Takashima: Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda was not ordering the media but was asking for their cooperation in not heavily covering Mr. Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan because it will strictly be personal, a family trip. There is no political purpose whatsoever. Therefore, heavy coverage of his visit will give a wrong impression of the nature of the visit. That is the reason why he urged the Japanese media to exercise self-restraint in such a way.

   Q: The People's Republic of China has already showed a very strong reaction with respect to the visa issued to Mr. Lee Teng-hui. Could you please comment on that?

   Mr. Takashima: We are aware that the Chinese Government already expressed its displeasure. The fact is that this entry visa was issued to Mr. Lee as a private citizen, not as a politician. Since he is a private citizen who intends to make a family sightseeing trip to Japan, there is no reason for us to not issue the visa. We hope that the Chinese Government will understand the situation.

   Related Information (Taiwan)