Press Conference 10 February 2004

1. Friendly soccer match between Japan and Iraq to be held
2. Grassroots grant aid to Iraq
3. Statement concerning the situation in Cyprus
4. Ninth Japan-China Security Dialogue
5. Visit to Japan by US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick
6. Upcoming visit to Japan by President Gusmão of Timor Leste

1. Friendly soccer match between Japan and Iraq to be held

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon. Today I have several announcements I would like to make.

   First, a friendly soccer match between Japan and Iraq will be held beginning at 19:20 on 12 February at the National Stadium in Tokyo. In order to promote friendly relations between Japan and Iraq, the Government of Japan has decided to contribute approximately US$100,000 for the traveling expenses of the Iraqi national team.

   In addition, the Japanese Government will assist the live transmission of television pictures of this friendly match from Tokyo to Baghdad.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Grassroots grant aid to Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan also decided to extend grant aid of US$803,000 to Iraq for the provision of 12 water supply tanker vehicles to the regional water office of the Governorate of Al-Muthanna in Iraq. These tanker vehicles will be used to deliver purified water produced by Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) stationed in Samawah to the residents of the city of Samawah and its vicinity. These vehicles are expected to arrive in Samawah by early March, just in time for the beginning of the SDF's water purification operations.

   Related Information (Grassroots Human Security Grant Aid to Iraq)
   
3. Statement concerning the situation in Cyprus

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is on the situation in the Republic of Cyprus. Yesterday the Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Cyprus situation was issued, which stated as follows:

   Japan welcomes the new development on the Cyprus situation that from 10 February, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders will resume negotiations in New York toward a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem upon the invitation of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

   Japan expects that the Cypriot leaders of both sides will not miss this historic opportunity of the accession of Cyprus to the European Union (EU) in May this year for a settlement of the Cyprus problem, and reach an agreement through negotiations on the basis of the comprehensive settlement plan proposed by the UN (Annan plan).

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Cyprus Situation)
   
4. Ninth Japan-China Security Dialogue

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth announcement is on the Japan-People's Republic of China security dialogue. The Ninth Japan-China Security Dialogue will be held this afternoon in Tokyo. From the Japanese side, Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka and other officials from the Foreign Ministry and Defense Agency will participate. The Chinese side will consist of the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense, headed by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi. They will exchange views on such issues as each country's security and defense policies as well as the regional situation. Vice-Minister Wang Yi will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi tomorrow morning.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   Related Information (WTO)
   
5. Visit to Japan by US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick

   Mr. Takashima: The fifth announcement is on the visit by United States Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, who is making a two-day visit to Japan today and tomorrow. Mr. Zoellick will meet with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshiyuki Kamei and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa separately.

   The main topics of these meetings will be the new round of trade negotiations by the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as bilateral issues between Japan and the United States that may include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States.

   The Japanese Government hopes that this visit by Mr. Zoellick will promote the prospects for the successful conclusion of the global trade talks that have stalemated since the collapse of the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico last year.

   Related Information (Japan-The United States Relations)
   
6. Upcoming visit to Japan by President Gusmão of Timor Leste

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I would like to make is the visit to Japan by the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. The President Xanana Gusmão of Timor Leste will pay a visit to Japan from 23-26 February at the invitation of the Japanese Government.

   During his stay, President Gusmão will meet with leaders of the Japanese Government and will deliver a keynote speech at a public symposium on the reconstruction of East Timor and Afghanistan to be held on 25 February in Tokyo. The Japanese Government hopes that President Gusmão's visit will further promote the friendly relations between Japan and Timor Leste.

   Related Information (Japan-Timor-Leste Relations)