Press Conference 20 February 2004

1. Signing of the Agreement on Social Security between Japan and the United States of America
2. Dispatch of survey team to promote the formulation of grant aid projects for reconstruction assistance to Iraq
3. Grant assistance for Japanese NGO projects in Iraq
4. Upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan
5. Upcoming visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic
6. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of the United Kingdom
7. Question concerning dispatch of SDF to Iraq
8. Questions concerning upcoming six-party talks on North Korea issues
9. Follow-up question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's conversation with Foreign Secretary Straw
10. Questions concerning visit to Japan by Peruvian mission regarding possible extradition of Mr. Alberto Fujimori

1. Signing of the Agreement on Social Security between Japan and the United States of America

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

   First, the Governments of Japan and the United States of America signed an agreement on social security on 19 February in Washington, DC.

   The signing was done by Japanese Ambassador in Washington Ryozo Kato and US Commissioner of Social Security Administration Jo Anne Barnhart.

   At present, a person employed either in Japan or the United States who is dispatched to the other country is obliged to be enrolled in the pension systems of both Japan and the United States and has to pay both social security premiums. The Japan-US Social Security Agreement allows a temporary employee dispatched up to five years, in principle, to be enrolled only in the pension system of his/her original country.

   It is expected that the conclusion of this Agreement will further promote personnel and economic exchanges between Japan and the United States.

   Related Information (Signing of the Agreement between Japan and the United States of America on Social Security)
   
2. Dispatch of survey team to promote the formulation of grant aid projects for reconstruction assistance to Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: Second, the dispatch of a survey team for the assistance for Iraq.

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will dispatch a survey team headed by Mr. Akira Yamada, Director of the Grant Aid Division of the Economic Cooperation Bureau, to Amman and Kuwait for about one week beginning from 22 February to promote the formulation of grant aid projects for reconstruction assistance to Iraq. Staff members of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) will join the Foreign Ministry staff in the team.

   The team will attend the First Japan-France-Germany Coordination Committee Meeting, which will be held in Amman, to discuss coordination and cooperation among the three countries on projects on economic and technological cooperation for Iraq.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Grant assistance for Japanese NGO projects in Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: Thirdly, the grant assistance for projects by Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Iraq.

   The Government of Japan today decided to extend grant assistance of US$336,000 for the Emergency Aid of Medical Equipment to Samawa Maternity & Children Hospital, operating in Samawa in the southern part of Iraq, through a Japanese NGO, namely the Japan Iraq Medical Association.

   This grant assistance will provide that hospital with equipment, such as infant incubators, photo therapy units for incubators and an electrocardiograph system, in response to the request from the hospital, the only children's and maternity hospital in that region.

   These equipment may be brought into Samawa through the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) planes and also the SDF on the ground, which is now stationed in Samawa.

   Related Information (Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects in Iraq)
   
4. Upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan

   Mr. Takashima: Fourthly, the visit of Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan.

   UN Secretary-General Annan will pay a working visit to Japan from 21 to 25 February upon the invitation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi.

   During his stay in Japan, Mr. Annan will be received by His Majesty The Emperor of Japan. The Secretary-General will also meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi to have a close exchange of views on matters confronting the international community, such as Iraq and UN reform. Mr. Annan is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the Diet.

   The Secretary-General's visit to Japan is expected to further promote the cooperative relationship between Japan and the UN toward a strengthened international framework centered on the UN.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations)
   
5. Upcoming visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic

   Mr. Takashima: Fifth, the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin of the French Republic.

   Foreign Minister de Villepin will visit Japan from 1 to 2 March. He will visit Fukuoka and Tokyo while he is in Japan. Mr. de Villepin will meet with various Japanese government officials, including Foreign Minister Kawaguchi.

   Related Information (Japan-France Relations)
   
6. Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of the United Kingdom

   Mr. Takashima: Sixth, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of the United Kingdom.

   The call lasted about 35 minutes starting from 19:00 yesterday.

   During this conversation, the two foreign ministers discussed the Iraqi situation, the Iranian situation and the North Korean situation among others. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained the dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces to Iraq as well as the signing of the contract on the exploitation of the Azadegan oilfield in Iran between Japanese and Iranian organizations.

   Related Information (Japan-U.K. Relations)
   
7. Question concerning dispatch of SDF to Iraq

   Q: Japan is going to dispatch troops to Iraq consisting of the Ground, Air and Maritime SDF. I wonder if Japan has any coordination with troops of the Republic of Korea. Do you have any information on that?

   Mr. Takashima: My understanding is that the operating areas of the two groups are completely different. The Japanese SDF are operating in Samawa which is in the southern part of Iraq under its own control and there is no coordination between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

   Q: The Republic of Korea is going to send a troop of significant size from its military very soon, so it would want to know how Japan is doing?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese SDF are in Iraq and will be dispatched furthermore simply to conduct the reconstruction assistance for the Iraqi people and are not supposed to be engaged in any sort of combat or security operation.

   This is quite a different situation from the additional forces of the Republic of Korea, which, as I understand, are expected to perform security operations in Iraq.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
8. Questions concerning upcoming six-party talks on North Korea issues

   Q: Concerning next week's six-party talks in Beijing, People's Republic of China, what does the Japanese Government expect in terms of achievements in the overall meeting as well as through bilateral talks with North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: To answer the second part of your question first, we would like to have bilateral talks with North Korea anytime, including at the time of the six-party talks. However, nothing has been decided yet and we are still waiting for the North Korean reply whether they have any plan to meet with us in Beijing. If they agree, we would certainly attend such bilateral meetings with the North Koreans to resolve bilateral issues including abduction.

   On the six-party talks, the Japanese side will coordinate its policies with the United States and the Republic of Korea to resolve the nuclear issues of North Korea peacefully and diplomatically. We would like to see the North Koreans come forward with a positive attitude on resolving their nuclear issues in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.

   Q: So you have already requested to the North Koreans for a bilateral meeting?

   Mr. Takashima: We made it very clear during the bilateral talks in Pyongyang recently that we would like to have direct talks whenever they agree.

   Q: So that does not necessarily mean during the six-party talks?

   Mr. Takashima: It remains to be seen. We are not sure whether North Korea is ready to talk with us during the six-party talks.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
9. Follow-up question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's conversation with Foreign Secretary Straw

   Q: Could you elaborate on what kind of discussions Foreign Minister Kawaguchi had with Foreign Secretary Straw regarding North Korea?

   Mr. Takashima: On North Korea, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained the recent talks in Pyongyang between foreign ministry officials of the two governments. She also made it very clear that the Japanese position was the same, i.e. we demand the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of the nuclear weapons program of North Korea.

   Mr. Straw replied that although the United Kingdom was not involved in this process directly, they were paying close attention to it. He also emphasized that the British government supports the Japanese position on the abduction issues.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
10. Questions concerning visit to Japan by Peruvian mission regarding possible extradition of Mr. Alberto Fujimori

    Q: I understand that a Peruvian delegation is in Japan and that they had talks with Foreign Ministry officials. Could you explain to us what the two sides talked about during the meeting?

    Mr. Takashima: Officials of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry of Justice met with the Peruvian mission which is now visiting Japan for two days.

    Today, the Japanese side only consisted of officials of the Foreign Ministry. They discussed the issue of former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori's extradition from Japan, which was requested by the Government of Peru. The Japanese position is that since we have received an official request from them, we are now making studies in accordance with Japanese domestic law. This message of our basic position was conveyed to the Peruvian mission.

    Q: Is there any possibility at this point for Mr. Fujimori to be extradited to Peru?

    Mr. Takashima: Since this issue is now under study, I cannot say one way or the other. Generally speaking however, Japanese domestic law prohibits the extradition of Japanese nationals to any other country, except if there is an extradition treaty with the country concerned. In the case of Peru, no such treaty exists.

    Q: Did the two sides agree on anything, for example, to discuss this matter in the future or similar?

    Mr. Takashima: This talk was mainly for the exchange of views and to exchange the basic positions of both sides. Therefore, it was not expected for it to reach any sort of conclusion. This was a sort of consultative meeting.

    Q: Can you describe what requests were made by the Peruvian officials in response to Japan's position?

    Mr. Takashima: I do not have the details of the discussion but my understanding is that the Peruvian side reiterated their position that they would like Mr. Fujimori to be handed over to Peruvian authorities.

    Q: How would you describe the atmosphere of the talks?

    Mr. Takashima: They had a very serious and frank exchange of views in a very cordial manner, as far as I understand it.

    Related Information (Japan-Peru Relations)