Press Conference 9 March 2004

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period
2. Questions concerning latest statement by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi on the recent continued acts of violence in Gaza
3. Question concerning Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East Tatsuo Arima
4. Follow-up questions concerning security situation in Iraq

1. Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi on the signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Today, I have one announcement I would like to make.

   It is about the signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period.

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi issued a statement regarding the signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period yesterday, which stated as follows:

   Japan welcomes the signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period by the members of the Iraqi Governing Council on 8 March which establishes a framework for a political process in Iraq.

   With the enactment of the law, I hope a political process from the handing over of the governing power at the end of June to the holding of an election will move smoothly, so that the Iraqi people can rebuild a peaceful and democratic state. Japan will extend necessary assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq, including the promotion of the political process.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Signing of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period)
   
2. Questions concerning latest statement by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi on the recent continued acts of violence in Gaza

   Q: I have a question about the latest statement by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi regarding the situation in Palestine from 8 March. From the reading of that statement I felt that you consider that the Palestinian side was responsible for the violence. Do you think that is a correct interpretation?

   Mr. Takashima: We firmly condemn the cycle of violence and strongly hope that the Palestinian side as well as the Israeli side will refrain from making the situation worse by acting and reacting with the means of violence. The statement you are referring to was one condemning that terrorist attack or act of violence and went along the line that we had been taking on previous occasions.

   Q: What do you mean exactly by terrorist attack?

   Mr. Takashima: Terrorist attack and acts of violence - those are the things that we have been condemning very strongly on various types of occasion. In this particular case, we said that the violence had to be criticized and the Palestinians as well as the Israelis had to stay away from that sort of action and try to achieve a peaceful solution of the Palestinian issues.

   Q: I noticed that in the statement, you started by condemning the Palestinian side. Does that mean you also condemn the Israeli side?

   Mr. Takashima: We have been issuing a statement condemning each case of violence, but the basic idea with which we are issuing those statements is that we would like to see the Palestinians as well as the Israelis exercise utmost restraint to avoid any sort of reoccurrence of violence.

   Q: You used the word "condemn" for the Palestinian side, so would you also use the same word for the Israeli side?

   Mr. Takashima: On previous occasions, I recall that we used the same word "condemn" in reference to the chain of violence from both sides.

   Q: Do you consider the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade to be terrorist organizations?

   Mr. Takashima: They are regarded as organizations which from time to time commit terrorist type of attacks and we condemn such actions taken by those organizations.

   Q: So you are against such occasional acts, not against the organizations per se?

   Mr. Takashima: Actions taken by those organizations.

   Q: If they did not carry out such attacks, you would have no problem with these organizations?

   Mr. Takashima: If they did not perform such violent or terrorist acts and if they made it very clear that this would be a matter of principle, then they would be regarded as a responsible member of the international community. However, unfortunately, at this moment, it is very difficult for us to see that to be the case because their actions and reactions are far away from that sort of principle.

   Q: Speaking of principle, these organizations say in the Arabic press that they are doing these things to kick out the Israeli occupation. So do you think that the Israelis should end their occupation?

   Mr. Takashima: We are supporting the United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and that is the basic principle of the political position that Japan has been taking. We are urging the Israelis to refrain from building a wall beyond its recognized border. To that extent, the Israeli occupation is not a matter we can tolerate or accept.

   At the same time, we recognize that the peace process is still under way although it is now facing a lot of difficulties, and we are urging all the parties concerned to come back to the negotiating table and return to the roadmap, so that it would be possible to see peace and amity established in the Israeli and Palestinian areas.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Recent Continued Acts of Violence in Gaza)
   
3. Question concerning Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East Tatsuo Arima

   Q: On the same issue, is it Mr. Arima who is the Japanese representative for the peace process?

   Mr. Takashima: Dr. Tatsuo Arima is Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for Peace in the Middle East.

   Q: Is he in the Middle East area now?

   Mr. Takashima: Not to my knowledge. He visited the Middle East quite recently, after which he went to the United States of America to have consultations with American officials. I do not know his whereabouts currently.

   Q: I read somewhere that he may be in the Syrian Arab Republic?

   Mr. Takashima: Usually, whenever he makes a trip to the Middle East, we make an announcement of his itinerary. I do not recall any such announcement being made recently.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
   
4. Follow-up questions concerning security situation in Iraq

   Q: On Iraq, how do you feel about the security situation, now that the Japanese Government has evaluated it?

   Mr. Takashima: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today at a Diet committee session said that the situation in Iraq is still not as safe and stable as the Government of Japan or the international community expected and hoped to see. He also said that security is the most important and urgent agenda item to be resolved by all parties concerned and we would like to see coalition forces make maximum efforts to stabilize the situation in Iraq.

   At the same time, we are hoping that the Iraqi police as well as Iraqi armed forces will become as strong and effective as possible, so that they can control the situation by themselves. In doing so, we have already decided to provide hundreds of police patrol cars to the Iraqi police force, as visible assistance for them to enhance their ability to cope with the situation.

   Q: Do you provide any communications or information technology (IT)-related facilities?

   Mr. Takashima: Not at this moment. However, we are discussing the training of the Iraqi police jointly with the Federal Republic of Germany in a third country.

   Q: Have there been any invitations extended to Iraqi-related officials to Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: Minister of Communication Haydar al-Abadi was here. I do not know if he is still in Japan although he has probably already left. We are inviting various officials from Iraq. At the same time, Japanese representatives currently stationed in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are holding spontaneous consultative meetings with Iraqi officials to identify the needs of Japanese assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)