Press Conference 19 March 2004

1. Grant aid to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Territories
2. Grant assistance for Afghanistan
3. Assistance for prevention measures for avian influenza in Asian countries
4. Assistance for victims of recent earthquake in Bam, Islamic Republic of Iran
5. Assistance for rehabilitation of child soldiers in Republic of Liberia
6. Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq for the project for Provision of Emergency Medical Supplies to Al Samawaha General Hospital
7. Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
8. Upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa
9. Questions concerning recent visit to Japan by Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of the People's Republic of China
10. Follow-up question concerning assistance to Palestinian Territories
11. Follow-up question concerning Secretary General Moussa's upcoming visit
12. Question concerning upcoming election in Taiwan
13. Question concerning security measures to prevent possible terrorist attack

1. Grant aid to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Territories

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

   There are a number of announcements on grant assistance extended to various projects in various countries.

   The first is on the grant aid to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Territories.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide 500 million yen (US$2.8 million) in grant assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

   The economic situation in the Palestinian Territories has worsened and caused a severe foreign currency shortage since September 2000 when conflict broke out with Israeli forces and restrictions were imposed.

   This non-project grant aid is intended to be used for purchasing commodities necessary to support the Palestinian Authority, which despite its economic difficulties, is strenuously undertaking economic structural adjustment. It is expected to alleviate the severe financial situation of the PA.

   Furthermore, there are three projects for which the Government of Japan has decided to implement grant assistance totaling US$2.125 million to help PA reform and improve the living conditions in the Palestinian Territories.

   One of the projects is for the improvement of the solid waste disposal site in Al-Bireh, which is near Ramalah in the West Bank and will cost around US$400,000. The second project is financial support for the procurement of essential commodities for needy people in Rafah in the Gaza Strip which will cost around US$525,000. The third project is strengthening the institutional and management capacities of the PA's Prime Minister's Office and other key ministries to support PA reform through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and Transfer of Knowledge through Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN) programs which will cost US$1.2 million.

   The Government of Japan, by extending such assistance to enhance the PA's efforts for peace, strongly expects that both Israelis and Palestinians will do their utmost to resume the Roadmap.

   Related Information (Grant Aid (Non-project Grant Aid) to Palestinian Territories)
   
2. Grant assistance for Afghanistan

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about grant assistance to Afghanistan.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide US$8.2 million as grant assistance to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to conduct a voter registration program in Afghanistan.

   At the same time, the Government of Japan decided to give US$1.1 million to the Interim Government of Afghanistan to assist the strengthening of the capability of the police in the southern city of Kandahar, especially in the fields of mobility and communication.

   Moreover, the Government of Japan decided to provide US$8.7 million in grant assistance to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UNDP to be used for the project to accelerate the settlement of refugees and displaced people in Afghanistan as well as to support the development programs in the communities in which those refugees and displaced persons would be resettled. This is part of the Government of Japan's program for the consolidation of peace in this war-torn country.

   Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)
   
3. Assistance for prevention measures for avian influenza in Asian countries

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is for assistance to cope with avian influenza in Asia.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide US$1.6 million to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to implement preventive measures against bird flu in four Asian countries (Lao People's Democratic Republic, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Indonesia and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam).

   Related Information (Health and Medical Care)
   
4. Assistance for victims of recent earthquake in Bam, Islamic Republic of Iran

   Mr. Takashima: The fourth is about assistance for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

   The Government of Japan today decided to provide US$14.7 million to the Government of Iran to set up temporary housing for the victims of the earthquake in Bam which struck and almost completely destroyed that city toward the end of 2003.

   Related Information (Emergency Grant Assistance for the Earthquake Disaster (Provision of Temporary Housing) in Bam, Iran)
   
5. Assistance for rehabilitation of child soldiers in Republic of Liberia

   Mr. Takashima: The fifth announcement is on assistance in the Republic of Liberia.

   The Government of Japan today also decided to provide US$3.6 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to conduct the program to rehabilitate child soldiers in the African country of Liberia.

   Those are the various announcements of assistance by the Government of Japan.

   Related Information (Japan-Liberia Relations)
   
6. Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq for the project for Provision of Emergency Medical Supplies to Al Samawaha General Hospital

   Mr. Takashima: In addition to that, the Government of Japan decided to provide US$778,000 to Iraq for the project for Provision of Emergency Medical Supplies to Al Samawaha General Hospital.

   Al Samawaha is the location to which the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are dispatched and where they are preparing for humanitarian assistance activities in the areas of water purification, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the schools and other public facilities as well as medical assistance.

   Related Information (Grassroots Human Security Grant Aid to Iraq for the Project for Provision of Emergency Medical Supplies to Al Samawaha General Hospital)
   
7. Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

   Mr. Takashima: The other announcements I have are about the visits to Japan by two dignitaries.

   First, Chairman of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Mr. Tommy Thompson, will visit Japan from 20 to 22 March. He will participate in the international symposium entitled "Human Security Challenges of HIV/AIDS and Communicable Disease in Asia - Exploring Effective Regional and Global Responses" jointly organized by the Japan Center for International Exchange and the Asia Society.

   Taking this opportunity, Mr. Thompson will have meetings with various officials of the Japanese Government and exchange views on infectious diseases, especially AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of Mr. Tommy Thompson, Chairman of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Secretary, US Department of Health and Human Services))
   
8. Upcoming visit to Japan by Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement is about the visit to Japan by Mr. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of League of Arab States.

   He will visit Japan from 4 to 7 April as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his stay in Tokyo, Secretary General Moussa will meet with Prime Minister Koizumi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi. At the same time, Secretary General Moussa will deliver a speech on the relations between Japan and the Arab League at a symposium at the United Nations University (UNU) on 6 April.

   Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
   
9. Questions concerning recent visit to Japan by Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of the People's Republic of China

   Q: Recently, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of the People's Republic of China visited Japan. It was reported that Vice Minister Dai handed a special message to Prime Minister Koizumi from Chinese President Hu Jintao. What was the content of this message?

   Mr. Takashima: Since this is a message from the Chinese leader to the Japanese leader, as a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am not in a position to make any comment on the contents.

   Q: Could you tell us at least what were some the subjects discussed? In particular, if it was discussed, what was the position of the Japanese Government expressed by Prime Minister Koizumi to Vice Minister Dai on the Taiwan issue?

   Mr. Takashima: During the course of the discussion, the Taiwan issue as well as the North Korea issues, and also the bilateral relations between Japan and China were discussed.

   On the Taiwan issue, Prime Minister Koizumi made it very clear that the Japanese basic stance remains unchanged, which is that we do not support the independence of Taiwan, nor do we support and are against the use of force by China to resolve the Taiwan issue. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed the hope of seeing an early resumption of the dialogue between China and Taiwan to resolve this issue peacefully through negotiations.

   Q: Was the National Referendum planned by the Taiwanese authorities discussed at all?

   Mr. Takashima: I am not in a position to discuss in detail about the agenda of the discussion between Prime Minister Koizumi and Vice Minister Dai. However, the basic position of the Government of Japan in terms of the national referendum is that Japan does not want to see any attempt to change the status quo surrounding Taiwan, nor do we want to see any attempt to heighten the tension of the China-Taiwan relationship. We would like to see both Taiwan and China exercising maximum self-restraint to avoid such a situation as increased tension or a change of the status quo.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
10. Follow-up question concerning assistance to Palestinian Territories

    Q: On the assistance to the Palestinians, I would like to hear from the Government of Japan that this assistance comes as a result of what happened in the Palestinian Territories and was caused by the Israeli military attacks. That is, that Palestinians were killed and hurt by the Israeli army. I mean, what is the reason that you are assisting the Palestinians?

    Mr. Takashima: We recognize that the government of the Palestinian Territories is facing a lot of economic difficulty, especially since September 2000 when there was military action by Israeli forces in retaliation for the suicide bombings in Israel, the economic sanctions were introduced and the Israeli side started sealing off of the Palestinian Autonomous Areas. Since then, the PA has had a lot of hardship, especially because of the shortage of foreign currency.

    On the recent visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nabeel Shaath and Minister of Finance Dr. Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority, the two representatives urged Japan to give assistance to relieve or lessen the hardship in terms of the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority. That is the reason we decided to extend this assistance.

    Related Information (Japan-Palestinian Authorities Relations)
    
11. Follow-up question concerning Secretary General Moussa's upcoming visit

    Q: What do you think will be the topics discussed on Mr. Moussa's trip?

    Mr. Takashima: Certainly we are expecting to discuss various issues, especially the Middle East situation and the Iraqi situation. In terms of the Middle East situation, we would like to hear Secretary General Moussa's views on the possibility of the resumption of the peace process, especially the roadmap, particularly the Palestinian aspect of that whole process.

    Related Information (Japan's Measures Toward the Middle East Peace Process)
    
12. Question concerning upcoming election in Taiwan

    Q: Tomorrow, there will be the elections in Taiwan. Upon confirmation of the results, will the Government of Japan issue any statement?

    Mr. Takashima: It is premature to speculate what the reaction of the Government of Japan will be, but there is a good possibility that the Government of Japan will make some comment or statement afterward when the results are confirmed.

    Q: Can we contact the International Press Division?

    Mr. Takashima: Absolutely, you may put in a call to the International Press Division.

    Related Information (Taiwan)
    
13. Question concerning security measures to prevent possible terrorist attack

    Q: Do you have any comment regarding security in Japan and elsewhere in light of the terrorist attacks in Madrid? In the media now, there are all those reports that Japan was named as a possible target.

    Mr. Takashima: We are aware that the possible terrorist organization named the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri sent a message to an Arabic newspaper based in London and other various places indicating that they might attempt to carry out terrorist attacks on Japan or Italy or other countries as they classify us "followers of American action."

    The Government of Japan has no independent information to identify this terrorist group as a terrorist group which has a connection to Al Qaeda or any other terrorist group. We are also very much aware that some terrorist groups have been giving out a sort of pre-warning on a possible terrorist attack on the heart of Tokyo in connection with the decision to dispatch our Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. Therefore, the Government of Japan has already taken necessary measures to prevent that sort of terrorist attack by strengthening the surveillance by the police and protection of various important places in Japan and other Japanese-related facilities in various parts of the world.

    Yesterday, it was announced that the Prime Minister's Office held a special coordination meeting with the National Police Agency as well as transportation officials to discuss measures to enhance security, especially the train system in Japan.