Press Conference 23 March 2004

1. Killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, spiritual leader of the Hamas
2. Attendance by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at state funeral for victims of terrorist bombings in Madrid, Spain
3. Assistance to Lao People's Democratic Republic for measures against avian influenza
4. Visit to Japan by delegation led by Dr. Mohammed Bahr Al Uloom, Chairman of the Governing Council of Iraq
5. Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Julian Hunte, President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
6. Follow-up question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's statement
7. Follow-up question concerning dispatch of former Prime Minister Mori to Spain
8. Questions concerning future travel plans by Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi

1. Killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, spiritual leader of the Hamas

   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.

   First, in relation to the killing of the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, on 22 March.

   On 23 March, Director-General for the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Hideaki Domichi summoned the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Japan Eli Cohen to convey the following points and requested his message to be forwarded to the Government of Israel:

   "The killing of Hamas spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, was a thoughtless act giving no consideration of its consequences. It gravely impairs the realization of peace and is profoundly regrettable. We are deeply apprehensive that the killing will not only lead to the expansion of the chain of hatred and violence and make the realization of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians more difficult, but will also impact the entire Middle East region negatively. We condemn the act by Israel.

   The Government of Japan strongly urges Israel to exercise maximum self-restraint in order to prevent further deterioration of the situation."

   On this incident, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi issued a statement last night in which she said as follows:

   "The Government of Japan strongly urges the Government of Israel to exercise maximum self-restraint and to calm the situation.

   Japan also expects the Palestinian side to deal with the situation calmly so that this incident does not invite further deterioration of the situation.

   The efforts for peace of both Israeli and Palestinian sides based on the `Roadmap´ are virtually suspended. Recalling that the Prime Ministers of both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority committed themselves, in June last year, to the vision of two states living side by side in peace based on the `Roadmap,´ I firmly expect the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to immediately exercise their initiatives to resume dialogue."

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, Spiritual Leader of the Hamas, on March 22nd)
   
2. Attendance by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori at state funeral for victims of terrorist bombings in Madrid, Spain

   Mr. Takashima: Second, about the state funeral to be held in Spain.

   The Government of Japan today decided to dispatch former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to Madrid, Spain to represent the Government of Japan at the state funeral for the victims of the multiple terrorist bombings in this city.

   The Government of Japan strongly condemns this terrible act of violence and reaffirms its commitment to the fight against terrorism that is being conducted jointly with the international community including Spain.

   Related Information (Japan-Spain Relations)
   
3. Assistance to Lao People's Democratic Republic for measures against avian influenza

   Mr. Takashima: Third, about assistance to the Lao People's Democratic Republic in conjunction with avian influenza.

   The Government of Japan has decided to provide the Government of Laos with equipment for virus control and diagnosis worth US$50,000 to help the country to control avian influenza, within the framework of the Project of Japan-Thailand Technical Cooperation on Animal Disease Control in Thailand and Neighboring Countries.

   On 23 March this decision was officially conveyed to Lao Prime Minister Boungnang Volachit by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shogo Arai on his visit to Laos and the Kingdom of Thailand to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Second Mekong International Bridge.

   Related Information (Assistance to Laos for Measures against Avian Influenza)
   
4. Visit to Japan by delegation led by Dr. Mohammed Bahr Al Uloom, Chairman of the Governing Council of Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: Fourth, about the visit to Japan by a delegation of the Governing Council of Iraq.

   A delegation of 21 persons of the Governing Council of Iraq led by Dr. Mohammed Bahr Al Uloom, Chairman of the Governing Council of Iraq for March, will visit Japan from today to 25 March.

   While in Japan, the delegation will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to exchange views on the future political process in Iraq and Japanese assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq. The Government of Japan will explain its assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq to this delegation.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan by a Delegation led by Dr. Mohammed Bahr Al Uloom, Chairman of the Governing Council of Iraq)
   
5. Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Julian Hunte, President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

   Mr. Takashima: Last, about the visit to Japan by President of the United Nations General Assembly Julian Hunte.

   As President of the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Hunte will visit Japan from 29 March to 1 April at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Hunte, who is Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia, will meet with various government officials and members of the Diet while in Tokyo, including Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa, to exchange views on issues facing the United Nations, including the reform of this international body.

   It is expected that this visit will strengthen the cooperative relations between Japan and the United Nations.

   Related Information (Japan and the United Nations)
   
6. Follow-up question concerning Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's statement

   Q: I have some general questions about Arab-related issue, but let me start with one specific question. On the message to Israel, how does that compare in strength to criticism to anything else that has happened in the Middle East or regarding Israel?

   Mr. Takashima: I hope you will take it at face value. I would not characterize one way or the other the message we have just released. It will be conveyed to the Israeli Government through two channels: Firstly, through the meeting, as I described, between Director-General Domichi and Amb. Cohen. At the same time, the Government of Japan instructed the Embassy of Japan in Tel Aviv, Israel to convey the same message to the Israeli Government.

   As I have said, the Government of Japan considers the killing of the Hamas spiritual leader profoundly regrettable and we condemn the act of Israel.

   Related Information (Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Killing of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, Spiritual Leader of the Hamas, on March 22nd)
   
7. Follow-up question concerning dispatch of former Prime Minister Mori to Spain

   Q: As for sending former Prime Minister Mori to Spain, is that also something that has happened before -although I suppose that nothing quite like that has ever happened?

   Mr. Takashima: In view of the fact that the relations between Japan and Spain are very cordial, friendly and have a long history, the Japanese Government decided to send a special envoy to the state funeral. This is partly because of the outstanding relations and partly because the dispatch of a special envoy will exhibit Japan's strong determination to fight against terrorism and show solidarity with Spain and other countries that are engaged in this fight.

   Q: Have there been any other times when similar tragedies have taken place and something comparable was done?

   Mr. Takashima: Prime Minister Koizumi attended the memorial service on the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

   Q: I am wondering what the diplomatic meaning is because two things happened over that weekend: one was the election and the other was the bombings. Does the government change have any bearing on Japan's decision?

   Mr. Takashima: I think this state funeral will be administrated by the current government. We do not have any other thoughts apart from sending a special envoy to the state funeral to express our condolences and to convey our strong message to Spain and other nations on our determination to fight against terrorism.

   Related Information (Japan-Spain Relations)
   
8. Questions concerning future travel plans by Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi

   Q: My question is prompted by stories in the Japanese press about how recent events, with reference in this case to the Madrid bombings and also including other incidents such as the shooting during the presidential campaign in Taiwan and other incidents going on in the world. The story was about whether recent events were going to affect the way Prime Minister Koizumi thinks about any trips abroad at this time and what that would mean in terms of anything that might have been planned before. I think it was the Asahi Shimbun which ran the story which was slightly odd because it was saying that there was nothing particularly planned, but that this would make it more difficult to plan any overseas trips. It also pointed out that the last trip that Prime Minister Koizumi made was to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting as well as any plans there might have been to travel during Golden Week, which is a traditional travel time. Have recent events made the Government more cautious about having the Prime Minister travel around at this time?

   Mr. Takashima: It is absolutely untrue that Prime Minister Koizumi has changed his mind and decided not to make any overseas trips because of terrorist attack or the threat thereof. At the Diet session he clearly stated that if we take any measures other than to continue our fight against terrorism and make clear our strong stance against terrorism, it would be to give in to terrorism and give a certain advantage to terrorist groups, and that is not at all what we want to do.

   Since the Diet is still in session, it is not the time for Prime Minister Koizumi nor Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to make any extensive overseas trips. No travel plans have been set yet because there is no need to consider at this moment any overseas trips for the Prime Minister.

   In case of Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, she made it clear that she wishes to visit the People's Republic of China in the early part of April.

   Q: Is that set?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes, she will go to China from 3 to 4 April for an overnight stay in Beijing, subject to approval by the Diet. Also, we are discussing the possibility of a visit by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi to Moscow, Russian Federation, but other than that, there is no travel plan and it is not unusual at all.