Press Conference 7 May 2004

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Washington, DC for G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting
2. Questions concerning resignation of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda
3. Question concerning abuse of Iraqi prisoners

1. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Washington, DC for G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting

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

   Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi today announced that she would attend the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting to be held in Washington, DC on 14 May provided the overseas trip is approved by the Diet.

   Related Information (G7/G8)
   
2. Questions concerning resignation of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda

   Q: What is the implication of the resignation of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda on Japanese policies including domestic as well as foreign policies?

   Mr. Takashima: As far as foreign policy is concerned, the Japanese foreign policy owes very much to the abilities of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda because he is one of the key promoters of the successful foreign policy of Japan. However, this foreign policy had been administered under the leadership of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and there would be no change on the direction of foreign policy including Iraqi policy as well as North Korean policy after the resignation of Mr. Fukuda. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to work closely with the new Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Hiroyuki Hosoda, and to promote the Japanese foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi as it has been administered to this day.

   We expect that there would be no change on the direction as well as the actual practice of Japanese foreign policy in spite of the fact that Mr. Fukuda has resigned.

   Q: Related to this question, you mentioned that the Foreign Ministry recognizes Mr. Fukuda as being the key proponent for the success of Japanese foreign policy. I understand that Mr. Fukuda was very influential in the relations with the People's Republic of China and North Korea. My question is might his resignation not affect the Japanese standard in dealing with North Korea particularly in now working with Foreign Minister Kawaguchi?

   Mr. Takashima. Primarily the foreign policy of Japan, especially the day-to-day practice or implementation of Japanese foreign policy, falls upon the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to keep this policy intact under the leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi and also Foreign Minister Kawaguchi. It is true that Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda had played a very significant role in formulating Japanese foreign policy, but in his role he always has had to come together with Foreign Minister Kawaguchi under the leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi. Therefore, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi intends to keep working with the new Chief Cabinet Secretary to fulfill the mission given by Prime Minister Koizumi's leadership.

3. Question concerning abuse of Iraqi prisoners

   Q: What is the Government of Japan's reaction on the abuse scandal by American soldiers of Iraqis at the prisons in Baghdad, Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: We consider this scandal as an unacceptable, inhumane act of cruelty, and we believe that the US Government would take necessary measures firstly to prevent the recurrence of this kind of thing and also to find out those responsible for this scandal and take necessary measures to punish those who are responsible. Indeed President George W. Bush of the United States of America has already expressed his own apology, and the Government of the United States has made it very clear that it has every intention to reveal the scandal in its details and take necessary measures to prevent this from happening again.

   The Japanese Government has already informed our views on this scandal to the United States. However, I will not disclose the details of exchange of the views between the two countries.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)