Press Conference 25 May 2004

1. Grant assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh
2. Questions concerning speech made by President George W. Bush of the United States of America at the US Army War College

1. Grant assistance to the People's Republic of Bangladesh

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you for coming to the briefing. Before I take questions, let me make one announcement.

   The Government of Japan today exchanged a diplomatic note with the Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh to extend a grant assistance of up to 513 million yen or US$4.54 million to Bangladesh to be used for the Japanese Grant Aid Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS).

   This project will enable 60 young government officials of Bangladesh to study at graduate schools in Japan to acquire necessary academic capacity to lead the Bangladesh national effort to eradicate poverty and achieve development in one of the poorest nations in this part of the world.

   Related Information (Japan-Bangladesh Relations)
   
2. Questions concerning speech made by President George W. Bush of the United States of America at the US Army War College

   Q: President George W. Bush of the United States of America made a speech at the US Army War College this morning. He said he can turn around the deteriorating situation in Iraq with just five weeks to go before the handover. How did you find the speech? Did he give enough explanation before the handover? Have you seen any change?

   Mr. Takashima: We found that the speech made by President Bush was a very strong statement of the American commitment to the handover of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to the Iraq interim government. Also, it showed the American commitment for the stabilization of security in that country and the US effort of making that nation a free and democratic country. Also, it called upon the international community to join the effort to achieve the reconstruction of Iraq.

   We take note that the United States and the United Kingdom today presented the new draft Security Council resolution of the United Nations to other member countries. The draft resolution as well as the President's speech, we believe, have exhibited the strong American commitment to the reconstruction of Iraq.

   Q: In his speech, he offered no major change in Iraq and no timetable for US troop withdrawal, but he spoke of a progress being made while predicting violence will be worse in the short-run. Do you think the United States has shown strong leadership in how they would deal with the Iraq issue?

   Mr. Takashima: According to the draft resolution, it was planned that the multinational forces would stay in Iraq at least one year. After that, if the Iraqi government decides to ask for withdrawal, then multinational forces would be dissolved and participating armed forces would withdraw from Iraq. So the timetable is there. We see no reason to believe that the United States has any change in plan for their commitment which is shown in that draft resolution and the President's speech.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)