Press Conference 28 May 2004

1. Incident in Iraq involving two freelance journalists from Japan
2. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the progress of peace talks for concluding the civil war in Sudan
3. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of Korea
4. Upcoming visit to Japan by President Enrique Bolaños Geyer of the Republic of Nicaragua and Mrs. Lila. T. Abaunza de Bolaños
5. Follow-up questions concerning incident in Iraq
6. Questions concerning family members of the two freelance journalists

1. Incident in Iraq involving two freelance journalists from Japan

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

   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a report from the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad informing that a car carrying two Japanese freelance journalists was ambushed on its way from Samawa to Baghdad yesterday. The original information was provided by an Iraqi driver who escaped from the site with injuries and was hospitalized.

   According to that driver, the car was carrying four people including the driver himself. The fate of the remaining three are still unknown. Those three include two Japanese freelance journalists, Mr. Shinsuke Hashida, age 61, and Mr. Kotaro Ogawa, age 33, and an Iraqi interpreter who accompanied those two journalists.

   The car was attacked by another car and exploded because of the gunshot according to the driver. The Government of Japan has set up a special task force to handle this incident and has started its utmost effort to gather more information and to make a rescue operation, if possible, through the Embassy in Baghdad with cooperation extended by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and local police near Baghdad.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the progress of peace talks for concluding the civil war in Sudan

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan issued a statement by the Press Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the progress of peace talks for concluding the civil war in the Republic of the Sudan. It said that the Government of Japan welcomes the conclusion of the framework agreement on 26 May between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM) within the context of their continued negotiations intended to bring an end to the civil war in Sudan which has lasted over 20 years. The Government of Japan also expresses respect for the efforts made by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which took the lead in the peace talks, the Government of Kenya, which hosted the talks, and others concerned.

   The Government of Japan strongly hopes that both sides, by taking the opportunity of concluding this framework agreement, will continue their negotiations over the pending issues and reach the final peace agreement as soon as possible.

   Furthermore, the Government of Japan is gravely concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian condition in Darfur in western Sudan. The Government of Japan supports the efforts made by the African Union (AU) for a conflict resolution in Darfur and strongly hopes that all parties observe the cease-fire agreement and immediately take the necessary measures to solve the issue.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the progress of peace talks for concluding the civil war in Sudan)
   
3. Upcoming visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of Korea

   Mr. Takashima: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi will visit the Republic of Korea on 29 and 30 May. During her stay in Seoul, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will hold foreign ministerial talks with Minister Ban Ki-moon for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and will reconfirm close cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Korea on their policies toward North Korea based on the results of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's recent visit to North Korea and looking toward the next round of the Six-Party Talks.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will also meet President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and will exchange views on measures to further develop Japan-Korea relations in response to his return to office.

   Related Information (Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit the Republic of Korea (R.O.K))
   
4. Upcoming visit to Japan by President Enrique Bolaños Geyer of the Republic of Nicaragua and Mrs. Lila. T. Abaunza de Bolaños

   Mr. Takashima: His Excellency Enrique Bolaños Geyer, the President of the Republic of Nicaragua and Mrs. Bolaños will pay an official working visit to Japan from 16 to 19 June 2004.

   During their stay in Japan, the President and Mrs. Bolaños will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. President Bolaños will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of President and Mrs. Bolaños which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between Japan and the Republic of Nicaragua.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Enrique Bolanos Geyer, President of the Republic of Nicaragua and Mrs. Lila. T. Abaunza de Bolanos (Announcement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs))
   
5. Follow-up questions concerning incident in Iraq

   Q: Do you have any information on the remaining three people or what happened to them?

   Mr. Takashima: We still do not know the fate of those remaining three passengers in the car. The only person known as alive but injured is the driver. The fate of the two Japanese journalists and one Iraqi interpreter is still unknown. The Embassy there is making efforts to collect more information through various channels.

   Q: So are the Embassy officials right now already at the site of the incident?

   Mr. Takashima: That is my understanding.

   Q: Are these Iraqis male?

   Mr. Takashima: The interpreter?

   Q: Both.

   Mr. Takashima: The driver and the interpreter both are male.

   Q: Have there been any new developments in the last two and a half hours? I was at your 11:30 briefing. What do we know that is different?

   Mr. Takashima: Actually, the only difference is before or after dawn. We understand that the whole operation had been started two hours ago, after the sunrise.

   Q: Obviously you have said that you do not have any information about the fate of the three remaining people. So you do not have any new information?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not have any fresh information.

   Q: Nothing at all? Nothing about the circumstances under which the attack took place?

   Mr. Takashima: No.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
6. Questions concerning family members of the two freelance journalists

   Q: Are the families of the Japanese heading to Tokyo or to Iraq?

   Mr. Takashima: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in touch with the families living in Japan. The wife of Mr. Hashida indicated that she wishes to go to Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or somewhere in the area. The father of Mr. Ogawa also indicated that he wishes to come to Tokyo first to collect more information.

   Q: Are they currently heading to those locations?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not know. I have no information about that.

   Q: Will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrange a possible trip for the family members to Amman or that area?

   Mr. Takashima: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will make utmost effort to assist them.