Press Conference 11 June 2004

1. Policy coordination meeting on North Korean issues to be held in Washington, DC
2. Humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons in Darfur in the western part of Sudan and Sudanese Refugees in Chad
3. Question concerning Chairman's Summary at Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting in Sea Island, Georgia
4. Questions concerning possible participation by Japanese Self-Defense Forces in multinational force

1. Policy coordination meeting on North Korean issues to be held in Washington, DC

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

   The first announcement is about the policy coordination meeting.

   The unofficial policy coordination meeting on North Korean issues among Japan, the United States of America and the Republic of Korea will be held in Washington, DC on 13 and 14 June. This meeting will be attended by Director-General of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Mitoji Yabunaka for Japan, while Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly will represent the United States and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Soo-hyuck will represent the Republic of Korea.

   It is expected that the representatives of the three nations will exchange views on North Korea, including the forthcoming third six-party talks.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)
   
2. Humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons in Darfur in the western part of Sudan and Sudanese Refugees in Chad

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the humanitarian assistance for West Sudan.

   In response to a UN request for joint assistance, Japan is going to extend through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross about US$6 million in humanitarian assistance comprising mainly food and medicines for internally displaced persons in Darfur in the western part of Sudan and Sudanese refugees who flowed into Chad, a neighboring country.

   Japan will extend this assistance in accordance with the statement on the Sudanese situation issued at the Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting held from 8 to 10 June, which referred to the need for humanitarian assistance in the humanitarian crisis stemming from tribal conflict in the Darfur region in the western part of Sudan.

   Japan requests that all the parties involved in the conflict will abide by the ceasefire agreement to resolve the conflict, and expects that assistance by the international community, including its own, will alleviate the harsh situation.

   Related Information (Humanitarian Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons in Darfur in the Western Part of Sudan and Sudanese Refugees in Chad)
   
3. Question concerning Chairman's Summary at Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting in Sea Island, Georgia

   Q: I am wondering if you can evaluate the Chairman's Summary of the G8 Summit.

   Mr. Takashima: I think the G8 Summit Meeting itself proved to be very successful, fruitful and very constructive for the future of the world, especially in the Middle East including Iraq and Africa, as well as for maintaining steady growth of the global economy. The Chairman's Summary reflects that sentiment and atmosphere of the Summit Meeting in which the G8 leaders reconfirmed their solidarity in tackling with global issues, such as the fight against terrorism and also the Middle Eastern situation including the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

   Japan is very much appreciative that the Chairman's Summary touches upon the importance and significance of the international effort to resolve the North Korean issues through peaceful and diplomatic means, taking into account the humanitarian issues including the abduction cases. Japan will continue to cooperate with other G8 member countries to bring about the transfer of power from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to the Iraqi Interim Government successfully and to implement the partnership program for the broader Middle East and North African nations and other programs adopted by the G8 Summit Meeting.

   Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi emphasized the importance of environmental issues by calling for the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) and the Government of Japan hopes that this call will be met by affirmative action by the other member countries of the G8.

   Related Information (Sea Island Summit)
   
4. Questions concerning possible participation by Japanese Self-Defense Forces in multinational force

   Q: Could you also explain why Prime Minister Koizumi has stopped short of clearly saying that Japan will join the multinational force?

   Mr. Takashima: Prime Minister Koizumi will be coming back to Japan tomorrow and he will consult on this issue with the other members of the Cabinet to make a final decision on whether Japan will become a part of the multinational force written in United Nations Security Council resolution 1546. This is necessary because the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces is based upon the Law Concerning Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq and the coordination of the policy has to be done in accordance with that law. This requires governmental consultation and study before any decision can be made. However, I would like to add that Prime Minister Koizumi made it very clear that the Government of Japan intends to continue the presence of the SDF in Iraq for the purpose of assisting the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq and the Iraqi people.

   Q: Could you give us a time frame, by when the Government is likely to officially announce its policy?

   Mr. Takashima: There is no set timetable but the one thing that is very clear is that the CPA will be abolished and replaced by the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June. That means that the status of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces has to be redefined by that time. Also, based upon the fact that the Diet is in session for another several days, this may also be included in consideration by the Government.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)