Press Conference 15 June 2004

1. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the conclusion by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Japan's nuclear activities
2. Questions concerning upcoming Third Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Qindgao, People's Republic of China
3. Question concerning recent Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting in Sea Island, Georgia
4. Questions concerning upcoming visit to Japan by delegation from the State of Kuwait
5. Questions concerning Taiwan's observer status to the World Health Organization (WHO)
6. Question concerning possibility of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Japan and Taiwan
7. Questions concerning Japanese Self-Defense Forces

1. Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the conclusion by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Japan's nuclear activities

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

   That is the statement by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the conclusion by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Japan's nuclear activities.

   Japan welcomes the conclusion announced by the International Atomic Energy Agency on 14 June regarding Japan's nuclear activities, which stated that all nuclear materials have been placed under safeguards and remained in peaceful nuclear activities.

   Such a conclusion is reached through IAEA's verification activities based on its comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocols only for a country in which there is neither indication of the diversion of nuclear materials under safeguards nor indication of the existence of undeclared activities, and Japan is the first case in which such a conclusion was drawn for a state with large-scale nuclear activities.

   Effective use of limited safeguards resources and improvement of efficiency of the entire safeguards activities are becoming more important as the demand for inspections by the IAEA is on the increase. Against such a background, the recent conclusion reached for Japan which has large-scale nuclear activities is significant, as it will serve as a precondition for the implementation of more efficient integrated safeguards.

   To continue securing maximum transparency of its nuclear activities, Japan intends to cooperate proactively with safeguards activities of the IAEA and continue its cooperation with the IAEA to further strengthen and improve the efficiency of the IAEA safeguards activities.

   Related Information (Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Conclusion by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Japan's Nuclear Activities)
   
2. Questions concerning upcoming Third Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in Qindgao, People's Republic of China

   Q: I read some reports that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi will attend the meeting in China on 22 June for economic cooperation. Do you have some information on this?

   Mr. Takashima: This is the Third Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of the Kingdom of Thailand and attended by the foreign ministers of Asian countries including Japan, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea. This meeting is designed to discuss the various aspects of economic cooperation among the Asian countries for the promotion of economic activities in this part of the world.

   Q: In their report, it is mentioned that there will be 22 countries including the Middle East. Do you have the names of these countries?

   Mr. Takashima: This meeting is participated by 22 countries from Asia and the Middle East. The Middle Eastern countries are the State of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait. It will be held in Qingdao, China on 22 June.

   By the way, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will visit Moscow, Russian Federation to have the Japan-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting following this visit to Qingdao.

   Related Information (Japan-Asia Relations)
   
3. Question concerning recent Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting in Sea Island, Georgia

   Q: Concerning the Group of Eight (G8) Summit Meeting on partnership and operation of the Middle East as well as democracy of the Middle East, what is the official Japanese stance on this initiative?

   Mr. Takashima: We fully support this initiative because the Middle East requires further partnership with the various countries, especially with the G8 countries in order to accelerate the development and also to further improve the social conditions in those countries. We are committed to assist the broader Middle East and North African nations to achieve those goals by making further contribution to the West Bank and Gaza Public Financial Management Reform Trust Fund set up by the International Finance Cooperation of the World Bank. Also, Japan will assist Middle East and North African countries in their job creation and the reduction of illiteracy through training and education.

   Related Information (Sea Island Summit)
   
4. Questions concerning upcoming visit to Japan by delegation from the State of Kuwait

   Q: I think there is a delegation from the State of Kuwait coming to Japan soon. Do you have any information about that?

   Mr. Takashima: The final arrangement is now being done, and the itinerary will be announced shortly.

   Q: Today?

   Mr. Takashima: I do not think it is today, but probably by the end of this week.

   Q: Is it related to the bilateral relations strictly or is it part of the wider Middle East initiative?

   Mr. Takashima: It is not directly connected to that, but this is a kind of exchange between the leaders of Japan and Kuwait, and we are looking forward to having Prime Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber of Kuwait visit Japan.

   Related Information (Japan-Kuwait Relations)
   
5. Questions concerning Taiwan's observer status to the World Health Organization (WHO)

   Q: I have two questions. Concerning Taiwan joining the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer, I know Japan voted yes in May, in Geneva, supporting Taiwan joining the WHO as an observer. President George W. Bush of the United States of America just signed an official bill to support Taiwan joining the WHO as an observer. I think that is the first official US bill that supports Taiwan on this issue. Following this US action, will Japan take more active actions or measures in terms of supporting Taiwan joining the WHO?

   Mr. Takashima: The basic position of Japan on the issue of Taiwan's observer status at the WHO remains the same. That is, we support the participation of Taiwan to the WHO as an observer in a manner that is acceptable to all parties concerned. Our recent affirmative vote on this was not directly connected to Taiwanese participation but was the procedural vote which was to decide whether or not this Taiwan issue would become an official agenda at the World Health Assembly (WHA) General Committee Meeting. We voted affirmatively, but the motion was denied.

   Q: I know the form that is satisfactory to all parties concerned is emphasized, but I guess the main party which will be unsatisfied will be China because of the issue of Taiwan's official name when it joins the WHO. On this issue, has Japan received any protests or complaints from China so far in terms of this issue?

   Mr. Takashima: We do not disclose any sort of diplomatic exchanges between Japan and other countries, but I can safely say that so far, Japan's position on Taiwanese participation to the WHO as an observer is well known to all countries concerned.

   Related Information (Taiwan)
   
6. Question concerning possibility of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Japan and Taiwan

   Q: The second question is about a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan just had his inauguration ceremony in May. In his speech and also in the policies he has disclosed, he emphasized the importance of Taiwan forming FTAs with the United States and Japan and said those were his two priorities. I know Japan is also actively initiating FTAs with other Asian countries at this moment. Can you talk about the current position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs again concerning the issue of having a FTA with Taiwan? What is the current process or progress?

   Mr. Takashima: Japan has unofficial, non-governmental relations with Taiwan through which trade relations with Japan and Taiwan has been steadily growing. The matter of the Free Trade Agreement between Japan and Taiwan has been raised by various sectors including the business sector in Japan. My understanding is that some sort of preliminary study is now underway in the private sector, but at this moment, the Government of Japan has no plan to initiate any sort of an official study on it.

   Related Information (Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA))
   
7. Questions concerning Japanese Self-Defense Forces

   Q: It seems that Japan wants to continue its military presence in Iraq under the framework of reconstruction. Does that imply that it will join the multinational forces later on?

   Mr. Takashima: The Japanese Government is now considering how to continue the presence of Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDFs) in Iraq for the purpose of assistance of reconstruction and rehabilitation of that nation. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed his strong wish to see that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces would stay in Iraq, if it is so accepted by the Cabinet as well as with the consultation of the ruling parties, as part of the multinational force setup by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546. However, Prime Minister Koizumi also made it very clear that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces should be under the command of the Japanese Government itself and that it can make an autonomous decision on when and how to withdraw if it becomes necessary.

   Q: How do you evaluate the security situation in Iraq now?

   Mr. Takashima: Security in Iraq is the major concern of the Japanese Government. The security situation in the area where the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are deployed and doing reconstruction and rehabilitation activities of Iraq, namely Samawah in the southern part of Iraq, is not as serious as the other parts of Iraq. We do not consider the area as a combat zone.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)