Press Conference 18 June 2004

1. Japan's humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq
2. Grant aid to Iraq
3. Upcoming visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation
4. Dispatch of Japanese Government election observation mission for the presidential election in the Republic of Indonesia
5. Upcoming visit by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council of the State of Kuwait
6. Question concerning China's natural gas project
7. Follow-up questions concerning the Japanese Government election observation mission

1. Japan's humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq

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

   Firstly, at today's Cabinet meeting, the Government of Japan decided to continue the humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq by the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) after 30 June when Iraqi sovereignty will be handed over from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to the Iraqi interim government. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces will continue its activities within the framework of the multinational force stipulated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 but will be placed under Japan's own chain of command.

   The Government of Japan has been actively involved in the international effort to help the Iraqi people to rehabilitate and reconstruct their nation, utilizing both financial assistance and Self-Defense Forces.

   We are pleased to receive words of appreciation from the newly appointed President Ghazi Al-Yawar of Iraq for the activities of Japan's Self-Defense Forces in Iraq, especially in the Samawah area. We are determined to continue our utmost effort to assist the reconstruction of Iraq through the various means available to us within the framework of the Constitution and the Law Concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
2. Grant aid to Iraq

   Mr. Takashima: The second announcement is about the grant aid to Iraq. The Government of Japan today decided to provide grant assistance of US$3,130,000 to the Muthanna province of Iraq to set up water purification facilities in four districts and to provide various medical equipments such as X-rays, photograph systems, neonatal incubators and ultra-sonic devices to two medical hospitals.

   This grant assistance is part of the US$1.5 billion grant aid program the Government of Japan promised to provide to Iraq in the year 2004. It will benefit tens of thousands of people living in this province which includes the city of Samawah where the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are deployed.

   Related Information (Grassroots Human Security Grant Aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al Muthanna including Samawah))
   
3. Upcoming visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation

   Mr. Takashima: The third announcement is about Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's overseas visits.

   Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will visit the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation from 21-25 June.

   In Qingdao, China, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will attend the Third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting to have a free exchange of views on such matters as regional and international political and economic issues affecting the member states. Also taking this opportunity, Japan will chair the tripartite committee meeting of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. An agreement will be reached at the committee meeting on how to promote cooperation between Japan, China and the Republic of Korea in the future.

   In the afternoon of 21 June, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will have bilateral meetings separately with Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing of China, Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh of the Republic of India and Minister of Foreign Affairs Khurshid Kasuri of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

   In Russia, Ms. Kawaguchi will meet with her counterpart Mr. Sergey Lavrov, to discuss bilateral issues, including the issue of concluding a peace treaty, and other issues which the international community is facing. Meetings with other high-ranking officials, including Mr. Igor Ivanov, Secretary of the Security Council, and a joint interview with the Russian press are also scheduled.

   Related Information (Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the Third Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Meeting and the Three-Party Committee of the Japan, China, and the R.O.K., and Visit Russia)
   
4. Dispatch of Japanese Government election observation mission for the presidential election in the Republic of Indonesia

   Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the dispatch of an election observation mission to the Republic of Indonesia.

   The Government of Japan will send an observation mission for the presidential election to be held in Indonesia on 5 July.

   The Japanese Government's election observation mission will comprise 44; 39 officials of the Japanese Embassy and Consulate Generals, including Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka Iimura as its head, and five academics from Japan who are experts of Indonesian affairs. They will conduct the election observation in various parts of the country.

   Related Information (Japanese Government Election Observation Mission for the Presidential Election in Indonesia)
   
5. Upcoming visit by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council of the State of Kuwait

   Mr. Takashima: The last announcement that I have is about the visit of the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.

   His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, will pay an official working visit to Japan from 11-14 July 2004.

   During his stay in Japan, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will receive the Prime Minister in audience.

   The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.

   The Prime Minister of Japan is scheduled to host a dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Kuwait.

   The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of the Prime Minister of Kuwait, which will further strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two countries.

   Related Information (Visit to Japan of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council of the State of Kuwait)
   
6. Question concerning China's natural gas project

   Q: About China's project to take natural gas, in connection with news reports, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said in this morning's press conference that the Government may consider setting up a panel involving ministers to deal with this issue. Could you explain why the Government is considering this?

   Mr. Takashima: The issues of the exploration of natural gas and geographical demarcation stipulated in the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea require the involvement of various governmental agencies of the Japanese Government. It is not an issue to be handled by a single department or agency of the Government. Rather, the policy itself has to be coordinated by the Prime Minister's Office. That is the reason why the Government is now considering setting up a government task force with a committee type of setup to deal with this issue.

   Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
   
7. Follow-up questions concerning the Japanese Government election observation mission

   Q: Also, about the Japanese Government election observation mission for the Indonesian presidential election, did you say that from Japan, only five academics will be dispatched?

   Mr. Takashima: Yes.

   Q: Who are the other 39 people?

   Mr. Takashima: Members of the Embassy or Consulate Generals.

   Q: When are the five academics planning to leave Japan?

   Mr. Takashima: Some have already departed. Japan has dispatched an election observation team for the general elections held in April. In addition to that kind of activities, Japan had provided financial assistance to the Government of Indonesia and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to have general elections in a free and fair manner.

   This time, the Government is also extending grant assistance of US$140,000 for voters' education, registration, etc. through local NGOs. Also, about 620,000 ballot boxes and 1.2 million booths were actually procured by Japan's grant assistance at the time of the general elections in April. Those equipments will be reused for the forthcoming presidential election. So Japanese assistance for elections is very wide-ranging.

   Related Information (Japanese Government Election Observation Mission for the Presidential Election in Indonesia)