Press Conference 25 June 2004

1. Partial transfer of materials and equipment on the occasion of the withdrawal of the Self Defense Force Engineer Group dispatched to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)
2. Questions concerning security situation in Iraq
3. Question concerning Japanese reconstruction assistance in Iraq
4. Question concerning Japanese financial assistance to Iraq
5. Question concerning assistance for children in Iraq
6. Question concerning 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 to Japan

1. Partial transfer of materials and equipment on the occasion of the withdrawal of the Self Defense Force Engineer Group dispatched to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. I have one announcement to make.

   The Government of Japan decided to transfer a part of the materials and equipment (road construction equipment, prefabricated houses, etc.), used by the Fourth Self Defense Force (SDF) Engineer Group dispatched to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. An exchange of notes to this effect took place in Dili on 25 June between Mr. Hideaki Asahi, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, and Dr. Maria Madalena Brites Boavida, Minister of Planning and Financ. of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in the presence of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri of Timor-Leste.

   With this transfer, which will be made as part of the complete withdrawal of the Fourth SDF Engineer Group, whose assignment will terminate by the end of June this year, the materials and equipment including road construction equipment and prefabricated houses among other equipment, which have been used by the Fourth SDF Engineer Group in Dili, will be transferred based on a request from the Government of Timor-Leste as part of Japan's assistance for the self-help efforts of East Timor and will be used for the economic and social development of the country.

   The withdrawal of the Fourth SDF Engineer Group to Timor-Leste is undertaken as part of the reorganization of the UNMISET force on 20 May this year, and Japan's withdrawal will be completed with that of this Fourth SDF Engineer Group in Dili and the personnel dispatched to the UNMISET Peacekeeping Force (PKF) headquarters.

   Related Information (Partial Transfer of Materials and Equipment on the Occasion of the Withdrawal of the Self Defense Force Engineer Group Dispatched to the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET))
   
2. Questions concerning security situation in Iraq

   Q: The security situation in Iraq is currently deteriorating on a daily basis. Yesterday, there were attacks on the police almost everywhere in Iraq. What is Japan's reaction to this situation, especially in regard to what happened yesterday?

   Mr. Okuyama: We are watching the situation in Iraq very carefully. We are certainly concerned with the series of attacks that are taking place and the casualties that are involved. We deplore these heinous acts of violence.

   It is something which has been foreseen in the sense that towards the handover of sovereignty that is to take place on 30 June, it was generally predicted that we would see more violence erupting in Iraq by those who are opposed to the handover of sovereignty.

   We are paying close attention to the situation in Samawah where Ground SDF personnel operate. We will continue to monitor the situation.

   Q: You referred to those who oppose the transfer of sovereignty. Who are these people?

   Mr. Okuyama: Those who are against the interim government.

   Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)
   
3. Question concerning Japanese reconstruction assistance in Iraq

   Q: Japan has been involved in the reconstruction efforts of the Samawah area. Do you think, after the transfer of power, Japan might expand its reconstruction activities to cover other areas of Iraq?

   Mr. Okuyama: Japan will continue its cooperation through the dispatch of SDF personnel under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 as a member of the multinational force.

   As for financial cooperation, we pledged US$1.5 billion at the International Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq in Madrid to cover the immediate needs of Iraq which will be followed by another US$3.5 billion at a later date. Already, US$850 million has either been disbursed or designated for specific projects. For the remainder of this US$1.5 billion, we have some projects in the pipeline. We have a good prospect of fulfilling the pledge that we made in the amount of US$1.5 billion.

   What we would like to see happen is the full recovery of the security situation in Iraq, whereby, Japanese officials and also business people can freely and safely operate in Iraq. Until that situation arrives, full-scale reconstruction efforts cannot take place which actually involves official development assistance (ODA) and also private company activities.

   Related Information (Japan's Assistance Measures)
   
4. Question concerning Japanese financial assistance to Iraq

   Q: Just a clarification. Out of this US$850 million or the whole US$5.0 billion, is there any portion going to the military of the United States of America in Iraq?

   Mr. Okuyama: No. I will give you the details in writing after this conference is over. All of this US$1.5 billion is grant assistance.

   Japan gives priority to areas such as power generation, education, water, sanitation, health, employment as well as other areas including improvement of security, culture, sports and capacity building. None of this is used to support the US forces.

   Q: Does Japan provide fuel to the US forces in Iraq?

   Mr. Okuyama: No.

5. Question concerning assistance for children in Iraq

   Q: I covered Mohamad Haytham Saleh's eye operation, and it went well. I heard he had a very good impression about Japan, but his father told me that they would like Japan to support more Iraqi children, of course, not only Mohamad. Does the Japanese Government have any plans to provide programs designated for Iraqi children?

   Mr. Okuyama: Education is certainly one of the priority areas of Japan's assistance to Iraq. Part of our humanitarian assistance for Iraq has been going through such international organizations like United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) along with the World Food Programme (WFP), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). UNICEF has an emphasis on children. Part of our assistance is being used for rehabilitation of schools which would benefit a large number of children in Iraq.

   The continuation of education is indispensable to the sound development and mental stability of children. We have worked through UNICEF to provide the war-affected children of Iraq with not only medical supplies and drinking water but also the equipment, notebooks, pencils, crayons, rulers, and other educational supplies needed to continue schooling.

   In primary schools in Baghdad, educational equipment was lost and facilities were destroyed due to looting and other factors. The Government of Japan responded to this situation by contributing US$10.28 million to UNICEF for a program to reactive the primary education system in Iraq, under which school buildings will be repaired, educational equipment provided, and teachers trained.

   To help educate young people who will build Iraq's future, we decided to provide up to US$1.0 million to the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-Building of Human Resources established within the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). An assessment was carried out concerning the needs of secondary and higher education in Iraq, and now emergency assistance to the Ministry of Education, such as staff training, is being carried out.

   We have also contributed US$8.8 million to the United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-HABITAT) to rehabilitate schools, housing, and community facilities.

6. Question concerning 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 to Japan

   Q: On another issue, I think there was an announcement about a visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait to Japan. Do you have any updates on this?

   Mr. Okuyama: I do not have the details with me now, but I will inform you.

   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)