Press Conference 29 June 2004

1. Upcoming visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
2. Japan's Assistance to Reconstruction of Iraq
3. Questions concerning upcoming meeting between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Paek Nam Sun of North Korea

1. Upcoming visits by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

   Assistant Press Secretary Jiro Okuyama: Good afternoon. Thank you for coming to this briefing. I have two announcements to make.

   One is Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi's visit to the Republic of the Philippines and attendance to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three (Japan, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (ASEAN-PMC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting and also visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

   Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit the Philippines, the Republic of Indonesia and Viet Nam from 29 June to 5 July to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President of the Philippines, to take part in the ASEAN+3, ASEAN-PMC and ARF Ministerial Meeting and to exchange views with leaders of the relevant countries.

   During her stay in the Philippines, on 30 June, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will attend the inauguration ceremony of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who won the Presidential election which was conducted on 10 May this year after an interval of six years.

   In Indonesia, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will attend the ASEAN+3, the ASEAN-PMC and the ARF Ministerial Meeting to be held on 1-2 July in Jakarta.

   Foreign and other ministers of the 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea will take part in the ASEAN+3 to exchange views on the promotion of regional cooperation in East Asia such as the review of the ASEAN+3 cooperation and development and the future direction of ASEAN+3 cooperation.

   The ASEAN-PMC will exchange views on wide-ranging fields, with a view to strengthening mutually friendly relations between the ASEAN and 10 dialogue countries including Japan, the United States of America and the Russian Federation.

   At the ARF Ministerial Meeting, 23 countries and one organization, including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which is expected to be approved as a new participant at this meeting, will have a wide-ranging exchange of views on the regional security situation, the future direction of the ARF and other matters, and issue statements on the international terrorism and on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

   On these occasions, a ceremony for Japan's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia will be held.

   There will also be bilateral meetings with chief representatives of some countries and an organization.

   During her stay in Viet Nam, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi will meet with her counterpart, Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, on 3 July in Hanoi to exchange views, about the bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interests.

   In Jakarta, on the occasion of the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Japan would like to discuss some aspects of the East Asian community. For this purpose, we made available some papers which we call issue papers relating to the East Asian community, the function of cooperation and the East Asia Summit. We are hoping to make this available at some point in Jakarta to the press.

   Related Information (Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Visit the Philippines, Attend ASEAN + 3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, ASEAN-PMC, and ARF Ministerial Meeting, and Visit Viet Nam)
   
2. Japan's Assistance to Reconstruction of Iraq

   Mr. Okuyama: The other announcement that I would like to make is Japan's assistance to reconstruction in Iraq.

   On 29 June, the Government of Japan additionally decided on the following projects totaling approximately US$290 million (31.9 billion yen) allocated from the FY2003 supplementary budget.

   (1) The Project for Rehabilitation of Taji Gas Power Station (Ministry of Electricity)
   US$66 million (7.278 billion yen); to replace gas turbine generators No. 1, 2, 3, and 5 out of seven

   (2) The Project for Rehabilitation of Mosul Gas Turbine Power Station (Ministry of Electricity)
   US$42 million (4.585 billion yen); to replace gas turbine generators No. 1 and 3 out of four

   (3) The Project for Rehabilitation of Mosul Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1 (Ministry of Electricity)
   US$52 million (5.681 billion yen); to rehabilitate (provision and installment of spare parts and equipment, adjustment and trial running, training in their use) Mosul Hydroelectric Power Station No. 1

   (4) The Project for Rehabilitation of 4 General Hospitals in the Northern Region of Iraq (Ministry of Health)
   US$68 million (7.529 billion yen); to provide medical equipment and rehabilitate facilities of four general hospitals out of the "13 Hospitals": Kirkuk, Arbil, Mosul, Dahuk

   (5) The Project for the Provision of special vehicles of garbage disposal and sewage cleaning (Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW) and Baghdad Mayoralty)
   US$57 million (6.259 billion yen); to provide throughout Iraq including the Governorate of Al-Muthanna garbage trucks, landfill bulldozers and vacuum car.

   (6) The Project for the Provision of Armored Vehicles (Ministry of Interior)
   US$5.0 million (594 million yen); to provide 20 armored vehicles for Baghdad and the Governorate of Al-Muthanna including Samawah

   I would just like to mention that with this additional assistance which we announced today, the overall figure will be approximately US$1.15 billion. This is part of the US$1.5 billion grant assistance for the immediate needs through 2004 which we announced in October 2003.

   Related Information (Japan's Assistance to Reconstruction of Iraq)
   
3. Questions concerning upcoming meeting between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Paek Nam Sun of North Korea

   Q: On the possible meeting between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Paek Nam Sun of North Korea, has the schedule been set at this point?

   Mr. Okuyama: The meeting between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun is still under coordination. We have yet to announce the exact time and venue.

   Q: Is there a possibility that they will meet on Thursday?

   Mr. Okuyama: The meeting is still under coordination.

   Q: What do you expect they will mainly discuss apart from the issue of abductions? There are so many pertinent issues between Japan and North Korea. Everybody expects them to discuss the issue of abductions, but what other issues do you think will be discussed?

   Mr. Okuyama: I think it depends on how long they can discuss. Certainly, the issues related to abductions are of utmost importance for Japan amidst the various pending issues that we have with North Korea. There may be some other issues such as follow-up questions on issues relating to the nuclear development of North Korea. Since the North Korean delegation has just taken back from Beijing, proposals made by the United States and also the results of the discussions of the four other parties, at this moment, it is difficult for us to predict what exactly the North Korean side may raise.

   Related Information (Japan-North Korea Relations)