Press Conference 7 January 2005

1. Outcomes of the Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia
2. Upcoming ministerial meeting on humanitarian assistance to tsunami affected communities
3. Questions concerning upcoming United Nations (UN) World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe
4. Question concerning grant assistance for earthquake/tsunami disaster

1. Outcomes of the Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia

   Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming. Today, I would like to brief you on the outcomes of the Special Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami held in Jakarta.

   The Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Junichiro Koizumi visited the Republic of Indonesia from 5 to 6 January to attend the Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami held in Jakarta.

   At the session, Prime Minister Koizumi delivered a speech, in which he extended condolences for the victims of the disaster as a fellow Asian partner as well as a country which has experienced countless natural disasters itself. He called upon the participants to respond to the UN Flash Appeal to the maximum extent possible, consistent with the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention on the Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, by swiftly putting their respective pledges into practice. He said Japan is ready to play its part in doing the most it can on three points: financial resources, human resources and knowledge and expertise.

   Financially, Japan will contribute up to US$500 million in grant, half of which will be provided through relevant international organizations and the other half bilaterally.

   Japan has also dispatched Japan Disaster Relief Teams to the ground to undertake medical operations. Japan is also ready to let our Self-Defense Forces (SDF) engage in activities concerning transportation and epidemic prevention. A C-130 took off from Japan on the same day.

   Japan will make efforts to establish an early warning mechanism for the Indian Ocean countries and proposes to have a special session for this topic at the upcoming United Nations (UN) World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe beginning 18 January, he said.

   Finally, he expressed his intention to assist middle- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction plans in view of the serious damage caused to the social infrastructures.

   The gist of what I have just told you may be found in the handouts which I have just distributed for your reference.

   The Meeting was a successful one in that the leadership of the UN was confirmed in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, to be effected through a special representative of the Secretary-General. The contributions pledged by donors are outstanding, and future implementation is key.

   The Japanese pledge of US$500 million accompanied by the dispatch of SDF, already having recovered 57 bodies off the coast of the Kingdom of Thailand, and its intention to establish an early warning system, were warmly welcomed and highly appreciated by the participants.

   Related Information (Major Earthquake off the Coast of Sumatra and Tsunami in the Indian Ocean)
   
2. Upcoming ministerial meeting on humanitarian assistance to tsunami affected communities

   Mr. Chiba: In this context of the tsunami disaster, a meeting at the ministerial level on humanitarian assistance to tsunami affected communities will be held at the UN headquarters in Europe on 11 January.

   The Japanese Government is sending Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa to Geneva to attend this meeting. He will leave Japan on Monday. This will be another demonstration of our proactive stance towards a united and utmost support to be extended by the international community for the disaster.

   The Japanese public has also been generous by providing donations, both at the corporate and individual levels. Japan is also a disaster prone country and is very sensitive to the suffering of victims of natural disasters in neighboring countries. A rough figure of contributions according to news reports is at least US$1.2 billion yen.

   Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are likewise active in relief activities. There are 11 Japanese NGOs known to be active on the site. A Japanese NGO was the first NGO to arrive on the spot from abroad. The Government has provided grant assistance for Japanese NGO projects although many of the said NGOs are operating on their own.

3. Questions concerning upcoming United Nations (UN) World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe

   Q: I would like to ask you about the special session to be held at the Kobe conference. What exactly does Japan have in mind?

   Mr. Chiba: This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the horrible earthquake that shook Kobe and its vicinity. A ceremony will be held to commemorate those who were victimized by the tragedy on 17 January, and the conference you mentioned will follow this on 18 January. This was initially designed as an occasion to promote international cooperation for disaster reduction. The idea was initiated by the UN and started out as an effort for the International Decade for Disaster Reduction.

   However, in the face of the disasters that took place both at home and abroad, this Kobe conference will have a special meaning to the international community. Disaster reduction concerning earthquakes of course is one of the central matters to be discussed, but as I have said, we are proposing a special session for tsunami disasters.

   Q: Are participants going to discuss the setting up of an early warning system at this conference?

   Mr. Chiba: Japan expects the participants to share with us their ideas on the early warning mechanism. An early warning mechanism is not a mechanism that can be established overnight. So initially, we will have to start by exchanging ideas to come up with a mechanism that is reliable and feasible for the Indian Ocean region.

   Q: Is Japan expected to make any concrete proposals at this conference?

   Mr. Chiba: The proposal to be prepared by the Japanese Government is still under consideration, but, it is roughly composed of three pillars concerning early warning of tsunamis: disaster detection, information transfer and promotion of public awareness among coastal residents on this matter. The last part, promotion of public awareness, involves seminars or training programs for relevant personnel.

   This is an example of a public awareness program. This is a tsunami public awareness pamphlet that was made for the Independent State of Papua New Guinea some years ago. This is some sort of cooperation that we are contemplating at this moment.

   Q: I think there is a lot of interest in this special session because the People's Republic of China has also proposed to have a meeting this month I believe on a tsunami early warning mechanism. Is there any coordination between Japan and China on this? What is going to happen?

   Mr. Chiba: I am aware of such reports, but at this point, I have no further comment on this.

   Related Information (World Conference on Disaster Reduction)
   
4. Question concerning grant assistance for earthquake/tsunami disaster

   Q: There was a report in today's Asahi Shimbun quoting officials on how Japan may be unconsciously trying to compete with China in providing aid for the tsunami disaster. There was a suggestion that Japan came up with US$500 million so that it would be ahead of everybody else, especially China. Do you have any comment on this?

   Mr. Chiba: During the Special Meeting, there were people saying that there is a global competition of donations concerning the disaster. Comments were made that this is a healthy competition. As to the relationship between Japan and China, I see that there is no room for any sort of competition because we are handling disaster relief and are trying to help people on the ground. This is not an issue to have a competition with any other country. Japan extends its aid to Asia because Japan is a fellow Asian partner, because Japanese people have a sensitivity towards victims of such disasters and because Japan itself is a disaster prone country.