Internet Press Chat Conference 13 October 2005
- Japan's response to the disaster caused by the earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Emergency aid to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for typhoon disaster
- Reelection of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura as Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Submission of Japan's Draft Resolution on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects to the UN General Assembly
- Submission of Japan's Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament to the UN General Assembly
- The Second Japan-Thailand Political Partnership Consultation
- Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
- The Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks
- Grant aid to Iraq for "Program for the Police Training and Mentoring in the governorate of Al Muthanna"
- Signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
- Question concerning dispatch of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
- Question concerning visit to Japan by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Richard Lawless of the US
- Follow-up question concerning grant aid to Iraq
- Question concerning news report on visit to North Korea by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
- Japan's response to the disaster caused by the earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good afternoon. Thank you for joining the regular chat conference. Today I am standing in on behalf of Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is traveling in the United States of America (US) and Canada. Let me make several announcements before I take questions.
The first item is about Japan's response to the disaster caused by the earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and surrounding areas.
As a result of the large-scale earthquake that occurred on 8 October, more than 23,000 people are dead and 51,000 are injured in Pakistan as of 13 October. In addition to Japan's response that has already been announced by press releases dated 10 and 11 October, there are two announcements as follows: (1) The Government of Japan has dispatched on 12 October a survey team of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Pakistan to study the needs for emergency assistance, and (2) six non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Peace Winds Japan (PWJ), Japan Center for Conflict Prevention (JCCP) and others of the Japan Platform (JPF) have started their needs assessment, search and rescue activities and distribution of goods in disaster-affected areas.
- Emergency aid to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for typhoon disaster
Mr. Chiba: The Government of Japan has decided to extend emergency assistance in kind (blankets, tents, water purifiers, generators and other goods) worth about 20 million yen to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, which has sustained a large-scale typhoon disaster.
The local and international organizations in Viet Nam have reported 75 persons dead or missing, more than 300,000 people evacuated, about 113,500 houses flooded, and such infrastructure as farmland and levees severely damaged. The afflicted people are forced to live under difficult conditions in wide-ranging areas, and the Government of Viet Nam has requested emergency aid from major countries, while striving to restore damage on its own.
- Reelection of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura as Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Mr. Chiba: On 12 October, the 33rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference, which was held in Paris, the French Republic, decided to reelect Mr. Koichiro Matsuura as its Director-General, as his term of office is due to expire in November.
Japan highly appreciates UNESCO's efforts including structural and program reform, and decentralization of power which has been made under the leadership of its Director-General Matsuura; welcomes his reelection; and expects the Director-General to continue contributing to the international community.
- Submission of Japan's Draft Resolution on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects to the UN General Assembly
Mr. Chiba: On 12 October (Wed) (New York time), Japan jointly submitted the Draft Resolution on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects with the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of South Africa to the First Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Following the deliberations at the First Committee, the draft resolution is expected to be adopted after 24 October (Mon). Along with the Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament which Japan has annually submitted since 1994, this draft resolution is part of Japan's concrete initiatives regarding the disarmament issue. The Government of Japan has been submitting the Draft Resolution on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects to the UN General Assembly almost every year, raising the issue of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to the international community and laying a path for the resolution of the issue. In addition, Japan has been holding seminars for the Asia-Pacific region and implementing a project for the collection of SALW in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Sierra Leone, among others.
- Submission of Japan's Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament to the UN General Assembly
Mr. Chiba: On 12 October (Wed), Japan submitted the Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament ("Renewed Determination towards the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons") to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. Following the deliberations at the First Committee, the resolution is expected to be adopted after 24 October (Mon). Since 1994 the Government of Japan has annually submitted the Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament to the UN General Assembly and this is the 12th year for the resolution to be submitted. Inspired by the strong national sentiment calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Japan, as the only nation in the world to have suffered atomic bombing, submitted the resolution. The resolution is based on Japan's fundamental view or aim to realize a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons through a practical and incremental approach. In particular, this year is the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and given that a substantive agreement could not be reached at the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in May and at the negotiations on sections of the outcome document pertaining to disarmament and non-proliferation issues at the UN Millennium Summit in September, the Government intends to engage in various diplomatic efforts to continue and strengthen the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime based on the NPT, and has submitted this resolution as a part of this concrete effort.
Related Information (Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation) - The Second Japan-Thailand Political Partnership Consultation
Mr. Chiba: Following the consultation between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand in Tokyo on 18 August last year, the Second Japan-Thailand Political Partnership Consultation with vice-ministerial level officials will be held on 13 October (Thurs) in Bangkok. Japan and Thailand enjoy particularly close economic relations, and these consultations will be held to promote closer Japan-Thailand relations and cooperation regarding political affairs and exchange opinions on a wide-range of matters including their bilateral relations and regional situation. From the Japanese side, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuneo Nishida will be attending the consultation, and from Thailand, Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be attending.
- Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
Mr. Chiba: On 13 October (Thurs), the Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue will be held between Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan in Seoul. The aim of this dialogue is to have a frank exchange of opinions from a broader, medium- to long-term perspective on matters of common interest between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), including Japan-ROK bilateral relations and the regional and international situation.
Vice-Minister Shotaro Yachi will visit the People's Republic of China from 14 to 17 October. The third Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue will be held between Vice-Minister Yachi and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bing Guo in Beijing. This dialogue is aimed at promoting communication between Japan and China, and is intended for a frank exchange of opinions from a medium- to long-term perspective on matters including Japan-China bilateral relations and the regional and international situation.
Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
Related Information (Japan-ROK Relations) - The Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks
Mr. Chiba: The Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks is being held in Tokyo from 11 to 14 October. The representatives of the Government of Japan include Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka and officials from the ministries and agencies concerned, and the representative of the Government of Indonesia is Ambassador Soemadi Djoko Moerdjono Brotodiningrat.
In addition to the plenary session, meetings are being held on each of the areas under negotiation (such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, and cooperation) and discussions are under way on matters of interest and the draft text of the agreement. The results of today's talks will be available later today.
Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
Related Information (FTA and EPA) - Grant aid to Iraq for "Program for the Police Training and Mentoring in the governorate of Al Muthanna"
Mr. Chiba: The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant aid totaling 377 million yen to the Government of Iraq with a view to contributing to the "Program for the Police Training and Mentoring in the governorate of Al Muthanna, FY2005."
In this program, the participants will undergo necessary training as policemen. Specifically, this includes training in methods of investigation such as collecting and preserving evidence obtained at a crime scene, investigation into serious crimes (murder, robbery, etc.), and communications.
It is expected that the policemen trained under the program will conduct investigations in cooperation with local communities, win the trust of the people of Iraq, and contribute to restoring security as well as preventing conflict and building peace in the country.
- Signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Mr. Chiba: On 12 October (Wed), the signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Japan-Sri Lanka Technical Cooperation Agreement) took place in Colombo between Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Suda and Secretary P.B. Jayasundera of the Ministry of Finance and Planning of Sri Lanka.
The Agreement comprehensively stipulates measures and other actions to be taken by Sri Lanka for accepting such technical cooperation as dispatch of technical experts, senior overseas volunteers, and fact-finding missions to Sri Lanka from Japan and sending trainees from Sri Lanka to Japan.
- Question concerning dispatch of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Q: Dear Mr. Chiba. Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa was sent to Pakistan on Monday to discuss with government officials on the aid and to examine the situations of the disaster areas. May I know the details of his meetings, like what Pakistan requested him so far?
Mr. Chiba: Mr. Tanigawa met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan on Tuesday. He briefed Mr. Aziz that Japan had already provided assistance in kind amounting to 25 million yen and that Japan has also decided to provide US$20 million in grant aid. On top of this, Mr. Tanigawa expressed Japan's intention to dispatch SDF helicopters for rescue operations. Mr. Tanigawa further stated that Japan would like to study the provision of yen loans for the recovery and reconstruction in the long-term. Mr. Aziz responded by saying that tents and blankets for the needy, chemical materials to prevent the decomposition of corpses, and medium and light construction machinery to remove debris are needed immediately. Mr. Aziz also said that recovery and reconstruction are needed in the fields of housing, roads, water supply, etc. It was agreed that immediate needs will be addressed using the US$20 million grant aid and that coordination will be accelerated in order to dispatch SDF helicopters. Middle- to long-term assistance will be discussed further.
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue
Q: Regarding the Japan-ROK Sub-Cabinet Strategic Dialogue and Japan-China Comprehensive Policy Dialogue, could you please tell us what exactly will be discussed? Would outstanding issues such as Yasukuni Shrine, gas dispute, etc. be part of Japan's talks with the ROK and China, respectively?
Mr. Chiba: Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi is currently visiting Seoul to attend the Strategic Dialogue with the ROK. He is discussing bilateral relations, the regional and international situations as well as other matters of mutual concern from a broad and long-term perspective with his counterpart, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan of the ROK.
Mr. Yachi will also visit Beijing from 14 to 17 October to hold his third Comprehensive Policy Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dai Bingguo of China. This dialogue is aimed to promote mutual understanding and the two will engage themselves in a frank exchange of views on bilateral relations and the regional and international situations from a long-term perspective.
As to both meetings, it is agreed beforehand that details would not be disclosed in order to ensure a frank exchange.
Q: Just to follow up on my earlier question about the Japan-ROK talks, so it has been agreed among Japan, China and the ROK for details of the talks not to be disclosed? Or are details of strategic dialogue/comprehensive policy dialogue not disclosed as a rule of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Mr. Chiba: Japan has agreed respectively with the Governments of the ROK and China that details would not be disclosed.
Related Information (Japan-China Relations)
Related Information (Japan-ROK Relations) - Question concerning visit to Japan by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Richard Lawless of the US
Q: I understand that Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Richard Lawless of the US is here in Japan to discuss with Japanese officials about the US realignment talks. Do you have any information that you can share regarding his visit?
Mr. Chiba: Japan and the US have been exchanging concrete ideas concerning the deployment of US forces in Japan in order to ensure deterrence while at the same time alleviating the burden of the host localities, but to date no decision has been made. As to the visit you mentioned, I regret to tell you that I cannot disclose any details.
- Follow-up question concerning grant aid to Iraq
Q: Mr. Chiba, as for the grant aid to Iraq for the police training in Al Muthanna, is this the first time for Japan to provide aid for Iraq's police training program? Could you tell me when the project will actually start? Does this mean that Japan sees the security situation in Al Muthanna to be unstable?
Mr. Chiba: This is the first grant aid project that Japan is providing to Iraq's police training program, which is a follow-up to several small-scale technical cooperation for the same objective. The starting date of the program is not ready to be announced. The training is aimed to generally elevate the level of professional skills of the police force of the governorate of Al Muthanna, and is not related to Japan's security evaluation of the situation there.
- Question concerning news report on visit to North Korea by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Q: Hello Chiba-san, a question about North Korea. Our colleagues at Kyodo have interviewed North Korean officials in Pyongyang who say they would welcome another visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Just to check, are there any plans for a third Pyongyang visit by the Prime Minister in the works?
Mr. Chiba: We have heard of the report. To date, no decision has been made concerning the issue of your question.
As we have run out of time for today, I would like to end today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. See you at the next Regular Internet Chat Press Conference.
Back to Index