Press Conference 14 October 2005
- Terrorist attacks in the Kabardino-Balkariya region of southern Russia
- Japan's response to the disaster caused by the earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Grant aid to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for material cooperation
- Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks
- Questions concerning the Government of Japan's assistance to Pakistan
- Question concerning possible visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs MACHIMURA Nobutaka to the People's Republic of China to discuss the Joint Action Program between Japan and China
- Terrorist attacks in the Kabardino-Balkariya region of southern Russia
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good afternoon, and thank you very much for coming to this briefing. Forty one years ago on this day Martin Luther King won the Nobel Peace Prize, and today is the anniversary of a tremendous undertaking.
It is dampening, however, that I have to start today's press conference with a sad statement concerning the multiple offensive which claimed many lives in the southern Russian region of Kabardino-Balkariya yesterday. The Government of Japan wishes to express its condolences to the victims, and sympathy to the bereaved. Acts of terrorism and the sacrificing of innocent citizens is not forgivable under any circumstance, and can never be justified for any reason whatsoever. The fight against terrorism is a common issue of the international community. Japan wishes to join its efforts with the Russian Federation to carry on with this task so that we can prevent such tragedies from repeating themselves.
- Japan's response to the disaster caused by the earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Mr. Chiba: Another announcement concerns additional assistance from Japan in response to the large-scale earthquake disaster in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Today the Government of Japan decided to provide 1,284 million yen, or approximately US$12 million previously designated for emergency grant aid for those afflicted by the large-scale earthquake in Pakistan. The Government of Japan is also considering US$8 million to be used for emergency assistance through international organizations.
To refresh your memory, Japan had sent a Japan Disaster Relief Team composed of 49 members on 9 October. On 10 October, a Japan Disaster Medical Team of 21 members arrived in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. On 11 October, 25 million yen worth of assistance supplies reached Islamabad. On 12 October the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) were ordered to dispatch a team consisting of three UH-1 helicopters to Pakistan. One of these has left already on 13 October, and the next one will leave today. These are the efforts that Japan has been undertaking for disaster relief for the earthquake in Pakistan.
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa visited Pakistan and met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz of Pakistan. He was told that tents, blankets, and chemical materials to prevent the decomposition of corpses are needed, as well as medium and light construction machinery to remove debris. Such supplies that need to be provided quickly will be purchased through the grant that I just mentioned. Middle to long-term assistance will be discussed further with Pakistan.
- Grant aid to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for material cooperation
Mr. Chiba: Other assistance from Japan concerns the Republic of the Sudan. There was an equipment donation ceremony to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for material cooperation. The equipment donation ceremony to the UNMIS for material cooperation will take place on 19 October at 20:00, local time. The Cabinet decision came on 29 July to donate 27 four wheel vehicles, 60 land mine detection devices, and 20 large tents to the UNMIS. This is going to be the donation ceremony of the equipment that Japan had pledged.
- Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks
Mr. Chiba: The three-day long Second Meeting of the Joint Study Group for Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Talks between Japan and Indonesia ended yesterday in Tokyo. This was to follow the first such negotiation last July. At this session both sides agreed as to the modality of an EPA. Since the modality issue has been a very complicated issue in our negotiations with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, we consider the fact that we are able to agree upon modality a very big achievement of this undertaking.
Related Information (Japan-Indonesia Relations)
Related Information (FTA and EPA) - Questions concerning the Government of Japan's assistance to Pakistan
Q: With regard to the Government of Japan's decision about additional assistance up to US$12 million, I was wondering whether this US$12 million will be for emergency relief goods. Specifically what kind of emergency relief aid will be provided?
Mr. Chiba: Yes, the actual equipment to be procured will be further finalized with the Government of Pakistan. However, there are indications that tents and chemical supplies are needed, and also construction machinery.
Q: Is this different from the 25 million yen worth of relief goods announced earlier this month?
Mr. Chiba: This is apart from that. The 25 million yen worth of material has already arrived in Pakistan on 11 October.
- Question concerning possible visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs MACHIMURA Nobutaka to the People's Republic of China to discuss the Joint Action Program between Japan and China
Q: Earlier this morning Minister for Foreign Affairs MACHIMURA Nobutaka mentioned that he is considering visiting the People's Republic of China, and that the talks will be focused on this so-called Joint Working Project between Japan and China. Is there a direct translation of the title of this project into English?
Mr. Chiba: It is called the Joint Action Program.
Q: Has this been agreed upon between Japan and China?
Mr. Chiba: Japan and China agreed to set up a joint action program and we are trying to finalize the actual content of this joint action program. The objective of Foreign Minister MACHIMURA's visit to China is to further discuss this matter with his counterpart.
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