Internet Press Chat Conference 10 November 2005
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the serial explosions that occurred at Amman in Jordan
- Former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori
- Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) summit meeting
- Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting
- European Autumn Festival in Hibiya
- Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, to Attend the State Memorial Ceremony for the 10th Anniversary of the Demise of Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, Late Prime Minister of the State of Israel
- Assistance to Small Arms Database Project
- Grant Aid for the Interim Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (IDDRP) for the Republic of Sudan
- Grant Aid to the People's Republic of Bangladesh
- Follow-up question on former President of Peru Alberto Fujimori
- Follow-up questions on Japan-North Korea talks
- Question on the nuclear disarmament of North Korea
- Follow-up question on the Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting
- Question on the relocation of Futenma Air Base
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the serial explosions that occurred at Amman in Jordan
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: The first item is about the serial explosions that occurred in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Government of Japan is gravely shocked by the serial explosions which occurred at Amman, the capital of Jordan on the night of 9 November which led to a large number of civilian casualties. The Government of Japan expresses sympathy to the victims, condolences to the bereaved families, and heartfelt sympathy to those who are injured.
Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and the Government of Japan firmly condemns atrocious terrorism that victimizes many innocent people.
- Former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori
Mr. Taniguchi: The second item is about former President of the Republic of Peru Alberto Fujimori's detention in the Republic of Chile. With regard to former President of Peru Alberto Fujimori's departure from Japan and detention following his entry into Chile, I would like to explain the position of the Government of Japan and the measures we are taking.
This case is already undergoing judicial proceedings in Chile, and the basic position of the Government of Japan is to watch the progress of the proceedings. Concurrently, in light of the fact that former President Fujimori holds Japanese nationality, we will take the necessary and possible measures that would generally be taken when a Japanese national is detained overseas.
As for specific measures the Government of Japan has taken to date, on 7 November (Chile time), the Japanese Ambassador to Chile Hajime Ogawa informed Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignacio Walker of Chile that former President Fujimori holds Japanese nationality, and inquired about the facts regarding allegations of and charges for the detention, among other matters, and emphasized the importance of securing due process.
On 9 November (Chile time), the Japanese Embassy in Chile had a consular visit to Mr. Fujimori. The counselor and two secretaries of the embassy visited Mr. Fujimori at the place where he is detained and confirmed that he is in good health condition and is satisfied with the treatment, including his meals.
Even if there are some opinions from those who believe that the Government of Japan intervened improperly in the judicial proceedings, the Government of Japan is in contact with the Government of Chile according to the consular functions which are stipulated in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and do not have any political intentions nor intentions to intervene in the judicial proceedings between Peru and Chile.
- Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) summit meeting
Mr. Taniguchi: The third item is about the Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) summit meeting. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will hold a Japan-ROK summit meeting with President Roh Moo Hyun of the ROK on the afternoon of 18 November on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.
At the upcoming Japan-ROK summit meeting, the leaders are expected to exchange views on matters concerning mutual concerns between Japan and the ROK, such as issues surrounding current Japan-ROK relations, as well as regional and international situations like the North Korean nuclear issue.
- Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting
Mr. Taniguchi: The fourth item is about the Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting which was held on 9 November. In the meeting, active discussions were held for many hours under the theme of "The Role of the Media in Overcoming Inaccurate Perceptions between Japan and Arab-Islamic Nations." The meeting touched upon the current state of mutual understanding between Japan and the Arab-Islamic nations and the role of the media in deepening it. Many of the audience members participated, including ambassadors to Japan of the countries concerned, presenting their points of view one after another. In particular, the Egyptian ambassador to Japan proposed that he would lead a party of 20 members of the Japanese press to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
- European Autumn Festival in Hibiya
Mr. Taniguchi: The fifth item is about the "European Autumn Festival in Hibiya." This festival will be held on Saturday, 12 November and Sunday, 13 November 2005, in Tokyo (Hibiya Park) to mark the final stage of the "2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges." At this event, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the people-to-people exchanges between Japan and Europe through various programs on the 25 Member Countries of the European Union offered at information booths, food & drink corners, music and dance shows on stage, lectures and workshops, and the like.
Mr. KONISHI Yasuaki, renowned musician and a former member of the "Pizzicato Five," will participate in this event as the DJ and present European music. Ms. SHONO Mayo, a singer, and Mr. OKUDERA Yasuhiko, a former professional football player, will hold talk shows. 60 young people invited from Europe by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a "Japan study tour," will also participate in this event. They will hold lectures and workshops for children and introduce their countries in national booths.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso will attend the opening ceremony from 11:00 on 12 November 2005 in Tokyo at the Small Music Hall in Hibiya Park.
- Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, to Attend the State Memorial Ceremony for the 10th Anniversary of the Demise of Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, Late Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Mr. Taniguchi: The sixth item is about the State of Israel. The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Special Envoy of the Government of Japan Dr. Tatsuo Arima to attend the State Memorial Ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the demise of Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, the late Prime Minister of Israel, to be held in Israel on Monday, 14 November. At the invitation of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel the heads of states, political leaders, ministers, and others from about 40 countries such as Canada, the People's Republic of China, the Italian Republic, the French Republic, and the United States of America (U.S.) will attend.
- Assistance to the Small Arms Database Project
Mr. Taniguchi: The seventh item is about Japan's assistance in the field of small arms and light weapons. Through the United Nations (UN) Trust Fund on Small Arms and Light Weapons, to which Japan contributes, the Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) Database Project which is intended to establish a comprehensive database on small arms and light weapons (SALW) began in October. (Japan contributed US$168,144 to this project.)
On Saturday, 15 October, as a result of the survey report by a team dispatched in March through the fund, the UN and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau agreed to carry out a SALW project (US$367,440), including activities such as collection of SALW, improvement of the regulatory framework, and an awareness raising campaign which will be financed by the fund.
- Grant Aid for the Interim Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (IDDRP) for the Republic of Sudan
Mr. Taniguchi: The eighth item is about the Interim Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programme (IDDRP) for the Republic of Sudan. The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid totaling 764 million yen for the IDDRP for Sudan which will be carried out by the UN Development Programme and other organizations.
The program will be implemented as part of the assistance of US$100 million which Japan pledged in April this year to extend for the consolidation of peace in Sudan. It is hoped that the program will stabilize security, demobilize child soldiers and women, and prompt the reintegration of Sudan which is in the process of peace building. It is also hoped that confidence-building between the North and South, vital to the implementation and success of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of soldiers planned for the future, and the steady implementation of the CPA, will be achieved.
- Grant Aid to the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Mr. Taniguchi: The last one is for the People's Republic of Bangladesh. This is about grant aid to the Project for the Provision of Portable Steel Bridge on Upazila and Union Roads up to 679 million yen (around US$5.9 million) and the exchange of notes was done on 11 November in Dacca between Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Matsushiro Horiguchi and Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Ismail Zabihullah of the Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh.
- Follow-up question on former President of Peru Alberto Fujimori
Q: Chile has canceled Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker's planned visit to Japan this week, and President Ricardo Lagos complained that the Japanese government failed to inform them about Alberto Fujimori's departure for Chile. May I know what the Japanese government thinks about the Fujimori issue and how to react to President Ricardo's complaint?
Mr. Taniguchi: You may think as a technology-savvy nation that Japan would be able to detect the whereabouts of someone like Mr. Fujimori. If it had done that it would have been committing a terrible abuse in terms of human rights. The truth of the matter is that the Japanese government could not detect that Mr. Fujimori was leaving Japan, not to mention where he was headed.
- Follow-up question on the Japan-North Korea talks
Q: I have heard reports that Ambassador Anami Koreshige of Japan had invited a North Korean delegation in Beijing to dinner, and that it is unprecedented for Japan to invite officials of a country with no diplomatic ties. What does this mean? Does this mean talks on the abduction are going well?
Mr. Taniguchi: I am not sure if that was unprecedented. If you are really interested, bear with me a little while to see if there was any precedent. In any event, it is our hope that all issues, including that of the abductions, will be talked over before we move to the next stage.
- Question on the nuclear disarmament of North Korea
Q: It has been reported that North Korea proposed during the Six-Party Talks to give up its nuclear ambition "gradually." How does Japan take this response?
Mr. Taniguchi: What is important is not gradual, but absolutely verifiable steps so that all of us can see that they are de-nuclearizing. If this is another attempt to buy time on the side of the North Koreans I do not think that it will serve anyone.
- Follow-up question on the Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting
Q: As for the Japan-Arab-Islamic Journalists Meeting, does the government have a plan to make it a regular event, like an annual meeting in the future?
Mr. Taniguchi: First, we are keen on enhancing the channels of communication between Japan and Arab Islamic nations. This is a general remark. In terms of making this a regular event we have not decided yet.
- Question on the relocation of the Futenma Air Base
Q: Any plans to have both Japanese and U.S. officials go to Okinawa to convince the local authorities to accept the relocation of the Futenma Air base to Henoko?
Mr. Taniguchi: If your idea is for officials from both countries to go to Okinawa together, this has not happened yet. But we have been devoting ourselves enormously to talking to local people as much as possible. By "we" I only mean Japanese officials at this point, because it is solely our government's responsibility to talk to these people.
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