Internet Press Chat Conference 8 December 2005
- Speech of Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
- Visit by Foreign Minister Aso to Malaysia
- Appointment of Ms. Fumiko Saiga as Japan's Ambassador in charge of Human Rights
- Appointment of the Prime Minister in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
- Reception hosted by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for those concerned with the "2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges"
- Japan-China Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation
- FY 2005 Orientation Program for United States Forces Japan
- Grant aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Nepal
- Follow-up question concerning Mr. Fumiko Saiga's appointment
- Question concerning visit to Japan by H.M. King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- Question concerning extension of dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq
- Follow-up question concerning Mr. Fumiko Saiga's appointment
- Speech of Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. Thank you for joining the regular internet chat conference.
Yesterday Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso delivered a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. The text is already available and can be downloaded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The gist of the paper is three-fold. In the region, Japan is and must be a thought leader. It is a natural, built-in stabilizer. And it is a nation that is connected with the rest of Asia, P2P. I should urge you to take time, have a look at it.
Now, Let me make several announcements before I take questions.
- Visit by Foreign Minister Aso to Malaysia
Mr. Taniguchi: The first item is about the visit to Malaysia by Foreign Minister Aso to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)+3 Ministerial Meeting, the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, and the East Asia Summit Ministerial Meeting.
Foreign Minister Aso will visit Malaysia from 8 to 10 December to attend the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN+3 (Japan, the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea (ROK)) Ministerial Meeting, Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, and others.
At the ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting (working lunch) to be held on 9 December, Foreign Minister Aso will exchange views with his counterparts on ways to further promote ASEAN+3 cooperation and the preparation for the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting.
On the same day, Foreign Minister Aso will exchange views with other foreign ministers, at the Japan-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, on the review and further promotion of Japan-ASEAN cooperation, and on the preparation for the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meeting.
On 10 December, Foreign Minister Aso will participate in the working lunch of the Foreign Ministers of the East Asia Summit member countries to exchange views with his counterparts on the preparation for the first East Asia Summit and modalities of regional cooperation in the future.
During his stay in Malaysia, Foreign Minister Aso will also have bilateral talks with his counterparts who are attending the above meetings.
- Appointment of Ms. Fumiko Saiga as Japan's Ambassador in charge of Human Rights
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about the appointment of Ms. Fumiko Saiga as Japan's Ambassador in charge of Human Rights.
On 6 December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Ms. Fumiko Saiga, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Iceland, as "Ambassador in charge of Human Rights."
The Ministry is of the view that Ambassador Saiga is the most qualified person for the post of "Ambassador in charge of Human Rights," because she has rich knowledge and experience of human rights and currently works as a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Ambassador Saiga will strive to resolve human rights issues including the abduction issue and others in the international community, through attending conferences organized by the United Nations (UN) and other organizations, and government-level dialogues on human rights-related issues.
Ms. Saiga, who joined the Ministry in 1966 has a wide array of experiences. She has served in Saitama prefectural government as Vice Governor. She is to show to the international community that Japan as a nation is firmly committed to enhancing human rights in all corners of the world.
- Appointment of the Prime Minister in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about the appointment of the Prime Minister in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.
The Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced in his statement that Japan welcomes the decision for Mr. Charles Konan Banny, Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), to be the new Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.
Japan highly values the efforts made by H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU), H.E. Mr. Mamadou Tandja, President of the Republic of Niger and current Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa and the AU mediator, to make this decision possible.
Japan strongly hopes that Prime Minister Banny, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1633, will fully exercise authority granted to him to maintain public order, resume administration, implement demilitarization and conduct a free, fair and open presidential election at an early date, and also that all parties concerned will cooperate with the new prime minister, by taking necessary actions toward peaceful resolution of the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Reception hosted by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for those concerned with the "2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges"
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about a reception hosted by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for those concerned with the "2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges."
On 7 December from 18:00, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosted a reception at his official residence. Gathered were those concerned with the "2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges," such as Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, Chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), H.E. Mr. Graham Holbrook Fry, British Ambassador to Japan, and H.E. Mr. Bernhard Zepter, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Commission. Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso also attended.The reception took place as one of the closing events of the aforementioned year-long event.
I was there myself. Prime Minister Koizumi was in a host of circles made by ambassadors and dignitaries, including a renowned designer Kansai Yamamoto. It was a cheerful event indeed.
The purpose of this reception was to sum up the event, and to further promote Japan-EU exchanges after next year.
The "Decade of EU-Japan Cooperation" launched in 2001 and at the EU-Japan Summit Meeting in 2002, Japan and the European Union (EU) agreed to designate 2005--the middle year in the "Decade of EU-Japan Cooperation"-as the "EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges" with the aim of deepening mutual understanding through exchanges and communication between people.
More than 1700 events spanning a wide range of fields, including politics, economics, education, science and technology, culture and sports, have been registered in Japan and the 25 member countries of the EU.
- Japan-China Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about Japan-China Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation.
Japan-China Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation will be held on 8 December in China (Beijing).
The Consultations will be attended on the Japanese side by a delegation headed by Ambassador Takeshi Nakane, Director-General, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the Chinese side by a delegation headed by Ambassador Zhang Yan, Director-General, Department of Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the Consultations the participants will discuss wide-ranging issues regarding disarmament and on-proliferation issues, including nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, biological and chemical weapons, missiles, and conventional weapons.
- FY 2005 Orientation Program for United States Forces Japan
Mr. Taniguchi: The next item is about FY 2005 Orientation Program for United States Forces Japan (USFJ).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is planning to host this year's Orientation Program for USFJ from the 17 to 20 January 2006.
This will be the eleventh time that this program is being held. The aim of this Orientation Program is to improve the understanding of the Japanese perspective by USFJ officer personnel who have recently arrived in Japan.
Approximately twenty officers from the components of the USFJ are expected to take part. The participants of the program will attend lectures on wide-ranging subjects such as Japanese politics, defense and security, economy, society, have discussion with Foreign Ministry officials, and take part in Japanese cultural programs.
- Grant aid to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Nepal
Mr. Taniguchi: The last two items are about Japan's decision to extend grant aid of up to 103 million yen to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Project for the Improvement of Kararo-Wadah Section of National Highway N-25, and grant aid of up to 1,124 million yen to the Kingdom of Nepal for the Project for the Improvement of Water Supply Facilities in Urban and Semi-urban Centres.
Take your time to read the announcements and you can ask me questions.
Related Information (Japan-Pakistan Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Nepal Relations) - Follow-up question concerning Mr. Fumiko Saiga's appointment
Q: Regarding the appointment of Ms. Fumiko Saiga as Ambassador in charge of Human Rights, I understand she is in Seoul right now to attend an NGO-hosted international conference on human rights issues of North Korea. Would you happen to know anything about the nature of this meeting, and what will be discussed here? Also, what will Ms. Saiga, in her new post, be doing in the upcoming weeks? Is it possible to have an interview with her?
Mr. Taniguchi: On your last point, it is possible the Ambassador's schedule permitting. Please contact the International Press Division.
The theme of the conference you mentioned is on human rights in North Korea. Among the organizers was an non-governmental organization (NGO) called Freedom House. It will start today at 18:00 with a dinner session and will end on Saturday, the 10th. On the last day, there will be events such as a concert and a symposium held in one of the colleges in Seoul.
Tomorrow, Ambassador Saiga is going to attend a leaders' meeting. They are supposed to discuss the overall situation in terms of human rights in North Korea. However, primarily the meeting is to raise the interest and attention towards North Korea's human rights issues.
- Question concerning visit to Japan by H.M. King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Q: Good afternoon, Mr. Taniguchi. May I ask what Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the Jordanian King discussed at their meeting today? Did H.M. King Abdullah Bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan mention anything about Japan's reconstruction efforts in Iraq and extending the deployment of humanitarian troops there?
Mr. Taniguchi: From 13:00 today, both of them met for a working lunch that lasted for about an hour and was joined by former Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura, Parliamentary Secretary Shintaro Ito, and others. They discussed issues related to bilateral relations. H.M. King Abdullah requested that Prime Minister make a visit to his country, to which Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his appreciation. Also from H.M. King Abdullah, a proposal was made that Japan and Jordan hold political consultations.
As regards the Middle East peace process, H.M. King Abdullah said that Japan has been recognized as an honest and balanced player in the process of bringing in peace to the Middle East and that Japan's assistance toward Palestine has been very much effective. He also expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister's personal involvement in his upcoming visit to the State of Israel and Palestine.
H.M. King Abdullah requested for Japan's assistance in his nation's struggles against poverty, lack of job opportunities and the like. H.M. King Abdullah expressed his gratitude towards Japan's non-project grant aid. He also mentioned that it was very much useful that Jordan and Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), undertook triangular cooperation towards Iraq and Palestine.
- Question concerning extension of dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq
Q: The Government of Japan today formally extended its plan over its deployment of troops in Iraq. At the same time, Prime Minister Koizumi has said the troops will pull out from Iraq when conditions are met. Sir, may I have the reaction of the Foreign Ministry with regard to today's decision?
Mr. Taniguchi: About extending the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq, let me say the following.
It is along with Japan's own national interest to help Iraq not to make a hotbed for international terrorists but to transform it into a thriving democracy. Japan's SDF is engaged even today at this moment in a host of activities in hospitals and in schools. Their activities as I have said before have been repeatedly appreciated by Iraqi leaders. However, as has been mentioned before, Japan has made its own decision taking into consideration the prevailing situation about the presence of the SDF.
- Follow-up question concerning Mr. Fumiko Saiga's appointment
Q: As a follow-up to my earlier question on Ms. Saiga's participation to the said convention, is this NGO, Freedom House, a ROK NGO?
Mr. Taniguchi: You can learn more about Freedom House at: http://www.freedomhouse.org
Thank you very much for your participation, and I will see you soon.
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