Press Conference 8 February 2005

1. Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi of the Islamic Republic of Iran
2. Second Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP)
3. Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al-Muthanna)

1. Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi of the Islamic Republic of Iran

   Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Today, I would like to make three announcements.

   Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi of the Islamic Republic of Iran is visiting Japan from today, 8 February to 10 February to hold meetings with Japanese Government officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.

   It is expected that through these meetings, Japanese Government officials and Foreign Minister Kharrazi will exchange views on Japan-Iran relations, Iran's nuclear program, the international situation including that in Iraq and reform of the United Nations (UN).

   Related Information (Japan-Iran Relations)
   
2. Second Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP)

   Mr. Takashima: The second Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP) will be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo tomorrow, 9 February. This meeting is designed to increase awareness of the threat posed by the proliferation of both nuclear-related materials and technology to the peace and stability of the international community including Asia. It will be participated by governments' high-level officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States of America (US) and the Commonwealth of Australia. It will be chaired by Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

   This year's ASTOP will focus on the nuclear development program of North Korea and its exportation of missiles, black market of nuclear technology and materials which includes the activities of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Kahn of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the current state of the new international effort to stop proliferation through such measures as the Additional Protocol, Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) and the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

   Related Information (The Second Asian Senior-Level Talks on Non-Proliferation (ASTOP))
   
3. Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al-Muthanna)

   Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan has decided to extend to the Department of Al-Majid Municipality of Iraq a grant aid of about US$200,000 in total to improve roads of the municipality of Al-Majid, Governorate of Al-Muthanna in the southern part of Iraq.

   The purpose of this aid is to asphalt the roads (total length: 1.26 km) already graveled by the Ground Self-Defense Force of Japan (GSDF) in the municipality of Al-Majid in the Governorate of Al-Muthanna, where the improvement of the basic infrastructure is particularly under-developed compared with other parts of the country because of the oppression under Saddam Hussein, the economy battered by the war with Iran, the economic sanctions after the Gulf War and other factors.

   Related Information (Grassroots Human Security Grant Aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al-Muthanna))