Press Conference 13 September 2005
- Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister John Howard of the Commonwealth of Australia
- Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom (UK)
- Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura Nobutaka and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America
- Assistance in response to damages caused by Hurricane Katrina
- Visit by Prime Minister Koizumi to New York City
- Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura Nobutaka to New York City
- Assessment of contributions to the United Nations (UN)
- Visit by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keishiro Fukushima to the Republic of Paraguay and the Federative Republic of Brazil
- Grant aid to Paraguay
- Grant aid to the Republic of Bulgaria
- Grant aid to the Republic of Lithuania
- Grant aid to the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Debt relief to the Kyrgyz Republic
- Dispatch of Japan's election observers for the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) and Provincial Council Elections in Afghanistan
- Japan-Korea Exchange Omatsuri in Seoul
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan and the UN
- Question concerning anti-Japanese computer games
- Question concerning Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to New York
- Questions concerning resumption of Six-Party Talks
- Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister John Howard of the Commonwealth of Australia
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I believe you all had a very hectic weekend, as did I. To quote an eminent Japanese politician, "Japan has pushed the reset button" and now Japan is having a new start. Today I have a number of announcements to make before I take questions.
First, concerning the elections, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Prime Minister John Howard of the Commonwealth of Australia had a brief conversation on the telephone on 12 September. Prime Minister Howard called Prime Minister Koizumi, congratulating him on his victory in the House of Representatives elections. Prime Minister Howard said that he was personally happy about the victory and was impressed by the size of the victory. Prime Minister Howard went on to say that this is good not only for Japan, but also for the Asia Pacific and the entire world. Prime Minister Koizumi thanked him for the phone call and said that he hopes to see the Prime Minister sometime soon.
- Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Koizumi and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom (UK)
Mr. Chiba: Another phone call came from Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom (UK) to Prime Minister Koizumi, also on 12 September, during which Prime Minister Blair congratulated the big victory of Prime Minister Koizumi's party and said that he wished to join efforts to tackle the common problems that face the international community. Prime Minister Koizumi thanked him for the phone call and said that he would like to see Prime Minister Blair in the near future.
- Telephone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura Nobutaka and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America
Mr. Chiba: Also, Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura Nobutaka called his US counterpart on 12 September. During their conversation, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of the United States of America (US) expressed her congratulations for the victory of Prime Minister Koizumi and his party in the House of Representatives elections. Foreign Minister Machimura promised that he will pass on the message to the Prime Minister.
The conversation also touched upon two topics in addition to the elections, one of which is Hurricane Katrina. Foreign Minister Machimura said that although he already told this to his counterpart on 2 September, he wished to express his condolences for the victims of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the US. Secretary of State Rice responded that she appreciated Japan's assistance.
The other topic was on United Nations (UN) and Security Council reform. Foreign Minister Machimura said that he would like to join efforts with the US to promote UN reform, including Security Council reform, to which Secretary of State Rice responded that the US supports anew Japan's candidature as a permanent member on the Security Council and that she wished to continue dialogue on this matter between the two countries.
- Assistance in response to damages caused by Hurricane Katrina
Mr. Chiba: On Hurricane Katrina, some remarks were made that Japan's support efforts were inadequate. In reality, the Government of Japan, upon request from the US Government, provided equipment, cash, and all that we could do to support the relief efforts. The amount has been announced time and again, and I would like to reiterate this. For example, Japan provided US$300,000 worth of supplies such as blankets and sleeping mattresses to the American Red Cross, an effort which was implemented on 9 September. The Government of Japan decided to transport US$200,000 worth of supplies such as 150 sets of generators and cord reels, including transportation cost, from its storage area in Miami, Florida to Jackson, Mississippi, and provided them to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) on 11 September. It is estimated that approximately US$500,000 worth of supplies were provided, and apart from supplies Japan has provided US$200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist the people in the afflicted regions as early as 2 September.
Japan's assistance was one of the earliest provided by the global community to the afflicted regions, not to mention efforts made by the private sector of Japan to a country which is not a developing country but is still having problems allocating its funds promptly to the afflicted regions, and Japan wishes to extend its helping hand to this.
- Visit by Prime Minister Koizumi to New York City
Mr. Chiba: The other topic that was touched upon by Foreign Minister Machimura and US Secretary of State Rice was UN reform. I would like to announce that Prime Minister Koizumi will visit New York City to attend the summit meeting at the UN headquarters.
He will leave Japan on 15 September and arrive in the US on the same day. He is scheduled to leave more or less on the same day and will fly back to Haneda Airport. He will not stay in the US. He will be there to deliver a speech and attend a signing ceremony of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The decision that Japan will sign this Convention was made this morning, on 13 September. Prime Minister Koizumi will sign the Convention in the afternoon of 15 September at the UN headquarters in New York City and he will attend the UN summit meeting on the same day.
- Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Machimura Nobutaka to New York City
Mr. Chiba: At the same time, Foreign Minister Machimura will be visiting the same city. He is leaving this afternoon, 13 September, and is tentatively scheduled to stay until 19 September. During his stay, Foreign Minister Machimura will take the opportunity of the general debate at the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly to hold talks with UN-related persons including Mr. Jan Eliason, President of the UN General Assembly. Multilateral talks and bilateral meetings will be undertaken, and Foreign Minister Machimura will also attend the UN Security Council summit meeting on 14 September as Prime Minister Koizumi's representative.
There will be some side events taking place at the UN concerning Japan's contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There will be a side event on the dissemination of agricultural research and technology in the achievement of the MDGs. This side event will talk about the dissemination of agricultural technology such as rice to Africa. There will also be a side event on the importance of economic empowerment of rural women in the achievement of the MDGs. That is to say we do have a gender-oriented project in all parts of the world and we wish to promote this and disseminate knowledge about the efforts made by Japan.
A report called "Building Global Partnerships for Development: Japan's Contribution to MDG 8" will be distributed at the UN headquarters during the session. It is not a very lengthy report, it is only about 20 odd pages. It will talk about Japan's contribution to MDG 8. Goal 8 is to develop a global partnership for development.
- Assessment of contributions to the United Nations (UN)
Mr. Chiba: Concerning Japan's efforts in terms of the UN, there was a question asked earlier today about a news report stating that Japan will deliver a speech at the UN in which it will talk about the review of the assessment of contributions to the UN. It is our general policy that whenever the time comes for reviewing the assessment of contributions to the UN, Japan wishes that such assessment will be based on the economic realities of the member states, as well as their respective positions and responsibilities within the UN system. This has been Japan's consistent policy. It is not decided if this will or will not be included in the speech that will be delivered by the Foreign Minister or the Prime Minister, but this remains our consistent policy.
- Visit by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keishiro Fukushima to the Republic of Paraguay and the Federative Republic of Brazil
Mr. Chiba: Now let's turn our eye to elsewhere in the world. If you fly down south, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Keishiro Fukushima will visit the Republic of Paraguay and the Federative Republic of Brazil from today, 13 September, until 20 September. In these two countries Mr. Fukushima will have bilateral talks with the leaders of the two countries, exchange opinions about regional and bilateral affairs, and meet with Japanese expatriates who are residing in these two countries. On 18 September in Sao Paulo, he will be attending the 50th anniversary the Cotia youth immigration.
Related Information (Japan-Brazil Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Paraguay Relations)
- Grant aid to Paraguay
Mr. Chiba: One of the two countries that he will visit as I mentioned is Paraguay, and Japan has decided to provide grant aid amounting to 647.0 million yen for the Project to Improve Vocational Training Facilities in Paraguay, and the exchange of notes was done on 10 September in Asuncion. This project aims to train youths in need of vocational training in order to promote employment in that country.
- Grant aid to the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr. Chiba: Now we fly across the Atlantic, where I would like to introduce to you our provision of aid to the Republic of Bulgaria. The Project for the Improvement of Archaeology Equipment of the Institute of Archaeology and Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is what we are going to do in Bulgaria, and the project amounts to US$386,000. The exchange of notes was done yesterday, on 12 September, in Sofia. There are many historical relics in Bulgaria dating back to the Neolithic age up to the present day. We wish to help Bulgaria to be better able to preserve these relics, and this is the reason for our provision of aid.
- Grant aid to the Republic of Lithuania
Mr. Chiba: Another aid in the cultural field is to the Republic of Lithuania for the Project for the Improvement of Audio-Visual Equipment of the Lithuanian Art Museum. The aid will amount to US$281,000, and the exchange of notes was also done yesterday, on 12 September, in Lithuania. This is provision of audio-visual equipment to the art museum so that it will be able to better announce to its visitors what it has in its hands so that culture will be promoted in that country.
- Grant aid to the Republic of Uzbekistan
Mr. Chiba: Let's fly further east. We have projects in Central Asia, and one is in the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is called the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship, and this is a scholarship to let students study abroad and then return to Uzbekistan to take part in the construction of their country. The aid amounts to US$2.8 million. The exchange of notes was done last week on 9 September in Tashkent.
- Debt relief to the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Chiba: There is a debt relief for the Kyrgyz Republic, which is divided into two parts. One is rescheduling, and this is US$245.7 million, and the other is referral, and this is US$9.0 million.
- Dispatch of Japan's election observers for the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) and Provincial Council Elections in Afghanistan
Mr. Chiba: Further down south in Afghanistan, the Government of Japan decided to dispatch election observers for the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) and Provincial Council Elections in Afghanistan. Japan extended earlier a total of US$13.0 million through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the elections. Now Japan has decided to send not only cash but also personnel. The team will be headed by Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Hideki Ito of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Japan-Korea Exchange Omatsuri in Seoul
Mr. Chiba: Now I am approaching the last announcement. There is going to be a festival celebrating the friendship between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in our neighboring city of Seoul. It is called the Japan-Korea Exchange Omatsuri. This is to celebrate the friendship year of the two countries. As you know 2005 is the friendship year, and many events are taking place in both countries to celebrate the year of friendship. This omatsuri festival is going to mark the very successful events that have been taking place in the two countries.
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan and the UN
Q: I was wondering if you could elaborate a little bit more about the UN assessment; you said there has not been a decision made on whether this will be included in either of the speeches, but is it accurate to say that Japan is contemplating a possible move in this direction? Also, how would you assess the mood in the Japanese Government towards the funding of the UN in light of Japan not being able to make any progress in its push for a permanent Security Council seat?
Mr. Chiba: As I have said before, it has always been our consistent policy that whenever the time comes for reviewing the assessment of our contribution to the UN, we wish that appropriate indicators are collected. Now there is the conception that this is linked to the Security Council issue. However, Japan is not going to have another Boston Tea Party. We are not linking the two things together, and the issue of the assessment is in line with our consistent policy. It is not decided whether or not this will be included in the speech to be delivered, but this has been our consistent policy.
Q: The second part of my question is what is the mood in the Japanese government about the UN right now in light of the frustration about not being able to get the Security Council seat?
Mr. Chiba: As has been said time and again at these press conferences, Japan never thought that it was going to be an easy battle. We all know that it is a very difficult task to reform a body as large and complicated as the UN. On the other hand, we think that this is a very good chance to reform the organization to make it into a fairer body, to make it better reflect the actual world situation. The process is not over yet. We will have the Millennium Summit and then the new General Assembly and we will carry on with our request.
- Question concerning anti-Japanese computer games
Q: There have been reports of computer games in neighboring countries that target Japan, and have aggression against Japan as their central theme. Has the Government made any comments about those issues of representations in neighboring countries?
Mr. Chiba: Well, as you are aware, there have been games like that for a very long time and Japan has never made an issue over these games. They are merchandise that does not necessarily match our tastes, but we do not think that it is any matter on which the Government should comment.
- Question concerning Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to New York
Q: Regarding Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to New York, why is it so short?
Mr. Chiba: Very good question. That is the Prime Minister's decision, and I can only guess because it is a matter of domestic politics. I cannot say that with authority because it is the decision of the Prime Minister's Office, not our decision. I think it is quite obvious to all of us that he has many things to take care of. At the same time, the summit that is going to be held in New York City is a very important occasion with, I believe, about 170 distinguished leaders from all over the world gathered there. This is an occasion that the Prime Minister must attend, so he will take time out from his busy schedule to visit New York City.
- Questions concerning resumption of Six-Party Talks
Q: Since the Six-Party Talks are about to start again, perhaps you can say something about that. Do you have any indications as a result of the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that has been going on since the last break that we can be optimistic at all that there will be some sort of breakthrough this time?
Mr. Chiba: Well, we do hope that since it has resumed we will achieve the results that we were hoping for since the beginning. Since these are diplomatic negotiations we can not predict what is going to come out of this. But one thing that is quite clear is that all six parties have agreed to come back and talk, and we are aiming at getting a concrete result out of these discussions, so we will wait and see.
Q: Could you give us an update on Japan's position on North Korea's apparent demand that it must be able to maintain a peaceful nuclear energy program?
Mr. Chiba: Japan's position remains the same, that we urge North Korea to dismantle all its nuclear programs and that this is for the stability of the region. That is Japan's position.
Back to Index