Press Conference 24 January 2006
- Announcement by Press Secretary Yoshinori Katori of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Results of the National Assembly Election of Iraq
- Japan-U.S. Director-General level meeting on U.S. beef
- Upcoming Japan-India Joint Study Group Meeting
- Upcoming Fifth Tokyo Workshop on official development assistance (ODA) evaluation
- Dispatch of Mr. Kunio Hatoyama to the Republic of Honduras on the inauguration of President Josê Manuel Zenraya Rosales
- Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq
- Non-project grant aid to the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Republic of Honduras
- Courtesy call on Foreign Minister Aso by U.S. Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor, Jack Dyer Crouch II
- Follow-up questions regarding Japan-U.S. Director-General level meeting on beef
- Question concerning recent remarks by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic
- Questions concerning election in the Palestinian Territories
- Question concerning Guantanamo Prison
- Follow-up questions concerning grant aid to Iraq
- Questions concerning Japan-Iran relations
- Questions concerning issue of helicopter sale to the People's Republic of China
- Announcement by Press Secretary Yoshinori Katori of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Results on the National Assembly Election of Iraq
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. There was a statement by the Press Secretary Yoshinori Katori of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 January about the results of the National Assembly election of Iraq by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI). It went as follows:
On 20 January, the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) announced the results of the National Assembly election of Iraq which took place on 15 December 2005.
Japan considers this as a very important development in Iraq's political process, and pays respect to the Iraqi Transitional Government and IECI's efforts toward implementation of this election, and to the dedication of Iraqi people who went to the polling stations.
With this announcement, Japan hopes that the Iraqi people's new-cabinet-forming efforts will proceed with harmonious coordination among religious and ethnic groups.
Japan intends to continue providing active support.
- Japan-U.S. Director-General level meeting on U.S. beef
Mr. Taniguchi: Next on beef.
There will be a Director-General level meeting on U.S. beef that will be held on 24 January, today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The members of the Japanese delegation are Director-General of Economic Affairs Bureau Kaoru Ishikawa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General of Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau Hiroshi Nakagawa from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and Director-General Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau Yoshiyuki Matsumoto from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and other officials.
From the U.S. side are Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Dr. J.B. Penn, Acting Under Secretary, Marketing & Regulatory Programs, Dr. Chuck Lambert, and Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Curt Mann, and other officials.
- Upcoming Japan-India Joint Study Group Meeting
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, there is going to be the 3rd Japan-India Joint Study Group Meeting held on 1 and 2 February.
The Governments of Japan and the Republic of India will hold the 3rd Japan-India Joint Study Group Meeting in New Delhi, India.
Both sides will be represented by government officials and members from business and academic circles.
The Japanese side will be headed by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, and the Indian side by Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ashok Kumar Jha.
In the Meeting, both sides will discuss matters such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment and economic cooperation. As you may know the first decision was made in November 2004 following the preceding visit to India by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to launch the bilateral meeting.
The first one was held in July, in Delhi, India and the second in November in Tokyo. So this will be the third and this will be held in India.
- Upcoming Fifth Tokyo Workshop on official development assistance (ODA) evaluation
Mr. Taniguchi: Next there is going to be another meeting called "the Fifth Tokyo Workshop on ODA Evaluation". It is always very much important for the public in general to have a good picture on what we are doing in term of official development assistance (ODA). And this is a sort of public diplomacy effort to tell the public, including the members of Non Government Organizations (NGO), about what the Ministry is doing in terms of ODA.
This will be held on 26 and 27 January at Mita Kyoyo Kaigisho. Participants of the workshop will be those concerned with ODA, and also representatives from 18 Asian partner countries, 12 development-related international organizations and other donor countries.
This has been an annual event, and the first one started in 2001, inviting Asian partner countries and international organizations. So that is about the ODA workshop.
- Dispatch of Mr. Kunio Hatoyama to the Republic of Honduras on the inauguration of President Josê Manuel Zenraya Rosales
Mr. Taniguchi: Next, The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Mr. Kunio Hatoyama, member of the House of Representatives, as Ambassador on Special Mission to the inauguration ceremony of the new President of the Republic of Honduras Josê Manuel Zeraya Rosales. That will be held in Tegucigalpa on 27 January.
- Grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq
Mr. Taniguchi: The next three items are about official development assistance (ODA) and I will be brief.
The first is grassroots human security grant aid to Iraq (Governorate of Al-Muthanna including Samawah).
Japan has decided to extend a grassroots human security grant aid totaling US$466,440 (about 49.9 million yen) to a French NGO involved, for the implementation of the Project for Improvement of Access to Safe Drinking Water in the Rural Areas of Al-Muthanna.
The project will provide hygienically safe water for about 88,000 residents in the southern part of Samawah.
- Non-project grant aid to the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Republic of Honduras
Mr. Taniguchi: The Government of Japan has also decided to extend non-project grant aid of about 19 million yen to the Kingdom of Swaziland for assistance of underprivileged farmers in the country.
The Government of Japan has also decided to extend non-project grant aid totaling 1.39 billion yen to the Republic of Honduras for assistance of underprivileged farmers in the country.
Related Information (Japan-Swaziland Relations)
Related Information (Japan-Honduras Relations) - Courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso by U.S. Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor, Jack Dyer Crouch II
Mr. Taniguchi: Lastly, yesterday on 23 January from 15:45 to 18:35 the U.S. Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor Jack Dyer Crouch II paid a courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso.
That is all. Any questions please
- Follow-up questions regarding Japan-U.S. Director-General level meeting on beef
Q: Concerning beef as you mentioned the Japan-U.S. beef delegation today this is sort of a related matter. There has been a discovery of another mad cow in Canada, and there was a mad cow in Japan that was also discovered. How concerned is the Foreign Ministry about this issue, especially the opening up of the Japanese market to U.S. beef, once again venturing into the political arena or even accusations by the opposition in Japan that the Koizumi Government caved in to foreign pressure from the U.S. to open the market prematurely?
What is the government doing to ensure that this matter stays in a scientific arena and does not become a political matter?
Mr. Taniguchi: Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I have a very favorite hamburger place in Princeton, New Jersey called JB Winberries. I always have what I call "JB Winberries attack" and I am a great fan of American hamburgers.
I have also been struck by the rapidity and speed at which the United States of America has acted in the aftermath of the discovery of the parts that were agreed not to be put in the shipment. So in my view the damage control has been going on rather smoothly. One can only hope that the next decision to re-open the market for U.S. beef is sooner rather than later.
As was mentioned by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi yesterday, no stone should be left unturned. In terms of building up inspection capacity on the U.S. side, I do not think that this is a matter of science, the science part was pretty much solved last year, this is a procedural matter, and regards an agreement between the two nations. Many leaders from the U.S. Government acknowledged openly that it was their fault to mismanage the agreement and give inappropriate inspections to the shipment.
So one can hope that problems should be solved very much soon on the U.S. side and we can enjoy U.S. beef once again.
Q: Perhaps I can follow up, you talked a little bit about the Japanese domestic situation, it seems like the Koizumi administration is a little on the defensive side with the domestic critics. What is going to happen in Japan on these issues, and what is going to decide the timing of when the markets are going to change?
Mr. Taniguchi: Ok, you may want to say that everything is going to be turned into a card game in this season of politics in the run-up for the next Prime Ministerial contest in September this year. However again this is a matter to be very much contained wisely.
To answer your question concerning what sort of element will be a determinant for the opening of the market, I think the ball is in their court in the U.S. It is a question of whether they can show to the Japanese public how developed their inspection procedure has become, and what sort of appropriate decisions have been made by themselves in order for this sort of thing not to happen again. As was also mentioned in Mr. Yachi's remarks, should this sort of failure in terms of inspection and procedure occur one more time, that would give a dire blow to the overall beef trade between Japan and U.S. So this should not happen again.
Q: Just a clarification regarding the beef issue. During (U.S.) Deputy Secretary of State, Robert B. Zoellick visit, I think he met up with a couple of government officials including the Foreign Minister Aso. I was wondering about the atmosphere of the meetings. Since they apologized and acted immediately I was wondering if there was any protest from the Japanese side?
Mr. Taniguchi: It is the Americans that well understand how grave the issue has been and that we are among their best customers. So there was no need for either side to be undiplomatic, the atmosphere was very good. There was no need for either side to break the atmosphere and make this situation even more contentious. As I said something very serious in terms of inspection has to be done by the U.S. and we are waiting for them to come up with a better strategy to tackle this issue and to come out as a producer who can sell its products to its most important clients.
- Question concerning recent remarks by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic
Q: I would like to ask about a nuclear issue. What do you think of the remark by President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic regarding nuclear weapons and terrorism?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well I should be very cautious on making any comment on remarks and statements made by a foreign leader. However, with that in mind, as a general remark, that is exactly the kind of thing that should not happen.
This is not an era to talk about using nuclear weapons before doing everything possible diplomatically. We are undergoing a massive campaign against terrorism and nothing is perfect in terms of tackling terrorist activities, but I think there is a lot more before talking about any use of weapons of that kind. However, please regard this as a personal remark, the Government of Japan has made no statement on this, so I am speaking for myself here.
- Questions concerning election in the Palestinian Territories
Q: In Palestine I think that there are elections going on. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognize Hamas as a legitimate part of the political process in these elections, or do you regard them as a terrorist organization?
Mr. Taniguchi: Considering that it is part of the political candidacy, and considering we can not see the election results yet, I do not think that it is appropriate for me to make any comment on that.
As a general remark, everything should be legitimized by the will of the voters, and that again should rest on whether or not the election process is going as it should, in an open and democratic fashion.
Q: So presently you cannot tell me Japan's position on the Hamas organization?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well, maybe later on, not now.
Q: Up until now what has Japan's position been on Hamas? Some European states regard Hamas as a terrorist organization, which obviously prohibits the organization from transferring funds and things like that. Has Hamas been regarded as a terrorist organization by Japan?
Mr. Taniguchi: In terms of financial regulations about prohibiting money flow from occurring, frankly I do not know, I have to check exactly what the Government of Japan has been doing and tell you later.
- Question concerning Guantanamo Prison
Q: What is Japan's position on Guantanamo Prison?
Mr. Taniguchi: The Government of Japan has said nothing about it.
Again as a general remark, the rule of law and the due process are the democratic values that I think people in the U.S. have been pioneers in advancing. The Japanese have learned a lot from the Americans about how important it is to maintain the rule of law and the due process. Thus, everywhere, no matter what no matter how, those are the principles that should be kept very much faithfully.
- Follow-up questions concerning grant aid to Iraq
Q: You mentioned about assistance to Iraq. Is it part of the US$1.4 billion, or is it a new one?
Mr. Taniguchi: It is part of the previous pledge.
Q: When you mention the assistance and grant aid to Iraq, I noticed a kind of concentration on the Muthanna area, an area with Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Are you trying to make the people favorable towards the SDF and Japan or what is the situation there?
Mr. Taniguchi: The Government of Japan has been committing a lot of resources, both human and financial, into that part of Iraq, so you could call it an investment strategy. If you are an investment advisor you have to leave a good legacy as a result of the investment and no doubt this part of Iraq could be a reservoir of goodwill for Japan. The Japanese Government is doing its diplomacy for the sake of the Japanese people and the nation. So it would be wise for Japan to concentrate its attention on this specific area of Iraq where there are Japanese people in uniform, colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others having been working very hard together with local people.
- Questions concerning Japan-Iran relations
Q: Just quickly a question about Iran, I read in some recent reports that the Iranian Foreign Minister may visit Japan, can you tell us about his schedule?
Mr. Taniguchi: No I cannot make any comment on that at the moment. You may know that Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso had a phone conversation recently with Foreign Minister Manucher Mottaki of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on our very good working relationships with Iran. The relationship between the two Foreign Ministers has been very good as well. In terms of the visit I can not say anything at the moment.
Q: Does Japan consider the nuclear issue and the oil issue together?
Mr. Taniguchi: The two issues are totally separate. Yes Japan does have a good relationship with Iran, yes Iran is the third largest exporter of oil to Japan, yes Japan has a stake in the oil fields in Iran, but that position has nothing to do with our growing concerns about Iranian aspirations to become a nuclear power. We have said a number of times through a number of diplomatic channels to Iran, that they must comply with the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) regulations and they have to come clean with everything disclosed.
As I have said previously the fact that Japan has stakes in Iran is not a weakness; it is a source of power, diplomatically for Japan to persuade Iranian friends not to do dangerous things as they are trying to do.
Q: You say that they are trying to do; you mean you are sure that they are trying to do this?
Mr. Taniguchi: Otherwise they can prove the opposite and this is their responsibility to do so.
- Questions concerning issue of the helicopter sale to the People's Republic of China
Q: Has Foreign Minister Aso made any comment on the issue of helicopter sales?
Mr. Taniguchi: No nothing.
Q: Has there been any contact with China since that story broke out yesterday on that particular issue?
Mr. Taniguchi: I have not heard about it.
I am sure there has been communication going on between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Yamaha Motors but so far as Ministry of Foreign Affairs is involved I have heard nothing about it.
Q: Chief Cabinet Secretary yesterday made a very blunt comment, that it is regrettable that these helicopters were exported and being used for the transport of weapons of mass destruction as he put it. Does the Government of Japan as far as you know, have any evidence that these helicopters have actually ended up in the hands of BVE Technology Co, or is that something that will some out in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Finance (METI) and police reports investigation?
Mr. Taniguchi: Again this has to be a very much general remark, but when analyzing someone else's defense capacity, what matters is the capability not necessarily the will.
As long as the helicopters are capable of shipping such materials as chemical weapons and biological weapons, one must be worried about the possibilities (of their being used for those purposes). One does not necessarily need to have solid evidence to be worried about the kind of scenario that may result. One has to be worried about the capabilities, thus this is a decision based on the capabilities, as so often is the case with many other countries when dealing with the same issues.
So I think the Government of Japan has reacted to the shipment in the same manner as others have based on the decision about the capability of the equipment in question.
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