Press Conference, 31 October 2006

Visit to Japan by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Republic of Indonesia and Mrs. Kristiani
Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted People in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law
Questions concerning the Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea
Questions concerning Actions Taken in response to the Nuclear Test Conducted by North Korea

I. Visit to Japan by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Republic of Indonesia and Mrs. Kristiani

Assistant Press Secretary Noriyuki Shikata: Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. Let me start the press conference.

First, I have three announcements to make. One is about the visit to Japan by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Republic of Indonesia and Mrs. Kristiani.

President Yudhoyono and Mrs. Kristiani, accompanied by a suite, will pay a state visit to Japan from 26 to 29 November 2006.

During their stay in Japan, the President and Mrs. Kristiani will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will host a State Banquet in honor of the President and Mrs. Kristiani.

The President will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of the President and Mrs. Kristiani, which will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted People in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Mr. Shikata: The second announcement is about assistance in kind for the afflicted people in Sri Lanka.

In response to an appeal from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Japan, concerned about the large number of afflicted people in Sri Lanka resulting from the intensified violence, made a cabinet decision today to provide assistance in kind for 10,000 people based on the International Peace Cooperation Law. This assistance in kind will be used for the humanitarian relief activities that UNHCR is conducting in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

The Government of Japan expects that this assistance in kind for the afflicted people in Sri Lanka will improve their living conditions and create an environment for peace negotiations through dialogue.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Extension of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law

Mr. Shikata: I have one additional announcement. Yesterday the Government of Japan extended the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law for another one year period until 1 November 2007 in order to continue its support for international efforts to fight against terrorism by dispatching Maritime Self-defense Force (SDF) vessels to the Indian Ocean for refueling operations.

Based on the Law, Japan Maritime SDF vessels have supplied 450,000 kiloliters of fuel to the vessels of coalition forces that are engaged in the operation to prevent and deter free movement of terrorists and their related materials.

IV. Questions concerning the Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea

Q: We have read that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the Republic of Korea will be visiting Japan next week. I wonder if you could give an insight into what will be discussed.

Mr. Shikata: I am aware of the report, and we are currently coordinating the schedule. We are not at this point of time in a position to announce it officially, but let me say that this is under coordination.

V. Questions concerning Actions Taken in response to the Nuclear Test Conducted by North Korea

Q: There seem to be fewer actions regarding diplomatic actions following North Korea's nuclear test. It seems to me that some of the action has died down, or calmed down a little bit. What is the Japanese Government planning to do in order to expedite progress on this issue?

Mr. Shikata: As Foreign Minister Taro Aso mentioned in his press conference this morning, we are consulting with the US, Republic of Korea and others in terms of official levels, and so we are continuing to coordinate with other countries concerned.

Also as was mentioned by Foreign Minister Aso we will be submitting what each member state of the United Nations (UN) has done within 30 days, which means by 14 November.

We are of course implementing on our side sanctions measures and we understand that other countries are moving toward the same direction.

Q: Are there any other measures that are being considered right now other than sanctions regarding North Korea?

Mr. Shikata: We have been sending the message that we are not closing our door for dialog with North Korea. If North Korea decides to ask for a return to the Six-Party Talks without preconditions, that means that they cannot return to the Six-Party Talks while in possession of nuclear weapons, but if the North Korean side is willing to return to the talks, other parties of the Six-Party Talks will be in a position to consider it.

Q: So it is up to the North Koreans to come back to the negotiating table?

Mr. Shikata: At this juncture, since they have conducted a nuclear test, they have to make their own judgment what is their interest under the conditions that the international community is engaged in stricter sanctions against North Korea, and the North Korean side needs to make some judgment in terms of what is in the best interest from the North Korean point of view, and that is something where they have to change the direction that they have been pursuing in terms of both missiles development, nuclear testing and other issues of international concern.

Q: There has been talk that the leaders of five countries would meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings to discuss North Korea issues.

Mr. Shikata: In mid-November there will be the APEC Foreign Ministers' Meeting as well as APEC Leaders' Meeting and of course those international meetings will be good opportunities to discuss the North Korean issues on the margins. There will be different bilateral meetings or sometimes trilateral meetings that could be held. In that respect the meetings in Hanoi will provide an international forum to discuss North Korean issues as well.

Q: You said that nuclear tests by North Korea were sort of like crossing the red line. Now they have crossed the red line and this red line seems to just keep being pushed backwards. What is the Japanese Government's stance on that? Where is this red line?

Mr. Shikata: After the announcement of nuclear testing by North Korea, the international community came to a consensus to strengthen sanctions, and UN Security Council Resolution 1718 was adopted. As time passes by sanctions will be implemented and individual member countries will come up with additional economic sanction measures as deemed appropriate.

We think that the international community is mobilized to cope with this situation and as I mentioned previously the North Korean side will need to rethink what they are doing under the evolving situations, especially in relation to economic sanctions imposed upon them.

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