Press Conference 31 March 2006
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the UN Security Council Presidential Statement concerning Iran's nuclear issue
- Expanded issuance of visas under Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program
- Visit to Japan by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo of the Republic of the Philippines
- Dispatch of election observers for Solomon Islands' national elections
- Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
- The 3rd Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Core Group Meeting
- The 7th Japan-MERCOSUR Senior Official Meeting
- Assistance for "Capacity Building for Integrated Psychological, Pedagogical and Medico-social Rehabilitation of School Children and Educational Personnel" project in the Russian Federation of Chechnya
- Ceremony to launch project for construction of diesel power station and to complete setting up mobile substations in Samawah, Iraq
- Yen loan to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
- Yen loan to Malaysia
- Yen loan to the Republic of India
- Yen loan to the Republic of Senegal
- Yen loan to the Republic of Indonesia
- Cultural grant aid to Serbia and Montenegro
- Question concerning upcoming Japan-Poland foreign ministerial talks
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
- Question concerning reports on will of Japanese official of the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the UN Security Council Presidential Statement concerning Iran's nuclear issue
Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to this briefing. I would like to make a couple of announcements before taking your questions.
The first announcement concerns the statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the United Nations (UN) Security Council Presidential Statement concerning the nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On 30 March (New York time: 29 March), the UN Security Council unanimously issued a Presidential Statement concerning Iran's nuclear issue. Japan values this statement as a clear and unanimous message of the international community to Iran and an important step for further solving this issue by a diplomatic means.
This statement calls upon Iran to take the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and underlines the importance of reestablishing full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development.
Japan strongly hopes that Iran will take the past resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and this Security Council Presidential Statement seriously and respond to them sincerely. Japan has been conducting its own diplomatic efforts including at ministerial level and is determined to seize every opportunity to urge Iran for solving the issue.
- Expanded issuance of visas under Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program
Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns the expanded issuance of visas under the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program.
The exchange of Notes Verbale concerning working holiday visas between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) took place on 29 March in Tokyo. The exchange of such Notes Verbale will increase the number of annual issuance of working holiday visas by both Governments under the Japan-ROK Working Holiday Program from the current 1,800 to double that figure, 3,600, in 2006.
This increase, which will be implemented as part of the Japan-ROK Joint Projects for the Future that supports youth, sport and the grass-roots exchanges, is expected to contribute to expanding people-to-people exchange between the two countries and to promoting mutual understanding among young people.
- Visit to Japan by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo of the Republic of the Philippines
Mr. Chiba: The third announcement concerns the visit of a foreign dignitary to Japan, a visit to Japan of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo of the Republic of the Philippines.
Mr. Romulo will visit Japan from 3 to 6 April as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his stay, Mr. Romulo will meet with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso, and other leading figures of the Government of Japan to exchange views on bilateral relations in general and the regional situation.
Japan and the Philippines named this year as the Year of Friendship, as it marks the 50th year of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
It is expected that the relationship of friendship and trust will be further promoted through a frank exchange of views on bilateral relations, the regional and international situation, and the cooperative relations with the Philippines, which will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from the latter half of this year. We hope that such relationships will be strengthened with the invitation of Mr. Romulo as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this memorable year.
- Dispatch of election observers for Solomon Islands' national elections
Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns the dispatch of election observers from Japan for Solomon Islands' national elections.
The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch four election observers to the Solomon Islands from 31 March to 7 April to support the fair and smooth implementation of the country's national elections, which are scheduled to take place on 5 April.
It is anticipated that about 50 international election observers will take part in the forthcoming national elections of the Solomon Islands. In response to a request from the Government of the Solomon Islands, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch the four observers as part of its contribution to the consolidation of peace in the Solomon Islands and the Pacific islands region.
During their stay in the Solomon Islands, Japanese election observers will monitor the elections under the management of the United Nations Election Observer Coordination Team.
- Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
Mr. Chiba: The following series of announcements will concern meetings taking place here and abroad. The first concerns the Japan-US working level meeting on security issues.
The Japan-US deputy director-general level meeting on security issues will be held in Washington, D.C. from 4 to 6 April.
The Japanese side will be led by Deputy Director-General Kazuyoshi Umemoto of the North American Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Director-General Hironori Kanazawa of the Defense Policy Bureau, Japan Defense Agency. The US side will be led by Deputy Under-Secretary Richard Lawless of Defense for Asia and Pacific Affairs.
In the meeting, there will be an exchange of views concerning recommendations on the realignment set out at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2 meeting) on 29 October 2005.
- The 3rd Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Core Group Meeting
Mr. Chiba: The 3rd Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) Core Group Meeting was held from 29 to 30 March at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.
The Japanese side was attended by Deputy Director-General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau Satoru Satoh of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the ROK, Director-General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau Han Byungkil of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the ROK, and from the Federative Republic of Brazil, Chief of the Division of Asia and Ocean II Francisco Mauro Brasil de Holanda of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil, attended the meeting. There were also members of the three working groups. In total it had an attendance of all FEALAC members, that is, 15 East Asian countries and 17 Latin American countries.
The 3rd FEALAC Ministerial Meeting (FMM) will be held in Brazil expected for later this year. The FEALAC Core Group Meeting was held to discuss the preparations for the FMM with a focus on future activities and FEALAC's relationship with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), etc. This meeting was held on the initiative of Japan, the deputy coordinator on the East Asian side.
- The 7th Japan-MERCOSUR Senior Official Meeting
Mr. Chiba: Another meeting concerning Japan and Latin America, the 7th Japan-MERCOSUR Senior Official Meeting will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic on 5 April. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka will lead the Japanese delegation, and on the MERCOSUR side, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Alfredo Vicente Chiaradia of Argentina will attend.
At the meeting, issues concerning promotion of economic ties between Japan and MERCOSUR as well as cooperation in the multilateral arena will be discussed. Japan-Argentina bilateral economic consultations will also be held.
- Assistance for "Capacity Building for Integrated Psychological, Pedagogical and Medico-social Rehabilitation of School Children and Educational Personnel" project in the Russian Federation of Chechnya
Mr. Chiba: Now to the regular announcements on assistance from Japan to the rest of the world.
The first concerns the assistance for "Capacity Building for Integrated Psychological, Pedagogical and Medico-social Rehabilitation of School Children and Educational Personnel" project in the Russian Federation of Chechnya.
On 28 March, the Government of Japan and the UN decided to extend assistance totaling US$977,874 (approximately 104.63 million yen), through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the project entitled "Capacity Building for Integrated Psychological, Pedagogical and Medico-social Rehabilitation of School Children and Educational Personnel" that will be implemented in the Republic of Chechnya, Russian Federation, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since the outbreak of the conflict in 1999, few children in Chechnya have been able to attend school, and a large number of teachers and health workers have quit their profession or have actually fled the region. This project aims at supporting the restoration of the physical and mental well-being of selected school-aged children and teaching staff in order to reintegrate them in the formal education system.
- Ceremony to launch project for construction of diesel power station and to complete setting up mobile substations in Samawah, Iraq
Mr. Chiba: The next project concerns the construction of a diesel power station and the completion of the setting up of mobile substations in Samawah, Iraq.
In connection with Japan's Reconstruction Assistance for Iraq, a ceremony to launch a project for construction of diesel power station and to complete setting up mobile substations in Samawah was held on 28 March at 17:00 (local time: 11:00) at the construction site. Attending the ceremony on the Iraqi side were Mr. Mohammed Ali Hassan Abbas Al-hasani, Governor of Al-Muthanna, and other officials concerned; and on the Japanese side, officials of the Liaison Office in Samawah of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF).
- Yen loan to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Mr. Chiba: Now a series of announcements concerning yen loans will follow since today is the last day of the Japanese fiscal year.
The total amount of the yen loan to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam will be up to approximately US$755 million (88 billion yen) for nine projects, and the exchange of notes was signed on 29 March in Hanoi, between Minister of Planning and Investment of Viet Nam Vo Hong Phuc and Japanese Ambassador Norio Hattori to Viet Nam. Projects will include building bridges, environment enhancement, higher education, etc.
- Yen loan to Malaysia
Mr. Chiba: The yen loan to Malaysia will amount up to approximately US$65 million (7.6 billion yen). This is for the Higher Education Loan Fund Project, and this will be phase III of such loans. The exchange of notes was done today in Kuala Lumpur between Mr. Tadashi Imai, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, and Mr. Y. Bhg. Datuk Rastam Isa, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. This is a loan to be provided to students in Malaysia, and it is envisaged that they will eventually come to Japan to further their studies. The total amount of the yen loan from Japan to Malaysia will be approximately US$8.2 billion (969 billion yen).
- Yen loan to the Republic of India
Mr. Chiba: The yen loan to the Republic of India will amount up to approximately US$1.3 billion (155 billion yen) for ten projects, and the exchange of notes was done in New Delhi between Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, Japanese Ambassador to India, and Mr. S.G. Mankad, Additional Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance of India.
These projects concern power plants, transportation system, port facilities, as well as environment enhancement.
The total amount of the yen loan from Japan to India will be approximately US$22 billion (2.6 trillion yen).
- Yen loan to the Republic of Senegal
Mr. Chiba: Our yen loan to the Republic of Senegal will amount up to approximately US$8.2 million (960 million yen) for the project "Road Improvement and Transport Facilitation Program on the Southbound Bamako-Dakar Corridor." The signing ceremony was held on 29 March in Dakar between Mr. Hisanobu Hasama, Japanese Charge d'Affaires interim to Senegal, and Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Economy and Finance of Senegal. It is expected that this yen loan will contribute to economic vitalization of the region, promotion of economic integration and poverty reduction in the region.
The total amount of the yen loan from Japan to Senegal will be approximately US$132 million (15.5 billion yen).
- Yen loan to the Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Chiba: The yen loan to the Republic of Indonesia will amount up to US$800 million (93 billion yen) for six projects, and these are divided into projects and program loan. The signing ceremony was held on 28 March in Jakarta between Mr. Masafumi Kuroki, Japanese Charge d'Affaires interim to Indonesia, and Mr. Primo Alui Joelianto, Director General for Asia Pacific and African Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. The projects concern the transportation system, power plants, higher education, etc. The total amount of the yen loan from Japan to Indonesia will be approximately US$36 billion (4.2 trillion yen).
- Cultural grant aid to Serbia and Montenegro
Mr. Chiba: My final announcement concerns a cultural grant aid to Serbia and Montenegro. The amount is up to approximately US$420,000 (49 million yen), and it is for the Project for the Improvement of Lighting and Sound Equipment of Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad. The signing ceremony was held on 30 March in Belgrade between Mr. Tadashi Nagai, Japanese Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, and Mr. Predrag Ivanovic, Minister of International Economic Relations of Serbia and Montenegro. This project concerns the provision of equipment to the National Theatre in Novi Sad.
Related Information (Japan- Serbia and Montenegro Relations) - Question concerning upcoming Japan-Poland foreign ministerial talks
Q: My question concerns the ongoing visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Stefan Meller of the Republic of Poland to Japan and his planned talks on Monday with Foreign Minister Aso. My question is about one of the subjects of their meeting. I think Poland and Japan are cooperating in extending assistance to third countries through Japanese official development assistance (ODA). I think there are one or two ongoing projects in Ukraine. Is Japan willing to extend this kind of assistance in cooperation with Poland to third countries including Ukraine and maybe other European countries of the former Soviet Union?
Mr. Chiba: Generally speaking it is Japan's policy to assist other friendly countries and at the same time cooperate with these friendly countries so that we can jointly assist third party countries. We take pleasure in undertaking such cooperation with any country. Since Japan and Poland enjoy a very long friendly relationship, it is our pleasure to go on with such projects through which we can jointly assist other countries.
As to concrete matters, we will have to wait until we can make an announcement after the talks are held. In general terms, we welcome such efforts.
- Follow-up questions concerning Japan-US working level meeting on security issues
Q: In regards to the 2+2 meeting, can we speculate a final agreement between Japan and the United States (US) in terms of the US realignment?
Mr. Chiba: Both the Japanese and US sides have been negotiating strenuously to come up with a report at an early stage. Since this round of talks has not begun yet, I cannot predict the outcome. We hope that we can attain a conclusion of the report as soon as possible.
Q: Could you share with us some of the topic points of the upcoming talks?
Mr. Chiba: Some topic points are obvious, and I think these have already been reported. There are important issues concerning realignment of US Forces and there are other important issues concerning security arrangements such as how to rearrange the US bases located in Okinawa and elsewhere. As to the concrete agenda, I am sorry, I cannot disclose it at this stage but I believe you understand the situation very well.
- Question concerning reports on will of Japanese official of the Consulate-General of Japan in Shanghai
Q: My question concerns today's newspaper report about the will of one of your communications officers in the People's Republic of China. Do you confirm this whole conduct true and authentic? How do you comment on this?
Mr. Chiba: We are aware of the news report. We understand that the news report concerns matters of intelligence, and when issues cover matters of intelligence it is our policy that we do not confirm anything. We do not comment if the matter concerns intelligence. Having said this, the matter also concerns the bereaved family and privacy. We hope that the situation concerning the bereaved family is also well understood and given due consideration.
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