Press Conference 7 April 2006
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the arrest of persons concerned with political parties and others in the Kingdom of Nepal
- Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda to visit the People's Republic of China
- Joint statement entitled "Towards the building of strategic and multi-layered partnership between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"
- Vice-Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs Akiko Yamanaka to attend the 67th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
- Third round of negotiations of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
- 5th meeting of Japan-Russia Joint Committee on the Environment
- Technical Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines
- Completion of the project for the Rehabilitation of Roads in Ar-Rumaitha
- Assistance to the project, Coordinated Rural Development of IDP and Refugee impacted Communities in the Somali Regional State (SRS) of Ethiopia
- Grant aid for the project for Expansion and Modernization of the Talara Fishery Port in the Republic of Peru
- Teaching assistance to elementary schools in Misawa, Aomori by American Air Force personnel
- Question concerning Japan's ODA
- Question concerning an alleged Japan-China foreign ministerial meeting
- Questions concerning North Korean officials visit to Japan
- Question concerning East China Sea gas field
- Questions concerning US-Japan realignment issue
- Follow-up question concerning Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the arrest of persons concerned with political parties and others in the Kingdom of Nepal
- Follow-up questions concerning teaching assistance to elementary schools in Misawa, Aomori by American Air Force personnel
- Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the arrest of persons concerned with political parties and others in the Kingdom of Nepal
Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon everyone. Bear with me for about seven to ten minutes because I have a long list of announcements to make.
First there was a statement concerning the arrest of the political parties and others in the Kingdom of Nepal. This is a Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations statement and it goes as follows:
Japan expresses its regret that members of political parties and civil society activists have been arrested in the Kingdom of Nepal.
As these measures by the Government of Nepal suppress the free political expression of the people, Japan requests that no more arrests be made and those arrested be released as promptly as possible. Japan believes that political claims should be made peacefully and it is her hope that the forthcoming political protest rallies will be conducted in peace.
For the restoration of peace and stability in Nepal, it is important for both the Government and the political parties to reach out to one another. Japan therefore calls anew on both sides to build mutual confidence and resume dialogue.
- Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda to visit the People's Republic of China
Mr. Taniguchi: Next an announcement about Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda's planned visit to the People's Republic of China. Mr. Kaneda is visiting China, including Hong Kong, from the 10 April through to the 13 April. As you may know Vice-Minister Kaneda is handling cultural policies and public diplomacy so he is going to meet his counterpart in Beijing to discuss various cultural exchange programs that are already scheduled for this year and the next. In Hong Kong he is going to appear on Phoenix TV, which is widely viewed in the mainland.
- Joint statement entitled "Towards the building of strategic and multi-layered partnership between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"
Mr. Taniguchi: Third His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud from Saudi Arabia is leaving today but during his stay there were meetings and discussions. One of the results of them was a joint statement entitled "Towards the building of strategic and multi-layered partnership between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia".
This is already made available on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in English as well. However there was also a memorandum on policy consultations between the Japanese Foreign Ministry and the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The gist of them is as follows:
Both sides intend to hold consultations on, a regular basis, all aspect of their bilateral relations and to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest as well as on developments taking place on the regional and international arena. The agenda of the consultations on bilateral relations will include all areas such as political, economic, commercial, technical and cultural cooperation.
Consultations will be held in principle once a year, or as necessary, alternately in Tokyo and in Riyadh at the level of senior officials of the two Ministries. The level and dates of the meeting will be determined through diplomatic channels on the initiative of either side.
- Vice-Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs Akiko Yamanaka to attend the 67th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Mr. Taniguchi: Next also about a schedule; this one is about Vice-Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs Akiko Yamanaka visiting the 67th session of the ESCAP which is the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. That is scheduled on 10 April, in Jakarta, the Republic of Indonesia
The session will be attended by ministerial-level representatives from 62 member countries and regions. At the session, the issues of "Implications of recent economic social developments", "Strengthening pacific island developing countries and territories through regional cooperation", "Enhancing regional cooperation in infrastructure development, including that related to the disaster management" will be discussed. During the session, a policy speech by the representative of each country is scheduled. "Pacific leaders' United Nations ESCAP special session" and "Ministerial round table on enhancing regional cooperation in infrastructure development, including that related to the disaster management" will be also held.
Ms. Yamanaka will then attend the 6th Democracy and Free Trade Forum, which will be held on 11 and 12 April (Tue and Wed) in Doha, the State of Qatar. She will deliver a speech on civil society and its roles for enhancing democracy.
- Third round of negotiations of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Mr. Taniguchi: Next is about the third round of negotiations of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The third round of negotiations of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement will be held from 10 to 12 April (Mon to Wed) in Tokyo.
The negotiations will be attended on the Japanese side by the officials concerned of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); and on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) side by representatives of the member countries.
At the negotiations, the participants will discuss such issues as the structure of the AJCEP Agreement and its draft.
Besides a plenary meeting, bilateral consultations (with the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the Union of Myanmar) will also be held during the negotiations.
- 5th meeting of Japan-Russia Joint Committee on the Environment
Mr. Taniguchi: Several more if I may. The next one is about the 5th meeting of Japan-Russia Joint Committee on the Environment that is scheduled for two days on 12 and 13 April. Deputy Director-General Takeshi Yagi of the Europe Bureau is leading Japan's delegation and the Russian delegation will be led by Director Alexander Ishkov of the Department of the State of Environmental Policy, Ministry of Natural Resources.
They will be talking about such issues of what is called the North-west Pacific Action Plan, which is about the rubbish floating on the seas and ocean in this part of the world, or about a network called Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia. That is about discussing environmental concerns between Japan and the Russian Federation.
- Technical Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines
Mr. Taniguchi: A couple of items about ODA.
There was a signing of technical agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines. That took place on 4 April in Tokyo. The idea is to smooth the dispatch of Japan's aid specialists such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) people to the Philippines.
- Completion of the project for the Rehabilitation of Roads in Ar-Rumaitha
Mr. Taniguchi: Let me just announce that a project in Iraq that has been supported by the Japanese Government has now been complete. It is a project for the Rehabilitation of Roads in Ar-Rumaitha. In the city of Rumaitha there was a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the road on 3 April. For this project which is to restore and rehabilitate roads which extends approximately 10.57 km, The Government of Japan has extended financial support amounting to approximately 90 million yen or US$842,837.
- Assistance to the project, Coordinated Rural Development of IDP and Refugee impacted Communities in the Somali Regional State (SRS) of Ethiopia
Mr. Taniguchi: On 7 April, the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN) decided to extend assistance totaling US$1,440,703.42 (approximately 159.92 million yen), through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the project entitled "Coordinated Rural Development of IDP and Refugee impacted Communities in the Somali Regional State (SRS) of Ethiopia".
That will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- Grant aid for the project for Expansion and Modernization of the Talara Fishery Port in the Republic of Peru
Mr. Taniguchi: One other item about ODA is for the Government of Peru and the project is called the Project for Expansion and Modernization of the Talara Fishery Port. An exchange of letters took place of 4 April in Peru. The grant aid amounts to 298 million yen (approximately US$2.5 million).
- Teaching assistance to elementary schools in Misawa, Aomori by American Air Force personnel
Mr. Taniguchi: One other small item is about the launch of a program to help Misawa area elementary schools to teach English to the students there. The support is going to come from the officers and personnel in Misawa Airbase of the United States Air Force (USAF). The program is going to start from 7 April for students ranging from 1st graders to 6th graders.
It is based on the framework called structural deregulations special zone. The Misawa city is utilizing that framework to invite people from the US Misawa Airbase.
- Question concerning Japan's ODA
Q It has been recently announced that Japan's official development assistance (ODA) in 2005 increased by 46%. I would like to know the share that Iraq received of that?
Mr. Taniguchi: As you pointed out there was a debt relief for Iraq and that has been included into the amount of ODA. So that is one of the biggest reasons why the total amount of Japan's ODA has been increased for the FY2005.
The total amount of Japan's ODA in 2004 was US$8,290 million. And the one to Iraq was US$660 million, which is about 7.4% of the total amount. In addition, Japan has decided to extend yen loans to Iraq and has already pledged US$3.5 billion.
- Question concerning an alleged Japan-China foreign ministerial meeting
Q: There has been a newspaper report this morning that Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso is expected to attend the meeting in Qatar on 23 and 24 May and on the sidelines of the meeting Japan is apparently sounding out a possible Japanese Chinese foreign ministerial Meeting. I was wondering if you could verify that.
Mr. Taniguchi: No I cannot.
- Questions concerning North Korean officials visit to Japan
Q: We have a number of North Korean government officials on there way to Tokyo, somewhere between two and nine to participate in this Northeast Asia cooperation. I know that this is not officially sponsored by the Government of Japan or the Foreign Ministry, but from the Japanese Government's point of view what would you like to see accomplished at this dialogue and how significant is it that permission has been granted for these North Korean officials to come to Japan?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well it is always important to maintain the spirit of track-two discussion frameworks. Japan has been conducting a number of track-two channel talks and this I believe is one of the most important track-two dialogues. There is no reason for Japan to stop those officials coming from countries like North Korea to attend this important track-two dialogue.
However, as such by definition, the Japanese Government has nothing to do with the content of the discussions taking place. Having said that to my knowledge I am aware that during the meetings such topics as how to support the North Korean economy, and what sort of message the participants should send to North Korea to resume the Six-Party Talks are going to be discussed. If so, they are talking about an extremely important range of issues.
So I hope very much that this is going to act as a catalyst for the Six-Party Talks to be resumed and North Korean officials will go back to their country again convinced of the vital importance to resume the talks.
Q: To follow-up on that, we understand that from some of the media reports here that there are several bilateral meetings to be held next week. Is there anything concrete that Japan is participating in, for example a bilateral meeting with North Korea or with the US?
Mr. Taniguchi: On the sidelines of these track-two dialogues, there may be but I cannot say for sure when and between whom.
Q: Regarding the North Korean officials visiting Japan next week, are there any plans to meet more Japanese officials?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well I have to say the same as what I said to the gentlemen previously there may be but nothing concrete has been decided yet and I cannot say anything at the moment.
- Question concerning East China Sea gas field
Q: Regarding a report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) yesterday about Japan that the Government is going to examine the drilling of the gas field, Chunxiao, actually it is already in production, do you have any information on that?
Mr. Taniguchi: We have been aware of the reports and we have asked Beijing once again to tell us what exactly they are doing. We are still waiting for them to come back to us on that.
- Questions concerning US-Japan realignment issue
Q: On a different topic concerning the US and Japan, there have been talks going on since the previously self-imposed deadline at the end of last week concerning the realignment of the marines to Guam. All indications are that the two governments are quite far apart. What is the status on this?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well as this involves not just the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but the Defense Agency and local governments and also issue-wise this involves not just base realignments but also how to support the relocation of the marine officers from Okinawa to Guam, by nature it is a very complicated issue. On some points the Japanese side is taking a longer time to do its homework.
In terms of the bilateral negotiations between the two governments the negotiations still will take more time. But as far as I know, what sort of messages or whether or not Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is going to say today or tomorrow, I am afraid I have not heard anything.
Q: On the same topic, has the Japanese Government made any proposal on the subject of how to split the money to relocate the marines? And has the Japanese side put any proposals on the table at the talks in Washington?
Mr. Taniguchi: As this is still going on and as this is still being discussed by the two governments, I should say nothing on it at the moment. But let me say again this is one of the most important issues concerning US-Japan Alliance management. Simply put, we have to solve this issue. The deadline was missed it is true, the deadline was supposed to be the end of March, we have already missed it, but this does not mean at all that this negotiation is going to be dissolved. We are just taking a little more time and soon we will be able to say that we have taken a little bit more time but we have come to a very good conclusion.
Q: The Futenma, the local sentiment, and the money issue; are these the only three issues remaining to be resolved for the realignment to be finalized?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well basically the focus has been given on one of those issues; Okinawa. Okinawa seems to be playing the biggest role in this sort of complex multilayered discussion. I should not speculate about what issues will come up, but the bottom line is and again this is important in terms of local concerns, the idea is to reduce the political risks associated with holding US bases in Japan so that the US-Japan Alliance can be further strengthened. For that purpose the Government of Japan is going to take responsibility to solve these issues.
- Follow-up question concerning Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the arrest of persons concerned with political parties and others in the Kingdom of Nepal
Q: Concerning the statement about Nepal, this is the second Japanese statement. Japan is very important for Nepal. So is Japan going to take any concrete action against Nepal?
Mr. Taniguchi: Even if we are thinking of those concrete actions it is not the right time to say anything. But again democracy is something that the Japanese Government and especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes highly and we would very much like the Government and people of Nepal to understand how important it is for them to resolve these issues and to pursue in their own fashion a path for democracy.
- Follow-up questions concerning teaching assistance to elementary schools in Misawa, Aomori by American Air Force personnel
Q: Regarding that last issue you mentioned about the teaching assistance in Misawa does it mean that the American teachers will be teaching? What are the specifics?
Mr. Taniguchi: Please talk to the Misawa officials but I understand that the American officers and base people will be reaching out to the schools to teach children directly.
Q: Is this the first time that this is going to happen in Misawa, as I understand that they have some similar programs down in Okinawa for quite a long time?
Mr. Taniguchi: Well as you know there have been many native speakers of English dispatched to all corners of Japan as JET teachers, but this case is going to be the first so far as Misawa City is concerned.
Q: Is that part of a larger format?
Mr. Taniguchi: No, it is utilizing rather the new framework of deregulations special zone. The Koizumi Administration launched this program to specifically deregulate a number of regulations, in this case about education, and that enabled this program to be launched. So this is a locally specific attempt.
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