Press Conference, 30 October 2007

Meeting between Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, and Mr. Jalal Talabani, President of the Republic of Iraq
Meeting between Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Brigadier-General George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore
Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Nit Phibunsongkhram, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
Third meeting between Japan and the Commonwealth of Australia regarding the negotiation of an economic partnership agreement
Questions concerning the meeting between Mr. Yu Myung Hwan, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affair
Question concerning reports of an upcoming visit to Japan by US Assistant Secretary of State Mr. Christopher Hill
Question concerning reports of unofficial meetings between Japan and North Korea
Questions concerning the international response to remarks by the Minister of Justice

I. Meeting between Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, and Mr. Jalal Talabani, President of the Republic of Iraq

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon, thanks very much for coming.

I have four brief announcements to make before I take your questions.

First, on 26 October, Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador to Iraq, visited Mr. Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, in the presidential palace in Baghdad, and held a meeting to exchange views on the situation in Iraq, the issue of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the relationship between Japan and Iraq. Please check on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website afterwards for details of the meeting.

Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)

II. Meeting between Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Brigadier-General George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore

Mr. Taniguchi: Second, on 27 October, Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Brigadier-General George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Myanmar, and other issues concerning steps towards the East Asia Summit which will be held in Singapore in November. The details of the meeting will also be on the MOFA website, so please have a look on that later, as well.

III. Upcoming visit to Japan by Mr. Nit Phibunsongkhram, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand

Mr. Taniguchi: Third, Mr. Nit Phibunsongkhram, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, will visit Japan from 31 October to 2 November. During his stay in Japan, Mr. Nit will attend the First Joint Committee of the Agreement between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand for an Economic Partnership, to be held on 1 November. He will also have talks with Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

IV. Third meeting between Japan and the Commonwealth of Australia regarding the negotiation of an economic partnership agreement

Mr. Taniguchi: Fourth and last, Australia and Japan will have a four-day meeting in Canberra, starting on 5 November. That will be the third meeting to negotiate an economic partnership agreement between the two countries.

V. Questions concerning the meeting between Mr. Yu Myung Hwan, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Q: This morning Mr. Koumura mentioned that the South Korean Ambassador is coming this afternoon. Has the timing been set?

Mr. Taniguchi: I understand Foreign Minister Koumura said that it would be around 5:30 PM but I cannot confirm.

Q: I think there were reports from South Korea last Friday saying the South Korean Government wanted to convey an apology. Why was the meeting postponed on Friday?

Mr. Taniguchi: Due to the scheduling between the foreign ministries, and I have heard no other specific reason.

Q: So when the Ambassador comes today and conveys an apology or explains the whole issue, after this visit by the Ambassador, does Japan consider the case closed, or it depends on the situation?

Mr. Taniguchi: The simple answer would be: We should be waiting for the Ambassador to come, and to hear what he will have to say. The Foreign Ministry is going to make a decision afterwards in an appropriate fashion.

VI. Question concerning reports of an upcoming visit to Japan by US Assistant Secretary of State Mr. Christopher Hill

Q: On a separate subject, Mr. Christopher Hill, I believe he is either already in Beijing or he is arriving in Beijing later today, and there are reports that he is coming to Tokyo later this week. Do you have any details about his visit?

Mr. Taniguchi: I am afraid I don't have the details about his visit.

VII. Question concerning reports of unofficial meetings between Japan and North Korea

Q: There are also reports of unofficial meetings between Japan and North Korea. Are we expecting it this week or next week or anytime soon, and what are they to discuss?

Mr. Taniguchi: Well, because of the nature of the talks, I cannot say anything about that.

VIII. Questions concerning the international response to remarks by the Minister of Justice

Q: The Justice Minister's remarks yesterday about his friend's friend being related to al-Qaeda, I think that kind of caused a bit of controversy. What is the Government's position on this, and have there been any inquiries, any foreign governments approaching the Foreign Ministry to file a protest?

Mr. Taniguchi: I must make a disclaimer that I am a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I am not actually representing the entire Government. The Chief Cabinet Secretary this morning said something about that, and I should ask you to refer to that.

Q: But has there been any approach from other governments interested in this issue?

Mr. Taniguchi: To the best of my knowledge, no.

Back to Index