Internet Press Chat Conference, 22 February 2007

Visit to Japan by Vice President Richard B. Cheney of the US
Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram of the Kingdom of Thailand
Upcoming speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso on the Middle East
Follow-up questions concerning the speech by Foreign Minister Aso
Follow-up question concerning the visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Nitya of Thailand
Question concerning the visit to Japan by Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor Jack Dyer Crouch II of the US

I. Visit to Japan by Vice President Richard B. Cheney of the US

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Let me start today's Regular Internet Chat Press Conference. Today, I would like to make several announcements before I take questions.

Today I have three items to introduce.

First, let me inform you of the visit to Japan by Vice President Dick Cheney of the US.

Vice President Cheney stayed in Japan from 20 to 22 February. He met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 21 February and also had talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki on the same day. Prime Minister Abe and Vice President Cheney exchanged views on various issues such as the alliance between the US and Japan, East Asian affairs, and international affairs. Both reconfirmed the importance of the alliance between Japan and the US. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Vice President Cheney's visit to US allies Japan and the Commonwealth of Australia. In response, Vice President Cheney said that this time he decided to visit the important allies Japan and Australia. Vice President Cheney expressed his appreciation for Japan's contribution to the fight against terrorism in the Republic of Iraq and the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram of the Kingdom of Thailand

Mr. Taniguchi: Secondly, the visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram of Thailand will visit Japan from Sunday 25 February to Wednesday 28 February. During his stay, Foreign Minister Nitya will attend the Curtain Raising Ceremony of the 120th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations hosted by the Thai Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday 27 February. He is also scheduled to have talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Aso.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Upcoming speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso on the Middle East

Mr. Taniguchi: Minister for Foreign Affairs Aso will deliver a speech entitled "Middle East at the crossroads, some principles for Japan's Middle East policies" (provisional translation) at Hotel Okura on Wednesday 28 February. This speech event is hosted by the Middle East Research Institute. If you are interested, please contact the institute (Tel: 03-3371-5798). You can get the registration form from the Institute. However, I have to remind you that even though you will be able to have an English version of speech text at the venue, the speech is in Japanese and there is no translation system available at the venue.

IV. Follow-up questions concerning the speech by Foreign Minister Aso

Q: Regarding Foreign Minister Aso's speech on the Middle East, is this part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' series of "diplomacy speech" by Foreign Minister Aso? How do you see the significance of such a speech at this time? Is this a way for Japan, through Foreign Minister Aso, to reassure the world that it is committed to Middle East issues such as Iraq?

Mr. Taniguchi: Thank you very much for your question. I do not know how many speeches Foreign Minister Aso has made so far, but it has become customary for him to make at least one speech per month on major diplomatic issues. In that sense, the upcoming one is also part of what you call "diplomacy speech." Given the importance of the region, i.e., the Middle East, for Japan's economy and that the Middle East sits right in the middle of what in my term is the AFP, which is the Arc of Freedom and Prosperity, what Foreign Minister Aso is going to say is to lay the ground for Japan's Middle East policies in the years to come. That being a sneak preview of his speech, I should encourage you to come and listen.

Q: Thank you for your answer on my first question. Just a follow-up. You said Foreign Minister Aso is going to lay the ground for Japan's Middle East policies in the years to come. Is this Middle East policy he will be advocating going to be an overhaul of what it has previously been holding on to, or is it just changing it slightly to put more emphasis, for instance, on certain countries like Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the State of Israel and the Palestinian areas to raise Japan's global profile further? Is the English text of the speech going to be circulated beforehand by any chance?

Mr. Taniguchi: You are asking me with an assumption that I know already what he will be saying in his speech, but as it has not been delivered yet, I do not think that I should touch further on the content of it. But I am sure you will find it worthy of reporting, and I can assure you the text is going to be translated into English as soon as it has been delivered.

V. Follow-up question concerning the visit to Japan by Foreign Minister Nitya of Thailand

Q: With the coming of the Thai Foreign Minister next week, how do you see this as a step towards Japan and Thailand inking an accord on their free trade agreement (FTA)? Do you see the environment or circumstances conducive that an accord for signing can be made in April or at least something can be agreed on that matter at the Japanese and Thai foreign ministerial meeting next week?

Mr. Taniguchi: Thai Foreign Minister Nitya is going to come to Japan mainly to attend an opening ceremony of the 120th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations hosted by the Thai Embassy in Tokyo. I am not anticipating that FTA is going to be a focal point between the two Foreign Ministers.

Related Information (Press Release)

VI. Question concerning the visit to Japan by Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor Jack Dyer Crouch II of the US

Q: On yet another visit by a high-ranking US official -- Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor Jack Dyer Crouch II. He is coming to town next week. Are the talks going to be focused more on strategizing how to deal with North Korea's nuclear standoff, or is it going to involve in-depth discussions on what Japan can do to help North Korea (the so-called energy aid)?

Mr. Taniguchi: There is no denying that issues related to North Korea will be among the most important topics when Dr. Crouch meets with Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi, but beyond that I do not think it is appropriate for me to speculate further on what they will be discussing.

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