Press Conference, 5 June 2007

The third meeting between Japan and Viet Nam on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations
Visit by Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the Republic of Poland
Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the Kingdom of Spain
Question concerning the visit to the Northern Territories by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation
Question concerning the announcement by ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) of a breaking of the ceasefire with the Government of Spain
Follow-up questions concerning the visit to the Northern Territories by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation

I. The third meeting between Japan and Viet Nam on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations

Deputy Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi: Good afternoon. I have altogether four points to make for my opening statement: on the Japan-Viet Nam EPA; the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso's visit to the Republic of Poland; and also on Foreign Minister Aso's visit to the Kingdom of Spain.

Now, discussions are underway between Japan and Viet Nam on a possible EPA. We are actually holding now the third meeting for that purpose, starting from yesterday, Monday, 4 June until Thursday, 7 June, here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the Japanese side Mr. Jun Yokota, Ambassador for International Trade and Economic Affairs, and others joined by Chief Negotiator Mr. Phan The Rue and his colleagues from Viet Nam, are attending.

II. Visit by Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Mr. Taniguchi: Next, the situation in Sri Lanka is in the minds of many, and to further discussions as to pushing the peace process forward, Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, is visiting the country from today until Saturday, 9 June, as his 14th visit to the country. He will meet Sri Lankan officials, leaders of political parties, and representatives from international organizations to review the situation and promote the peace process.

III. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the Republic of Poland

Mr. Taniguchi: Now, let me tell you a bit on the visits Foreign Minister Aso made to Poland and to Spain.

Foreign Minister Aso was in Poland on 30 and 31 May, met with his counterpart Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Fotyga, and got granted lunch by President Lech Kaczynski. Foreign Minister Aso talked of the Arc of Freedom and Prosperity initiative and of the need for both Japan and Poland to collaborate further with the member nations of the Visegrad 4 (V4), and on extending support to such neighboring nations as Ukraine. Ten years have passed since Japan's Foreign Minister visited the country last time, and I should say that the visit that Foreign Minister Aso made was important and most timely as both Poland and Japan are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of their official diplomatic relationship.

IV. Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso to the Kingdom of Spain

Mr. Taniguchi: Next, Foreign Minister Aso was in Spain on 31 May for a short yet fruitful visit. At the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube, Foreign Minister Moratinos made a proposal that Spain and Japan cooperate more on the developmental projects in the Central and South American region. As that sounded very good indeed, Foreign Minister Aso gave an instantaneous agreement to the proposal. Foreign Minister Aso also visited the office of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and requested that Prime Minister Zapatero visit Japan soon.

V. Questions concerning the visit to the Northern Territories by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation

Q: Could you say a couple of words about Japan's position or attitude towards the visit by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation to the Northern Islands? Do you think it will influence in some way the summit between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Federal Republic of Germany?

Mr. Taniguchi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been talking to the Russian side on that matter and requested that the visit that you mentioned would affect in no way the upcoming scheduled meeting between the two leaders. That is the short answer to your question.

VI. Question concerning the announcement by ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna) of a breaking of the ceasefire with the Government of Spain

Q: Today the Basque terrorist group ETA broke the ceasefire and announced the breaking of the ceasefire with the Government of Spain. I do not know if you have any comment on this?

Mr. Taniguchi: Spain is one of those nations that had to suffer from terrible acts of terrorist groups. The minds and hearts of the Japanese were firmly with those victims in your nation. This is very much a sad occurrence especially because, as I mentioned shortly before, it occurred right after Foreign Minister Aso made a visit to Spain and reaffirmed the importance for both Spain and Japan to collaborate on many fronts, and those fronts obviously include terrorism. I should urge all parties involved to remain calm and I should also say that when it comes to countering terrorism there is no border and the Japanese Government is going to be as interested as it possibly can in giving any sort of help to Spain for this matter.

VII. Follow-up questions concerning the visit to the Northern Territories by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation

Q: Just to follow up on the first question on the visit of Mr. Lavrov. What repercussions do you perceive in the future negotiations between the two countries on the territorial issue?

Mr. Taniguchi: I understand both President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have mentioned on many occasions of late the importance to continue to talk on the territorial issue that lingers between the two nations, Russia and Japan. It has been an imperative for both nations to try to further the relationship between the two nations. I understand also that those leaders of the Russian Federation have continued to say that some kind of resolution is necessary for both nations to be able to accept. I do not think that that position has changed at all. The Japanese Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are going to continue to be interested in furthering the discussions so that a mutually acceptable solution can be found by both Russia and Japan.

Q: There was information that Japan hopes that some kind of progress on the territorial problem will be reached while President Putin is in power. Is it so?

One more question: could you please unveil, if possible, the agenda of the upcoming summit? Will the territorial issue be one of the topics of the discussion?

Mr. Taniguchi: It is always the case that the territorial issue remains one of the most important issues for Japan and Russia when thinking about the development of the bilateral relationship. That remains true for the upcoming summit meeting between President Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That said, the bilateral relationship between Russia and Japan has widened in scope these days. If you look at some of the developments that have happened recently on energy cooperation between Russia and Japan, and especially on nuclear energy cooperation between Russia and Japan, and developments such as both nations trying to cooperate on the maritime security front, you could say that there seems to have emerged much wider room for Russia and Japan to enhance the bilateral relationship. I should perhaps urge you to put the territorial issue into that broader context between the two nations, and I am sure Prime Minister Abe is going to touch heavily on the territorial issue, but equally he is going to touch on many other issues, such as those that I have mentioned--the developments that you can see on the energy cooperation, and so on.

Q: And about progress while President Putin is in power?

Mr. Taniguchi: Both Foreign Minister Aso and Prime Minister Abe have mentioned that, first of all, President Putin is very much a powerful leader of Russia and when it comes to trying to solve an issue of this magnitude and importance, certainly it is very much necessary for President Putin to make a decision himself. That is what Foreign Minister Aso and Prime Minister Abe have talked about a couple of times before.

When it comes to how soon Japan wants to solve this issue, the answer is an obvious one if I may say so: the sooner the better. But, at the same time, I understand that this issue, being a long standing one, it is not going to be wise for the Japanese Government to try to rush to any quick solution and I do not think there is any kind of quick solution, so we are ready to spend more time.

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