Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 26 November 2009

Foreign Minister Okada receives recommendation of the Roundtable Discussion on Reconciliation and Peace Prospects for Shared Security in Afghanistan
Japan extends assistance of 3 billion yen to Pakistan
Japan extends 1.1 billion yen in landmine clearance assistance to Cambodia
Questions concerning the recommendations received regarding Afghan stability
Questions concerning possible cuts to Japanese ODA
Questions concerning other possible budget cuts
Questions concerning the Japan-US secret pact issue
Questions concerning Japanese landmine assistance to Cambodia
Questions concerning assistance extended to Afghanistan and Pakistan

I. Foreign Minister Okada receives recommendation of the Roundtable Discussion on Reconciliation and Peace Prospects for Shared Security in Afghanistan

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon and welcome. Let me start with Afghanistan. Minister Okada yesterday evening received a call from the representatives of the Roundtable Discussion on Reconciliation and Peace Prospects for Shared Security in Afghanistan. This is a roundtable composed of leading intellectuals including former ministers and civil society leaders. Yesterday, Minister Okada received the members of this roundtable.

Mr. Vendrell, the chair of the roundtable, is the former Special Representative of the European Union for Afghanistan, and he handed Minister Okada the recommendation about how the international community forged its efforts for the stability of Afghanistan. Along with Mr. Vendrell, Mr. Stanikzai, an advisor to President Karzai, appreciated Japan's recent announcement, that would assist Afghanistan's reconstruction, and he also underlined the Afghan government's readiness to pursue transparency.

Minister Okada said that he would refer to the recommendation that this group presented yesterday, and reconfirmed Japan's commitment to Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts while stressing the importance of the Afghan government's own initiatives.

II. Japan extends assistance of 3 billion yen to Pakistan

Mr. Kawamura: The next is also related to Japan's new strategy to cope with the threat of terrorism. This new strategy was announced on the 10th of November. As you may recall, in this new strategy, Japan confirmed expeditious implementation of up to 1 billion dollars assistance to Pakistan in two years, as I explained last time, which was expressed previously at the Tokyo Pakistan Donors Conference in April 2009. As part of its implementation, on Tuesday, the 24th, Japan and Pakistan signed and exchanged notes concerning Japan's provision of 3 billion yen grant assistance with an aim to financially ease Pakistan's difficult economic conditions.

III. Japan extends 1.1 billion yen in landmine clearance assistance to Cambodia

Mr. Kawamura: The last one; on the front of human security, Japan yesterday exchanged notes with the Cambodian government to provide approximately 1.1 billion yen aid for the program for mine clearance and land mine victim assistance.

This is a follow-up to the Japan-Cambodia Foreign Ministers Meeting in Siemriup in October on the fringes of the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers Meeting. Japan expects that this project will free 3,000 villagers from the threat of mine-caused injuries and will contribute to improving living conditions for the 60,000 nearby residents.

That is all from me today. I would like to welcome your questions.

IV. Questions concerning the recommendations received regarding Afghan stability

Q: How about the recommendation on Afghanistan? How would the Japanese government use it, or is there any new development based on that recommendation?

Mr. Kawamura: As Minister Okada mentioned yesterday, he would read the recommendation carefully and refer to the elements contained in the paper for further thoughts about Japan's concrete programs. He also underlined the point that the reintegration of the former anti-government forces in Afghanistan is one of the major pillars of Japan's assistance to Afghanistan. Towards that goal, Minister Okada thinks that he would welcome the suggestions from the Afghanistan side to build concrete, effective programs from now on. This is a welcomed approach. Whether this is called a non-governmental organization, or a semi-governmental organization, this is, in any case, a group of good-willed people who think seriously of the future of Afghanistan. This is a welcome suggestion.

V. Questions concerning possible cuts to Japanese ODA

Q: I would also like to ask about -- in Japanese it is called jigyoshiwake -- the reassessment of the government's spending. Recently, about official development assistance, the government body has called for a one-third cut in grant aid. I am concerned that such a move will contradict the government's move to use it as a diplomatic tool. What is the response to that concern?

Mr. Kawamura: As you just pointed out, ODA is one of the focal points of our foreign policy making, especially in terms of Japan's commitment to the outside world. As for what we have received from the working group concerning the ODA budget, we will of course follow closely and reflect sincerely the comments made by the committee members because this is interpreted as the taxpayers' voices and opinions.

By fully taking into consideration the suggestions and opinions expressed by the working group, from now on we have to reconsider the budget proposal to the Diet. The government is required to present a bill to the Diet in time so that the next fiscal year budget will be operated in a timely fashion. Through that process, we will think seriously about how the current budget program will be formed. We need to consult with the Minister and other relevant bureaus, and decide on the final shape of the government budget request.

Having said that, as you asked how Japan's overseas commitments and ODA will be realigned, what I can say now is that the government or Foreign Ministry will do our utmost so that previous commitments in terms of ODA provisions will be realized.

Q: Do you think different moves will also effect the contributions to the United Nations and other international organizations? I believe that during the visit of the UNDP administrator and WFP officials, Japan has been explaining that there are such kinds of jigyoshiwake moves, and it may also impact the contributions. Have such international organizations expressed concerns about their contributions being reduced? Has a direct message been sent?

Mr. Kawamura: I think the exchange of views with the representatives of the international organizations provided a good opportunity for both sides to say that we understand deeply the situation that the Japanese government faces. My understanding of the recent series of meetings with the representatives is that international organizations could have a correct grasp of the situation, the reality, and we have to commit to further close communication between us so that Japan's contributions would be understood and appreciated in the right context.

Related Information (Japan's ODA)

VI. Questions concerning other possible budget cuts

Q: Other than ODA, as ODA is for helping to develop relations, what about the cuts in various government organizations' budgets? The science budget has been cut, and even the committee is concerned about the cut. It is a different thing, as grant ODA is to help other nations, but even within the country some organizations are feeling pinched. This is the science budget that has been cut. This is the Japanese Ministry of Science, I think. Is there any link between ODA and this?

Mr. Kawamura: I cannot say clearly whether this result might end up with a reduction of Japan's ODA in particular areas, for example science and technology, towards developing countries. Japan's ODA is not a simple structure in terms of budget. Each agency has its own ODA allocation depending on the specialty. Science and technology might be one of the designated areas for the working group discussion, though I am not quite certain whether this is the case. We need to check more closely as to whether each government agency would form up a reflection of the jigyoshiwake working group's discussion in remaking its final budget request for ODA related to the science and technology area.

Related Information (Japan's ODA)

VII. Questions concerning the Japan-US secret agreements issue

Q: I would also like to ask about the Japan-US secret pact issue. The Foreign Minister has already announced that the first expert panel meeting will be held tomorrow. Is it going to be held in the morning or the afternoon? Is it going to be held in the Ministry?

Mr. Kawamura: Well, as you mentioned, tomorrow the experts' group meeting on the secret agreements will be held. For further details of the meeting, I think we can provide you with something at a later stage. Anyway, the Minister has said that he would like to expeditiously pace out the examination process so that we can retain the people of Japan's trust in our foreign policy making.

VIII. Questions concerning Japanese landmine assistance to Cambodia

Q: Going back to Cambodia, the grant aid that was provided for landmines, that is not something that is a highest ever amount provided for landmine issues, is it?

Mr. Kawamura: I do not think it is the highest among the previous series of assistance of this sort. I think, though, it is one of the highest amounts of aid provided for that particular purpose. Japan first provided assistance in this regard back in 1998. From what I understand, we estimate that from 4 million to 6 million mines remain in Cambodia, even 20 years after the conclusion of the internal conflict. The removal of mines is one of the major policy goals of Japan, which is committed to human security. This is also a key area for further development, which should provide the basic conditions for the social and economic development of Cambodia.

IX. Questions concerning assistance extended to Afghanistan and Pakistan

Q: Are there some sort of checks or controls on the aid that is being given to Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is there some committee or some members who are really watching where this aid is actually being spent?

Mr. Kawamura: I would like to say two things. One, Japan has provided 1.8 billion dollars already to Afghanistan in various areas including education, sanitation, prevention of infectious diseases, infrastructure building and so forth over the past eight years. Each of the projects, which are contained in this comprehensive package of 1.8 billion dollars, had its own governance observation mechanisms. We follow and observe these mechanisms. I am not an expert on this area, but each project has its own service. We are not totally satisfied with the results. There are challenges, of course, as you know, but based upon the installed system we would further face those challenges for the purpose of effective implementation of the projects.

The second thing is what we should do from now on. Japan has committed five billion dollars over the next five years to Afghanistan by succeeding in providing the previous 1.8 billion. First, Prime Minister Hatoyama talked with President Karzai over the phone on the day when we released the new plan. Mr. Karzai said that he would make efforts to have good governance. Yesterday, when the advisor to Mr. Karzai visited Minister Okada, he also underlined the transparency in implementation. We accept this as an important sign, the reaction from the Afghanistan government itself, for the issue of transparency and good governance. We, Japan and Afghanistan, will be in close touch so that this portion will be met in an effective way based upon our previous experiences in dealing with the same question.

Q: When did the advisor meet Minister Okada?

Mr. Kawamura: Yesterday evening, here at Minister Okada's office. The advisor to Mr. Karzai is also a member of the roundtable which I mentioned in the beginning. His name is Mr. Stanikzai. Actually, this is the recommendation paper which was presented to the Minister, if you are interested in it.

Any other questions? Thank you very much.

Get Acrobat Reader (Open a New Window)

Back to Index