Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 16 September 2010

1. The Fourth Meeting of Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
2. Meeting between Mr. Saiki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, US Special Representative for North Korean Policy
3. Japan-Costa Rica Foreign Ministers' Meeting
4. The High-Level Interim Meeting to Follow up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)
5. VIP Visits
6. Questions concerning North Korea
7. Questions concerning the collision of a Chinese fishing vessel with Japanese Coast Guard vessels
8. Questions concerning a meeting for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings
9. Questions concerning the Senkaku Islands
10. Questions concerning North Korea
11. Question concerning bilateral meetings on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings

The Fourth Meeting of Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I have several topics to share with you before inviting your questions. We have distributed the papers.

The first is the Fourth Meeting of Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. This meeting was held last week, 9 September, and Minister Okada, as well as Parliamentary Vice-Minister Tokunaga participated, together with the experts. The reason I distributed it is because, if you have a look at paragraph 3, this meeting was held in preparation for a foreign ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to be co-hosted by Japan and Australia during the session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly this month.  The discussion also covered the points to be discussed for the High-level Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament convened by the UN Secretary General and also for the "Friends of the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty)" Ministerial Meeting to be held in New York. So I distributed this.


Meeting between Mr. Saiki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, US Special Representative for North Korean Policy

 Mr. Sobashima: Secondly, I have an oral presentation of the meeting between Mr. Saiki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of this Ministry, and Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, US Special Representative for North Korean Policy.

The meeting was held last Tuesday, 14 September. In the meeting Ambassador Bosworth stated that in the relationship between North and South Koreas, yes, there is a new element, which is the flood that affected North Korea, however the situation is premature for engaging in dialogue with North Korea, and it is important for North Korea to show specific action, including for denuclearization, "dialogue for dialogue is meaningless", this is a kind of literal translation from the Japanese record, and it is important for the international community to steadily implement the sanction measures in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, among others. And finally, it is important for the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to have close communication and consultation among the three countries. This is what Ambassador Bosworth said.

Director-General Saiki responded saying that he shared the views of Ambassador Bosworth, that in order for the resumption of the talks the confidence should be developed between the parties, including the Republic of Korea and North Korea, that North Korea should make its intention clear by actually taking specific actions to implement the earlier declarations of the Six-Party Talks, adding that this is important to have specific results when and if the Six-Party Talks are resumed. In any event, Mr. Saiki confirmed that it is important to continue to have the close communication and consultation between Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea. And of course the two officials discussed the current situation of North Korea. This is an oral report.


Japan-Costa Rica Foreign Ministers' Meeting

 Mr. Sobashima: Thirdly, the Japan-Costa Rica Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The meeting was held yesterday, 15 September. The Costa Rica Foreign Minister, Mr. Castro, is the first Cabinet member of the new administration of President Laura Chinchilla Miranda to visit Japan, so of course Foreign Minister Okada welcomed him, and the two ministers agreed to further promote the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Particularly on climate change the topic that the two ministers discussed, they agreed to cooperate with each other toward the success of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This is the third item.

 

The High-Level Interim Meeting to Follow up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)

Mr. Sobashima: Finally as a topic, the High-Level Interim Meeting to Follow up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5). The first high-level Interim Meeting to follow up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5) between Japan and the Members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will be held on Saturday 16 October in Tokyo at Iikura House.

The Meeting will be attended, on the Japanese side, by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and on the PIF side, by Hon. Edward Natapei, Chairman of PIF, as well as Ministers for Foreign Affairs or equivalent Ministers from 14 Member countries and 2 regions of the PIF.

Such Interim Meeting will be held for the first time on a decision at the PALM5. In the Meeting, the Ministers will review the progress after the PALM5 and discuss the medium to long-term policies to strengthen Japan-PIF partnership in preparation for PALM6 in 2012. So these are the topics.


VIP Visits

Mr. Sobashima: For the visits, we announced that the President of the Republic of Ghana will be coming to Japan. His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills will be coming to Japan as a guest of official working visit, from 29 September until 2 October. His Majesty the Emperor will receive the President in audience, and the President is also expected to have a summit meeting with Prime Minister Kan, amongst other schedules.

As I mentioned, there will be meetings in New York, of course many meetings, for example relating to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), innovative financing, biological diversity, water, and various other topics as well. As you know, as it was only two days ago that we had the vote for the leader of the ruling party, the arrangements are being made for these meetings. While the Prime Minister indicated his intention to visit New York, the arrangements are still being made.

So these are the topics and information I would like to share today. I invite your questions.


Questions concerning North Korea

Q: Can I come back to North Korea? In former times there was always the question of apologizing by North Korea to South Korea because of the Cheonan incident, and I think this was also the standpoint of the Japanese Government. Now there is no mention any more about apologizing. So, is this still a topic, that North Korea has to apologize first, before they can resume the Six-Party Talks?

Mr. Sobashima: I think I explained in this forum also that in the wake of the adoption of the presidential statement that the position of the Japanese Government is that it is important for the North Korean side to sort of react to this presidential statement. That may include various measures, you mentioned apologizing. Both the US and Japanese senior officials stated that it is important for the North Korean side to show specific actions. So we didn't sort of change our position that it is still the North Korean side who should act for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: So in the specific actions there could be an apology, but you cannot confirm if it is necessary.

Mr. Sobashima: Another thing I would like to emphasize is that both Ambassador Bosworth and Mr. Saiki stated that the three countries, Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea, should closely communicate and consult. It is not a unilateral decision of Japan alone, but the Republic of Korea and the United States will together judge whether the specific action, if coming at all, from North Korea is appropriate for the next step or not.

Q: Can I just come back to the specific actions. So, in these specific actions there could be an apology, but it is not necessary, or you cannot confirm that it is necessary to have this apology.

Mr. Sobashima: I would like to avoid prejudicing the possible action from North Korea or possible response on the part of Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea. I am sorry for that.


Questions concerning the collision of a Chinese fishing vessel with Japanese Coast Guard vessels

Q: Can you briefly summarize Japan and China's talks regarding the ship collision where a fishing boat collided with a Japan Coast Guard ship, and briefly how many times Ambassador Niwa was called, and where the situation stands diplomatically between Japan and China, and the prospect of what will happen to the Chinese captain, and and also if there is a schedule as to when certain decisions will be made.

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you very much for tasking me with this issue. I think you are already aware of the facts. I don't know whether I am able to satisfy your interest. Skipping the dates and the times, because of the collision between the Chinese fishing vessel and the Japanese Coast Guard ships, the warrant for arrest was issued on the captain of the Chinese fishing vessel and he is detained. And what we will do is that the Government of Japan will address this issue rigorously based on our domestic law, taking into account the degree and characteristic of the violation. The charge for arrest is obstructing the performance of public duties. So the only thing I can perhaps repeat, which already has been mentioned by the other officials of the Government of Japan is that the authorities will address this issue based on our domestic laws.

Q: How many times has Ambassador Niwa been summoned?

Mr. Sobashima: Well, I haven't heard the latest, but as of yesterday or the day before yesterday at least six times there were the meetings between Ambassador Niwa and the Senior Officials of the Chinese Government.  I am sorry I don't know the latest figure, however at least six times there were the meetings between Ambassador Niwa and the Chinese Senior Officials.

Q: Was it the sixth time or the fifth time that he was summoned?

Mr. Sobashima: I am sorry, again, there were meetings between Ambassador Niwa and senior officials of the Chinese Government. I don't know on which occasion he visited out of his initiative or he was called by the Chinese side. I don't have that sort of information.

Q: So the decision regarding the captain will be made by Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department or prosecutors? And how soon?

Mr. Sobashima: First, this issue was taken up by the Coast Guard Authority, and then, I am not able to specify the specific branch of the government, but in any event, there is some branch of the government dealing with this. And there will be a conclusion. When there is a conclusion then that conclusion will be announced, but pending that I should like to refrain from predicting what will be the conclusion and when.

Q: Is Japan concerned about the situation of Japanese residents in China? There are some reports of possible unrest.

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, we have advised Japanese people to be careful. We hope that the situation will be managed, and we really hope that there should be no further escalation out of this incident.

Q: So you advised the Japanese people in China to be careful.

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, there were some incidents of advice given through the Embassy or Consulate General of Japan there, to be careful, right.


Questions concerning a meeting for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings

Q: I would like to confirm the schedule of the meeting of non-nuclear states to be co-hosted by Japan and Australia in New York. You said that it remains uncertain whether Prime Minister Kan or Foreign Minister Okada will attend, but will this meeting be held regardless of who represents Japan at this meeting about the nuclear disarmament?

Mr. Sobashima: At this point I presume so. What I mentioned is the meeting at Foreign Minister level, the meeting for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Minister Okada proposed this together with his counterpart in Australia. If the time comes to announce more detail we will be able to do so, but I am afraid it is not yet the time, but yes, this is the meeting for the Foreign Ministers of like-minded countries, so to speak. In any event, this is a Foreign Ministers meeting, so as Japan is one of the co-hosts, of course the Japanese Foreign Minister is expected to co-host together with the Australian Foreign Minister.

Q: Regardless of who is the Japanese Foreign Minister?

Mr. Sobashima: Anyway, I have to refrain from answering in a concrete manner. What I can explain is that this is a meeting of Foreign Ministers, and therefore the Japanese and Australian Foreign Ministers are expected to co-host this meeting.

Q: And the date for this meeting is not settled?

Mr. Sobashima: Well, yes, it is being arranged, but it is not yet the time to announce it.


Questions concerning the Senkaku Islands

Q: I would like to come back to China. Yesterday Minister Renho stated that there is a territorial dispute, and then she retracted these remarks. So the official standpoint is still that there is no territorial dispute regarding the Senkaku Islands with China?

Mr. Sobashima: Right. Our official position is historically and legally the Senkaku Islands is part of Japan. And we have effective control over the islands. Therefore it is not the issue to be disputed.

Q: If the Japanese side is talking to the Chinese side about this incident, what kind of topic do you speak then?

Mr. Sobashima: We would like to refrain from explaining the diplomatic communications, but of course the communication is both ways, so we explain our position and naturally they explain their position. If we feel that we should further explain our position we will do so. And of course, as I have been explaining, that the captain of a Chinese fishing vessel is arrested on the charge of obstructing the performance of public duties. Another thing that we feel is that, as I explained, we should address the issue calmly, and the Japanese side is doing this, and we hope the Chinese side also addresses this in a calm manner, avoiding escalation. So this is our basic position, but I would like to refrain from going into detail on what sort of diplomatic communications we have actually had.


Questions concerning North Korea

Q: If I may I would like to go back to North Korea. You mentioned that Mr. Bosworth said that there is a new situation, for example regarding the flood.

Mr. Sobashima: A humanitarian situation.

Q: Because there are many signs at the moment that North Korea is willing to engage more in talks with South Korea, does the Japanese Government have the feeling that North Korea is already a little bit moving toward some actions, or is the Japanese Government still waiting?

Mr. Sobashima: We are still waiting for concrete actions that are to be appreciated.


Question concerning bilateral meetings on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings

Q: Can you confirm that the prospective meeting with the Chinese Premier in New York is not going to happen?

Mr. Sobashima: No. First, the visit of Prime Minister Kan to New York itself is still to be confirmed. And then his overall schedule is to be confirmed. Then, bilateral meetings are a further two steps or three steps away.

If you have no further questions, thank you very much for coming.