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| Lyon Summit Information |
Press Conference by Spokesman for the Delegation of Japan Hiroshi Hashimoto
Japan's Bilateral Meetings with the U.S., U.K., and France
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MAJOR TOPICS
- Introduction of speaker and briefing status
- Spokesman's announcements to the Press
- Questions from the Press
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Introduction of speaker and briefing status
Moderator: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this on-the record briefing by the Japanese delegation. Before we begin, I would just like to remind you of the ground rules for this press conference. Today's speaker will be Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Hiroshi Hashimoto. Mr. Hashimoto is the official spokesman for the Japanese delegation to the G-7 Summit. As this is an on-the-record briefing, you may quote Mr. Hashimoto by name and title or as the spokesman for the Japanese Government. Mr. Hashimoto will begin with a brief statement. Following this statement, he will open the floor to questions. If you have a question, please raise your hand and wait to be recognized by the spokesman. Once you are called on, please proceed to the microphone. Please state your name and affiliation before proceeding with your question. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Let me now introduce Mr. Hiroshi Hashimoto, Spokesman for the Japanese Delegation.
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Spokesman's announcements to the Press
Spokesman for the Delegation of Japan Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the briefing. Today, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto of Japan met President Jacques Santer of the European Commission, Prime Minister John Major of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic and President William J. Clinton of the United States of America. I would like to briefly tell you about the content of the talks between President Clinton and Prime Minister Hashimoto. If you have any specific questions on the talks with the other countries, I am ready to answer you. The talks between Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Clinton lasted for an hour, and was divided into two parts. The first part lasted for thirty minutes. The talks were just between Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Clinton, with interpreters. At the latter thirty minutes, those two leaders joined the other cabinet ministers. On the tete-a-tete talks, they talked about the bilateral relationship, and on the talks with the cabinet ministers, they talked about international relations. After the tete-a-tete meeting, the Prime Minister of Japan reported to the cabinet ministers what had been discussed between them. At first, Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed his deep concern about the victims caused by terrorism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. Prime Minister Hashimoto went on to say that he and President Clinton exchanged views on the issues of semiconductors and insurance. He said that he would like to conclude those talks by mutually making concessions. At this meeting, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that the Finance Minister and the Minister of International Trade and Industry are here, and from the American side, their counterparts are here, so let's do our best to let the Japanese and American ministers in charge shake hands in the near future. President Clinton said what Prime Minister Hashimoto said was correct. Prime Minister Hashimoto went on to say that Japan will do its best to reach an agreement. At the same time, Japan asks the United States to make an effort on those talks, and both sides should reach an agreement by the end of July. In this, both Prime Minister Hashimoto and President Clinton agreed. On the other bilateral issues, the two leaders exchanged views in the presence of the cabinet ministers, they touched on several subjects. Prime Minister Hashimoto explained to President Clintonon on his visit to the Republic of Korea, he explained the importance of the proposed four-party meeting. On the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Prime Minister Hashimoto explained that Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda just participated in the debate at the committee on disarmament. He said that at the reception hosted by Foreign Minister Ikeda, a representative of North Korea expressed feelings of thanks to the Government of Japan on the humanitarian assistance for the shortage of food. President Clinton said the following things. The United States appreciates Japan's assistance to North Korea. The United States appreciates very much that Prime Minister Hashimoto promptly expressed his support on the proposed four-party meeting. President Clinton talked about the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Both the United States and Japan would like to get support from the European Union, while Japan is contributing assistance to the Bosnia-Herzegovina issue. President Clinton said that both the United States and Japan have special responsibilities in establishing a contructive relationship with both the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. If we can make a constructive climate, then under this climate we can establish a productive partnership with those two countries. He explained about the U.S.-China relationship, saying that relations have started to improve step-by-step recently. He talked about the People's Republic of China's participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO). China is a big country and has the potential to develop, so it is important to have China in the WTO. However, China is requested to abide by the established rules under the WTO. On the Russian Federation, President Clinton said that the United States will engage in the relationship with Russia after the presidential election. President Clinton said that if Japan hopes, the United States is ready to play a certain role for the relationship between Japan and Russia. If Japan, which is a democratic country, and Russia, which is in the process of democratization, can establish a good partnership, it will contribute to the world. Prime Minister Hashimoto said that Japan welcomes the accord reached on the intellectual copyrights issue between the United States and China. He welcomes the decision by the Clinton Administration to extend the MFN. Prime Minister Hashimoto said that Japan is ready to endeavor to let China participate in the WTO. On Russia, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that Japan appreciates that the first stage of the presidential election took place freely and fairly. After the end of the second stage of the presidential election, he proposed to let the officials meet together and exchange views on their bilateral relations towards Russia. The President replied that he welcomed this proposal. Prime Minister Hashimoto said he appreciated what President Clinton said on his possible role for the Japan-U.S. relationship. Prime Minister Hashimoto said that it is a pity that President Boris Yeltsin of the Russian Federation will not come to the Lyon Summit; however, so long as Russia endeavors to go in the reform line, the G-7 should continue to help their reform efforts, and this message should be delivered to Russia at the Lyon Summit. On Bosnia-Herzegovina, Prime Minister Hashimoto appreciated and respected the efforts done so far by the United States. On KEDO, Prime Minister Hashimoto expressed his concern about the move of Congress to cut the budget for the activities of KEDO. Prime Minister Hashimoto has said that KEDO is an important organization and asked the Clinton Administration to make further efforts to not let this happen. President Clinton said that the administration is endeavoring to do so. That is the gist of the bilateral talks between the two gentlemen. I will be delighted to respond to any questions you may have.
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Questions from the Press
Q: Concerning the agreement to come out with a deal by 31 July, at the American briefing, it was asked what would happen if there is no deal after that date. The American briefer replied that the U.S. has trade laws which it could then go to. It appears that this is a deadline rather than an agreed date. I would like your comment on that.
A: Of course, we are not in a position to make a comment on the American side; however, judging from what Prime Minister Hashimoto briefed to the cabinet ministers, he sincerely wants to conclude an agreement with the United States, but he emphasized the importance of making concessions on both sides. Since we still have time until the end of July, we will do our best to reach an agreement.
Q: My other question is whether Prime Minister Hashimoto in his meetings with President Chirac or with any of the other leaders discussed international foreign exchange rates or general economic matters?
A: No. They did not exchange views on the foreign currency or monetary problems.
Q: You say that Prime Minister Hashimoto called for concessions on both sides. Was he specific at all? Did he suggest who might concede what, or what concessions might be made?
A: Prime Minister Hashimoto did not tell the Cabinet members present, except about what I told you. We are given the impression that the two leaders did not talk on those pending issues in detail. In a broad sense, as I said, Prime Minister Hashimoto said that mutual concessions are needed. Thank you very much.
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