Meeting Between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi of Japan and Secretary of State Powell of the United States of America
(Summary)

May 15, 2004

Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi held talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America for approximately 20 minutes in Washington DC on May 14, 2004. From 11:05 local time (00:05 on May 15, Japan time), Foreign Minister Kawaguchi was in Washington DC to attend the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The following is a summary of the meeting with Secretary Powell.

1. North Korea

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi informed Secretary Powell on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to North Korea, to which Secretary Powell stated support.

2. Iraq

(1) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed high regard for the US policy to stay the course toward the transfer of sovereignty on June 30, 2004. In response, Secretary Powell stated that as the words "transfer of sovereignty" suggested, authority would be transferred from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) under Administrator L. Paul Bremer to an interim Iraqi government. Secretary Powell also noted that 11 ministries and agencies had already been established in Iraq and that it was necessary for the people of Iraq to take the lead from now on.

(2) Regarding the involvement of the United Nations, Secretary Powell stated that the United States intended to seek a Security Council resolution and that the sooner such a resolution be adopted the better.

(3) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that the incidents of abuse of Iraqi nationals by members of the US Forces were unfortunate and regrettable, but at the same time it was important that the United States was taking a variety of measures in a transparent manner. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expressed her hope that it would be possible for the international community to appreciate such efforts by the United States, and that it was necessary for the United States to continue such an approach. In response, Secretary Powell stated that these were terrible incidents and were regrettable. He noted, however, that the United States was taking an appropriate response to the incidents.

(4) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that Japan would continue to be involved in Iraq through its humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, to which Secretary Powell expressed his appreciation.

3. Middle East

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained that during the courtesy call on President George W. Bush of the United States by the G8 Foreign Ministers prior to the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, President Bush had stressed the importance of ownership and partnership. She noted that the Arab Summit would be held shortly and that it was important for the international community to encourage the reform efforts by the Arab countries. There was agreement between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Secretary Powell on this point.

4. Japan-US Security Arrangements

With regard to the relocation and return of the Futenma Air Station described in the Final Report by Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO), Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that the Government of Japan would continue to maintain its policy. Regarding the issue of the 15 year limit on the usage of the facility to replace Futenma Air Station, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that the Government of Japan would continue to seize the issue.