(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura

Date: Friday, June 6, 2008, 9:24 a.m.
Place: In front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

North Korean issues
Dispatch of Governmental Election Observation mission for the General Election in Cambodia
Assistance for Afghanistan

1. North Korean issues

Minister:
Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Akitaka Saiki will visit China tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. He is scheduled to have talks with the North Korean Ambassador Song Il Ho. The two will talk about the current situation in Japan-North Korea relations and where those relations are headed.

Question:
Regarding Japan-North Korea consultations, do you think there is a good outlook for progress to be made in the abductions issue?

Minister:
The upcoming talks in China will not be official, but rather unofficial ones dealing with preparatory matters that will lead to the next Working Group meetings and other official meetings. Of course, we would certainly not be opposed if North Korea prepared an idea in advance and made an unexpected proposal to us, but to be honest we are not really expecting that much from the meetings that will take place tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

Question:
In that regard there have been some reports in the media that perhaps as soon as next week the Heads of Delegation Meeting of the Six-Party Talks will be held. What is your outlook for that?

Minister:
I cannot say anything about that. There is nothing conclusive that I can say, since there remains the declaration issue. Perhaps the outcome of the possible official negotiations between Japan and North Korea in the future may have influence on that.

Question:
Although the declaration has still not been submitted by North Korea, are you saying that there is a possibility that even prior to the submission of a declaration, the Heads of Delegation Meeting of the Six-Party Talks may be held?

Minister:
Various considerations are being made right now. Given the fact that various considerations are underway, at the current point in time I am not in a position to be able to give you an absolute statement in that regard.

2. Dispatch of Governmental Election Observation mission for the General Election in Cambodia

Minister:
A General Election will be taking place in Cambodia and Japan will be dispatching a governmental election observation mission comprised of approximately 25 individuals who will go to Cambodia sometime around the later part of July.

Related Information (Press Release)

3. Assistance for Afghanistan

Question:
The International Conference in support of Afghanistan will be taking place in Paris next week on 12 June. Will you be attending that conference?

Minister:
Given that Diet deliberations have reached their final stage, consideration is currently being made as to what should be done regarding participation at that conference.

Question:
Are you saying that if it is possible for you to attend that conference that you would like to attend it?

Minister:
Of course I would like to go. However, it may be the case that the Diet will enter into a period during which my presence will be essential and therefore there may be a conflict with my obligations vis-à-vis the Diet. Consideration will have to be made as to which of those to choose, or perhaps if the Diet can make an extremely prudent decision, then that will be another situation. All of these things are being considered.

Question:
Can you explain the significance of and the background against which consideration will be made for dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan?

Minister:
I already mentioned about such consideration at the last press conference.

Related Information (Press Release)

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