PRESS CONFERENCE BY JAPAN

24 September 1996

Press Briefing

19960924 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

A number of countries have expressed support for Japan's candidature in forthcoming elections to the Security Council as well as its bid to become a permanent member of the Council, Japanese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hidehiko Hamada said at a Headquarters press conference yesterday.

Ha said Japan had secured that support at some of the meetings Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda had held with foreign ministers and representatives of intergovernmental bodies such as the South Pacific Forum, the Rio Group and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Topics in Mr. Ikeda's discussions since his arrival in New York on Saturday, 21 September, to take part in the fifty-first session of the General Assembly, had included bilateral cooperation, United Nations reforms, the Middle East and development-related questions.

Mr. Hamada said Foreign Minister Ikeda thanked the South Pacific Forum countries for their "strong and unanimous" support for Japanese efforts to join as well as become a permanent member of the Security Council. Their discussions also covered the Pacific Islands Centre, jointly established by Japan and the Pacific Forum countries to be opened in Tokyo on 1 October. Japan would bear 90 per cent of the running costs of the centre, which was aimed at promoting trade and investment between Japan and member States of the Forum, he said.

In a meeting with the Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali-Akbar Velayati, Mr. Ikeda had discussed bilateral relations, the Middle East and terrorism, the Spokesman said. Mr. Velayati told Mr. Ikeda that Iranian support for the Palestinian organization Hamas was spiritual only. Mr. Ikeda briefed the Iranian minister on his recent talks in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel and also said that it was important that the Middle East peace process succeeded. Mr. Velayati said it did not expect much from that process. Mr. Ikeda replied that Iran should not, nevertheless, do anything that might jeopardize the peace process. Mr. Ikeda called for continued bilateral dialogue despite their different views and positions. The Iranian Foreign Minister also expressed the wish for a more active role in the region by Japan.

At a luncheon meeting with members of the Rio Group, Mr. Ikeda stressed the importance of United Nations reform, not only in the composition of the Security Council, but also in the Organization's financing and budgetary process. Although there was no consensus in the Rio Group about the reform of the Security Council, they agreed that it was essential that Japan should be a member. The meeting was the eighth between the two sides.

Foreign Minister Ikeda next met his Spanish counterpart, Abel Matutes, during which the Japanese Government was commended for lifting a ban on imports of Spanish oranges. The Spanish Minister welcomed Japan's initiatives in Latin America, observing that the strengthening of Spanish-Japanese relations would contribute to close Japanese ties with Latin America.

The talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Bjorn Tore Godal began on a friendly footing with Mr. Ikeda observing that most of Japan's imports arrived on Norwegian ships, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry Spokesman. Mr. Ikeda extended Japan's assistance to the treatment of nuclear waste. They agreed that the two countries should continue cooperation on development issues and the Middle East peace process, among other matters. Earlier, Mr. Ikeda had held a "warm and cordial" meeting with his Danish counterpart Niels Helveg Petersen, during which they agreed to work together within United Nations forums on problems facing the Organization. The Japanese Foreign Minister sought the benefit of Denmark's experience on land-mines. Japan plans an international conference on land-mines similar to one hosted by Denmark last June.

Asked by a correspondent whether the dispute over sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diuoyu islands would come up during Foreign Minister Ikeda's talks with his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, 24 September, the Spokesman said he could not predict the subjects the Chinese might raise. He added, however, that the Japanese position was that the islands were "historically and legally" part of Japan. He expressed the hope the dispute would not jeopardize the friendly relations between the two countries.

Briefing correspondents again late on Monday afternoon, Mr. Hamada, the Japanese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said the Foreign Minister had met representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the European Union and his Algerian and Colombian counterparts.

At the outset of his meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council ministers, Mr. Ikeda expressed the hope the relations between Japan and their countries would continue to be good, the Spokesman said. The ministers urged more Japanese investment in petrochemical industries in their region. Japan was commended for its support for the Middle East peace process.

Mr. Ikeda assured them of increased Japanese assistance, he said. Participation in oil production ventures was a matter for Japan's private sector. Japan would try to exert all efforts to ensure that Kuwait's position in its dispute with Iraq prevailed. The Spokesman quoted the Kuwaiti representative at the talks as saying his country still believed that Iraq harboured intentions of invading it. He hoped for continued Japanese support of the relevant Security Council resolutions on Iraq. The Gulf Cooperation Council States commended Japan for its assistance to Palestine and urged it to persuade Israel to cooperate to move the Middle East peace process forward.

Japan Press Conference - 3 - 24 September 1996

Mr. Ikeda met a European Union ministerial delegation for talks which covered Japan's relations with the Union, democratization and the human rights situation in Myanmar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Middle East. In his talks with his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, Mr. Ikeda commended Algeria's contribution to stability in the north African region. The Algerian Minister called for expansion in the political dialogue and economic exchanges between the two countries. He expressed Algeria's support for Japan's quest for membership in the Security Council.

The meeting with Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Emma Meija Velez also touched on United Nations reforms, the drug problem and bilateral relations.

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