Preview of the Upcoming Visit of Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi

MR. BAILY: Welcome to the Foreign Press Center for this afternoon's background briefing. This afternoon's briefing will be on background with a Senior Administration Official and he will be talking about the visit of Prime Minister Koizumi later this week. We have about 45 minutes, so if we could – the more shorter the questions are, the more questions we'll get in. So with that, I'll let our Senior Administration Official make a few introductory remarks and then we'll take your questions.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. Well, as you all know, we've got a big visit this week. The Prime Minister is in Canada now. He arrives in Washington tomorrow and the 29th will be his White House day. We'll have a South Lawn arrival ceremony if the weather holds up. And then he'll have a series of meetings, followed by a joint press availability and then he'll have lunch with the Vice President and then there'll be some other things in the afternoon that he'll do, and then we'll have a White House dinner for him tomorrow evening, complete with entertainment.

And then as you know Friday -- Friday morning they will go to Graceland together. They'll do a tour there and will meet with some locals at lunch. There'll be a lunch in Memphis. So it's all going to be a very exciting trip. We're very excited about it. I think, you know, on the one hand there's work that needs to be done. They'll discuss a lot of important issues between the two of them, as you would expect in a regular meeting of the two leaders. But, you know, it's no big secret that this is in many ways the Prime Minister's last official visit to Washington and the President wanted to do something nice for him. So in addition to the work part of it, they're going to also enjoy this trip to Graceland.

So with that, I'd be happy to take any questions you might have.

MR. BAILY: If you could wait for the microphone and identify yourself.

QUESTION: Tim Reid from the London Times. Just on the trip to Memphis, do you know what time they'll actually be arriving at Graceland?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don't have the schedule with me, so I can't give you exact times. They're going to be -- they'll go in the morning and the whole idea is that they'll do a tour and they'll have -- be able to see a bunch of things and then have lunch together. The President then has to go someplace -- a domestic stop elsewhere, and the Prime Minister will leave directly from Memphis for Tokyo.

QUESTION: And will there be any press access while they tour in Graceland and have lunch with the locals?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'll defer to the press people for the authoritative word. My understanding is that there won't be a press pool at the bottom of the tour of Graceland.

QUESTION: Thanks.

QUESTION: Thank you. My name is with Kaori Iida with NHK Television. I was wondering if you could talk a bit about the economic side of this meeting. Is any -- to what extent do you think the issue of beef will be raised? And also to what extent do you think the issue of financial cooperation with respect to Iran will be raised and any other economic issues you can share with us. I appreciate it. Thanks.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, sure. I think on the economic side, you know, everybody -- first in terms of the bigger economic picture, I think everybody's very happy to see that the Japanese economy looks like it's in recovery, you know, after some 15 years of sort of stagnation and slow growth that there appears to be a sustained recovery. That's very positive. That we think is linked to Prime Minister Koizumi's domestic reforms that he's undertaken to try to trim bureaucracy and open the system a little bit. You know, I think they'll talk about those issues.

With regard to beef, as you all know very well, it's been a difficult issue between the two countries. But at the same time, the Japanese Government announced last week that they have basically decided to move ahead with lifting the import bans subject to an implementation process. Auditors have arrived here, I believe over the weekend, to look at -- to inspect the plants. So there is -- while this has been a difficult issue in the past, there is a process in place with a statement by the Japanese side that they have agreed in principle to lift the import restriction. There's a path ahead that needs to be implemented, so that's very positive and I think we're happy with that.

With regard to Iran, I think Iran, as with North Korea and other issues, will be topics of discussion. We consider the Japanese a very important partner and we consult very closely with them with regard to Iran. And I think they will talk about the range of issues from the diplomatic efforts that are being undertaken to discussions about what they would do if the diplomatic efforts fail.

QUESTION: Just to clarify, so it's safe to assume that beef will be on the agenda between the meetings?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I don't know if -- I mean, I wouldn't say that for certain that they're going to walk into the room and the first thing they're going to talk about is beef. I think probably at the dinner, if there's beef at the table, there will be a joke about beef. (Laughter.)

But, you know, I think both leaders understand that this is an important issue on both sides. They understand that it's important for both countries. So they have been actually very cooperative in trying to find a way forward. And I think we found a way forward with this timetable of an announcement last week and an implementation process that is started, so --

QUESTION: Dmitri Kirsanov, with TASS, the Russian newswire service. Sir, I think naturally North Korean nuclear and missile issues problems would be one of the biggest topics between President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi. Are you prepared -- I mean, is the U.S. Administration preparing to throw in some new ideas on that or you are expecting to hear something new or some new initiatives from your Japanese colleagues? Could you share that information with us?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I think on the North -- yes, I think the North Korea issue will come up between the two leaders. With regard to your question about new initiatives and new ideas, you know, I think everybody -- at least we -- we and the Japanese are very much in the same place on this, which is in September of 2005 we got a joint statement. As many of you will remember, prior to September of 2005, people were very skeptical of the June 2004 proposal and whether we could get a joint statement.

Now that we have this joint statement, it's the first time that the North Koreans have pledged to all five parties on paper that they will abandon all nuclear weapons and all existing nuclear programs. The idea of coming up with new proposals and new initiatives when you have that commitment in writing from the North Koreans doesn't make a whole lot of sense. And I think we're all on the same page with regard to -- we've got a joint statement that lays out a clear path and we've got to get them to come back to talks to implement the joint statement. And I think there is no daylight between the Japanese and the United States on that.

QUESTION: Steve Collinson with AFP. Could you talk about how the personal relationship between President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi has factored into what a lot of analysts here -- improved relationships between Japan and the United States of the last five years or so? And is there any concern in the Administration that that relationship is so strong that when Mr. Koizumi is no longer there, the relationship between Japan and the United States may not be on the same warm personal footing?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: It's a good question. I think that there's no denying it's very well known that the two leaders do have a very good relationship, a very good personal relationship, in spite of the fact that they don't speak the same language although Koizumi can sing in English. (Laughter.) They have a very good friendship. Does that drive all the advances in U.S.-Japan-Korea cooperation over the past five and half years? To some extent, yes. But at the same time, I don't think there's any expectation of a drop-off after this Prime Minister leaves. I mean, there's a very good personal relationship, but there's also a wide overlap of common interest that we share with Japan.

And more importantly, and something that we've been stressing a lot -- we stressed it at Kyoto when the President was in Kyoto last November -- is that this alliance is really transformed into an alliance based on common values and that it's because of these -- these common values drive the common interest which then cause the United States and Japan to cooperate in different places around the world, whether it's Iraq or Afghanistan or North Korea or other areas.

So while there is a very good personal friendship between the two leaders and that's important and that is a nice way to look at the high level of cooperation and the relationship, there is a sturdy foundation beneath that top-level friendship that's deeply rooted in sort of broadening common interests and common values. So I think we're quite happy with the Prime Minister coming and I'm sure we'll be sad to see him go, but we know that our relationship with Japan goes much -- is much broader and deeper than just the personal relationship between the leaders.

QUESTION: Michael Lavallee with Tokyo Broadcasting System.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Mike.

QUESTION: Just wondering, you said that this -- the President wanting to do this for Prime Minister Koizumi, the trip to Memphis and everything. I was wondering if you could give us a little bit of background about how the trip came about. Whose idea was it, how the choice of Memphis came in, if you could provide some background on that?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure, sure. Sure. I used to talk to him on the record when I was a professor. So -- sure, I mean, as you saw in The Washington Post today, the Prime Minister's love of Elvis is, how should we say, very deeply entrenched? And I think between the two leaders, I think it came up when they first met. In June of 2001, they met at Camp David for the first time. And you know, at Camp David they were able to have a discussion about a lot of things, including the President's cowboy boots and a variety of different personal issues, including -- and he makes no secret of his love for Elvis. So I think that's where it all started. And as you read in the paper, Koizumi actually serenaded the President with one of his favorite Elvis songs at Gleneagles in Scotland. And then they -- you know, it was sort of a running thing between the two of them. And then when this trip materialized when we knew that -- because it was -- when the Prime Minister's trip here materialized, the President said, I want to do something for my friend. And this idea of Graceland came up, so. And the bureaucrats were just totally freaked out, you know -- (laughter) -- on both sides -- were like this, no, you know, but here we are. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: What's your biggest concern about what Prime Minister Koizumi may get the President to do that is a little bit odd in Graceland? (Laughter.)

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: In Graceland? I don't know. I don't know if we're requisitioning "Blue Suede Shoes" and trying to fit them in. But, you know, I don't know. I mean, I think that, they'll have -- they will tour together. You know, there will be an entourage with them but they will tour the mansion together. So -- and I don't know if any of you -- probably a lot of you have been there, but there are lots of different rooms where there's lots of different and interesting topics of discussion that could come up between the two, but neither you nor I will hear them.

QUESTION: Kiyon Kuk with Segye Times Korea. Is there any possibility that President George Bush will raise the issue of -- like raise the historical issue like visiting Yasukuni Shrine by the Japanese minister?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I knew this question would come up. I won't speak to the details of what the two leaders will speak to each other about. We know that this is an issue for Korea, that it's an issue for other countries in the region, and I think the wrong impression to convey is that we don't pay attention. I think we do. We do pay attention. We watch it very closely. We understand the issues very well.

But it's -- you know, I don't think it's the place of either foreign leader -- either leader to tell the other one what he can and cannot do domestically.

QUESTION: Hi. Takuya Nishimura with Hokkaido newspaper. I wonder what kind of document are you preparing after the leaders talk on the 29th. Will it be a statement or a kind of declaration? And I would like to ask you how are you describing the achievement on the issue of strengthening U.S.-Japan alliance these five years?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'll speak to the whole question of a document in a moment. In terms of how we're describing the relationship, one of the things I've already made -- I've already sort of previewed, which is that, you know, this is to celebrate a personal friendship but it's also to celebrate an alliance that has really moved in terms of leaps and bounds over the past six years. And you know, the U.S.-Japan relationship is now one that's global. It's not just a bilateral relationship. It's not merely based on common interest but it's based on common values. I think that we see a rejuvenated economic relationship with Japan as well. So, you know, I think that people often look at these things and they say, well, these big messages don't mean much. But in this case I think the big messages mean a lot because, as the prior question asked, what happens after Prime Minister Koizumi leaves? You know, what happens after the President leaves?

Well, I think this relationship over the past six years has sort of set a new bar and it's the expectations of everybody now that the United States and Japan will cooperate around the world, whether it's in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere.

In terms of a document, we're thinking about the idea of a document and but I think I'll -- I don't think I should say anything about that right now. There will be discussions. There will be a joint press availability where the two leaders can talk to this.

QUESTION: This is Takasji Arimoto with Sankei Shimbun. My question is on Burma, the idea that difference between U.S. and Japan about Burma, especially UN resolution. Could you explain how serious that issue is between the two regions?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: You know, I know that there have been some statements that have been made that may paint it as the two sides being very different on Burma, or Myanmar, but I don't think we're that different. You know, we look at the issue not just in the context of the problems that need to be addressed in Burma, but also with regard to Japan, I mean, as I said, it's an alliance based on common values. And, you know, the President chose to give his freedom agenda speech in Asia, in Japan, last November, so that says a lot about sort of where we think our combined stance should be with regard to Burma.

And, you know, I don't think the Japanese disagree with that view that much. I mean, there have been some statements, but I don't think they disagree with this view that there needs to be greater inclusion and more open political dialogue in some of these places. Not just Burma, but also North Korea.

QUESTION: Hi, Hyung-du Choi of Munhwa Ilbo, a Korean newspaper. I wonder if Mr. President, Mr. Bush, has made a direct call to Prime Minister Koizumi regarding North Korean missile issue because, you know, since Tony Snow said that Mr. President made several calls to several allied countries, but so I said I know if Mr. Bush has not made call, direct call to South Korean President, how about Mr. Koizumi? Did he make a call? Did Bush make a call to --

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: To Prime Minister Koizumi?

QUESTION: Yeah, to Prime Minister Koizumi.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: About what? About --

QUESTION: About North Korean missile issue.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'll have to go back and check. I think the best way -- I mean, because this has gotten blown way out of proportion. I think the best way to characterize this is the President, his National Security team, including the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor, and senior level staff have been in constant contact with all members, all of their counterparts of the six-party talks with regard to this particular issue.

I think this has gotten blown way out of proportion. And we have constant communication with the South Koreans. We have very good communication with the South Koreans on an every other day, if not a daily, basis. So there's no issue there with regard to who's calling whom.

QUESTION: Michael Lavallee with TBS again. To follow up on the North Korea question, as you said, this is probably going to be Topic A between President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi. One, could you give us any update on the North Korean missile situation, if there is any update? And two, you also mentioned that they would discuss next steps if North Korea did launch the missile. I'm just wondering if you could discuss any potential next steps if North Korea did launch the missile.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, sure. You'd like me to lay out our strategy for once they launch -- (laughter). No, it's clearly going to be an issue that will come up for discussion. I have no update for you on North Korean preparations for a launch of any sort. But yes, it'll be an issue that will come up between the two leaders. As I said, we've been in constant contact with Japan, South Korea, China, Russia and a number of other countries about this. A number of countries have all gone to the North Koreans, including us, to tell the North Koreans and issue a warning that they should not do this. And, you know, I think the two leaders have always had a very good and healthy discussion about North Korea all the times that they've met in the past and they will continue that discussion.

As you know, another added element is -- another added personal element for the President is that he met with Mrs. Yokota in the Oval Office. And the President and the Prime Minister have not met since that meeting, so I'm sure they will discuss that as well.

QUESTION: Jinsook Lee of MBC South Korea. Again to follow-up on the North Korea missile issue. Today, White House spokesperson Tony Snow said that North Korea should not use their intercontinental ballistic missile as a bluff to reach (inaudible) with the United States. And yesterday, President Bush said that North Korea should say what their real intentions are regarding to their intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Does that mean that today's remarks by Tony Snow mean that the United States interprets it as a bluff? Have you concluded the translation, or interpretation of the intentions of North Korea regarding to the preparation of missile launch?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Okay. This kind of veers off the topic of the Koizumi visit, but, no, I don't think we've interpreted this as a bluff, no.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) visit to the United States, other than visit to Graceland does the President have any other gifts, personal gifts to Koizumi, Prime Minister Koizumi?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: That's a good question. I actually don't know. I mean, I don't know if they're planning on exchanging gifts. They've given gifts to each other in the past, so maybe. But I don't deal with gifts. You need the gift office for that. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Maybe no gifts, so there's no special target during this meeting.

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No beef and no -- yeah, there's your headline, no beef, no gift.

QUESTION: Wei Jing from Global Times of China. My question is will President Bush mention that China-Japan relations are cooling and whether this cooling relationship between China and Japan is troubling to the President?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I mean, it's interesting that you ask the question because I was kind of under the impression that things were actually getting better now. I mean, that they were getting -- they were bad, but the two foreign ministers met on the sidelines out in Doha. There have been a number of positive statements that have been made on both sides in trying to work out a way forward. I think Japanese loans have now been -- suspension on loans has now been lifted. So, you know, these are all positive things. And I think from our perspective, you know, we obviously think it's important for us to have good relations with all the countries in the region.

And I think one of the things that this Administration has accomplished, which I know as an academic, was something that we always wanted to see in the region was the United States having good relations with the two major powers in Asia, right, Japan and China, not being on one side or the other. And I think we have that, a very good relationship between Japan and the United States and between China and the United States. Would we like to see China-Japan relations move forward on a positive track? Certainly. Certainly, we'd like to see that.

And I think some of the recent signs are quite encouraging. That the two sides are sort of working quietly together to try to improve relations. I mean, it's in both of their interest to do that and it's in ours as well.

QUESTION: Hello. My name is Tomoji Tatsumi with Kyodo News. On the issue of withdrawal of Japanese troops from Iraq, how do you characterize it? Is it good (inaudible) for the United States?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: You know, we characterize -- we think and the Japanese and everybody involved in the effort think it's positive. I mean, essentially this was very much along the lines of what the President described as stand up-stand down, because as the Iraqi stand up we'll stand down. Prime Minister Maliki made a statement about Muthana province would be one of the first to transition to Iraqi control. The next day, the Japanese in a coordinated announcement with us and with the Australians, who are also in the same area with the Japanese and the British, Prime Minister Koizumi made an announcement. If you look at his announcement, as well as the announcement by Foreign Minister Aso, makes very clear that as this province transitions to Iraqi control, the Japanese humanitarian mission is completed successfully and they will therefore withdraw. But it also says very clearly that Japan is not leaving the Iraq effort. They will continue to play an important role with airlift operations and through liaison on a national provincial reconstruction team. And as you all know, Japan is the second largest donor to Iraqi reconstruction.

So this is very much along the lines of the plan of stand up-stand down. So I think we're quite happy that the Japanese mission was accomplished successfully and that Japan will still be very supportive of the effort in Iraq and will transition to its new mission, just as others involved in transition to their new mission.

MR. BAILY: Any further questions? Thank you very much for coming. Oh, sorry, one more.

QUESTION: Kiyon Kuk. Han Song Ryol, the Deputy Chief of North Korea's mission to the UN has offered talks with the United States on the price for the missile test. Have you ever tried to reach them directly or do you have any plan to talk to them through the New York channel?

SENIOR U.S. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: All five parties have communicated directly to the North Koreans that they should -- to warn them against the missile test, including us through New York. So this whole question -- I know we're getting off the topic of Koizumi -- but as we've said, we have been at six-party talks, I have been at six-party talks where we are more than happy to meet with the North Koreans and discuss a variety of different issues within the context of six-party talks. They know, we all know that if they want to have a discussion about the joint statement and about all the pieces of the joint statement, they should come back to Beijing because that's where we've been doing it in the past and that's where we'll continue to do it.