[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
[October 14, 2003]
[Pages 1335-1337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Interview With Taro Kimura of Japan's FUJI TV
October 14, 2003
The President. Glad you're here. Ready to go.
Japan's Reconstruction Aid for Iraq
Mr. Kimura. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for this interview.
I'm sure Prime Minister Koizumi is looking forward to have you over
there. Actually, he is preparing a package for Iraqi reconstruction
which includes $5 billion aid for the next 4 years and sending a couple
of hundred Japanese self-defense forces over there for the humanitarian
operation. Do you think Japan fulfilled her responsibility with this
package?
The President. Yes. I'm very pleased. Prime Minister
Koizumi and I are good friends. I admire
him a lot, and I spoke to him about Japan helping in Iraq, just like
Japan helped in Afghanistan. And he assured me he would work hard to
develop a good package. It sounds like he has done so, and I'm grateful
and thankful.
We've got great relations between America and Japan. We will keep
them that way. And part of good relations is we see problems, and we
work together, and see opportunities. And a free Iraq is a--a peaceful
Iraq is a wonderful opportunity for Japan and the United States to work
together to
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achieve because a free and peaceful Iraq will change the world in a
positive way.
North Korea/Japanese Abductees
Mr. Kimura. Another subject, Mr. President, that the Prime Minister
will bring up is the North Korean problem.
The President. Yes, yes.
Mr. Kimura. And he is working very hard to resolve the issue of
abductees, Japanese.
The President. Yes.
Mr. Kimura. What could your administration do to help him realizing
the reunification of the abductees' status?
The President. Well, that's a very interesting question. The primary
objective of the five countries who are now engaged with North Korea is
to get rid of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. That's our
primary objective, and that ought to be our focus.
A major issue with the Prime Minister,
of course, is the abductees. I've always said that the fact that North
Korea kidnaped or abducted these people talks to the nature of the
administration in North Korea. And of course, we will send strong
signals that we object to that kind of behavior, that that is not a
civil behavior.
But the first objective is for all of us to work together for the
sake of peace and security, particularly in your part of the world, to
get rid of any nuclear weapons and/or ambitions for nuclear weapons.
Mr. Kimura. For example, do you think it's possible that your
administration demand North Korea to include this abduction program in
whatever the comprehensive package----
The President. Well, I think it's very important. I'll talk to the
Prime Minister about this, of course. I
know this is a very sensitive subject, and I've spoken out about this
terrible practice, a terrible part of history, that the North Koreans
abducted. But the first thing we got to do is focus on our overall
objective, and that is to make sure that the peninsula is nuclear
weapons-free. And that's in Japan's interest, of course. And right now
that's where our focus is.
Mr. Kimura. I understand--or I read Bob Woodward's book. And you've
said you loathe Kim Chong-il. Do you still feel that same way?
The President. When I know a leader starves his people, allows his
people to starve, and know there's detention camps and it's not a free
society--it's a very, closed totalitarian society--he and I don't agree,
obviously, on freedom and peace. And I hope that Kim Chong-il realizes that when five nations speak, we're very serious,
and that it's in his country's interest to get rid of nuclear weapons
and/or programs to develop nuclear weapons. Because the five countries
that are now speaking in one voice are saying as clearly as possible to
Mr. Kim Chong-il, ``You need to change for your good and for the good of
the country.''
Monetary Policy
Mr. Kimura. There is speculation in Tokyo that you will speak to Mr.
Koizumi to let dollar-yen rate float and not let the Japanese financial
institute to intervene in the market. Is this the case?
The President. Well, I will talk to him about, one, our Government's strong dollar policy.
And I will remind him that our position when it comes to currency
exchanges is that the market ought to decide the relative values of
currencies based upon the fiscal policy of each government, the monetary
policy of each government, the future economic picture of each country.
And that's what I will remind him. This will not be the first time that
we have discussed dollar policy and/or trade matters.
Mr. Kimura. Lastly, I remember you've enjoyed yakitori when you were
in Tokyo, the barbecued chicken.
The President. Yes, I did. [Laughter]
Mr. Kimura. And I wonder whether you will bear tasting sushi this
time. I know you're not really particularly in favor of the raw fish.
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The President. Well, I'm a beef man. You know I like good beef.
Japan's got some of the greatest beef in the world. And--but I'm also,
hopefully, a good enough guest not to demand a particular menu from my
host. The Prime Minister and I have eaten
a lot of meals together. And I'm confident that he will put together a
good meal for both the First Lady, Laura, and me.
And I really am looking forward to seeing him. He is--he is a great
friend. He is an interesting man. I really enjoyed being around him. You
know, one of the--he came to my ranch. And he and I sat down apart from
the house in a beautiful part of the ranch and had a very long
discussion just on a personal basis. And it meant a lot to me. He's a
leader of a great country and a great friend of the United States. And
I'm grateful for our relationship.
Mr. Kimura. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
The President. Yes, sir, you're welcome.
Note: The interview was taped at 3:10 p.m. in the Library at the White
House, and the transcript was released by the Office of the Press
Secretary on October 18. In his remarks, the President referred to Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan; and Chairman Kim Chong-il of North
Korea. A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
interview.