For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 18, 2003
Interview of the President by Taro Kimura, Fuji TV
The Library
October 14, 2003
3:10 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Glad you're here. Ready to go.
Q 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 four 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 achieve because a free and peaceful Iraq
will change the world in a positive way.
Q Another subject, Mr. President, that the Prime Minister will
bring up is the North Korean problem.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, yes.
Q And he is working very hard to resolve the issue of
abductees, Japanese.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q 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 kidnapped
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.
Q 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.
Q I understand -- or I read Bob Woodward's book. And you've
said you loathe Kim Jong-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 Jong-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 Jong-il, you need to change for your good and for the good of the
country.
Q 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.
Q Lastly, I remember you've enjoyed yakitori when you were in
Tokyo, the barbecued chicken.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I did. (Laughter.)
Q And I wonder whether you will bear tasting sushi this time.
I know you're not really particularly in favor of the raw fish.
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.
Q Thank you very much, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir, you're welcome.
END 3:16 P.M. EDT
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