NOTICE TO THE PRESS

Secretary Rice to Meet Foreign Minister Machimura Feb. 19

February 16, 2005

Secretary Rice Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura
U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee Meeting (2+2)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will hold a bilateral meeting with Japanfs Minister of Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura on February 19, 2005 at 9:30 AM to discuss matters of mutual interest. There will be a camera spray at the beginning of the meeting (Open Coverage).

Following this meeting, at 10:00 AM, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld will host Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and Director-General of the Japan Defense Agency and Minister of State for Defense Yoshinori Ohno in a meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (SCC) on February 19, 2005, at the Department of State. The last such meeting occurred in Washington on December 16, 2002. As in previous meetings of this forum, the principals will discuss the range of security issues affecting the U.S.-Japan security alliance. There will be a joint press availability involving the four ministers at 11:30 AM (Open Coverage).

Media representatives wishing to attend these events should use the Diplomatic Entrance at 22nd and C Streets, N.W.

For the camera spray: Arrive by 8:30 a.m.
Pre-set time for cameras for the joint press availability: 10 a.m.
Final Access for the joint press availability: 11 a.m.

Media representatives may cover this event upon presentation of either (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a photo ID issued by the employing media organization, or (3) a letter on official letterhead from their news organization verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo ID (driverfs license or passport).