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Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Cabinet Decision on the Draft Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy

March 13, 2009
Japanese

  1. Today, the cabinet made a decision on the Draft Law on the Penalization of Acts of Piracy and Measures against Acts of Piracy.  Acts of piracy are a crucial problem, threatening safe maritime navigation, which is in our national interests.  The piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia are especially threatening for the international community including Japan, and therefore require urgent action.  Coupled with the maritime security operations by the Self Defense Forces as an emergency step for the time being, the submission of the draft Law today forms an important step for protecting the lives and properties of Japanese citizens and for maintaining maritime safety and order.  I strongly hope that the draft Law will be discussed thoroughly and adopted quickly in the Diet.
     
  2. At the same time, I have renewed my determination to take further measures, including the utlization of ODA, to eliminate the piracy off the coast of Somalia. Such measures include those based on a mid-to-long-term viewpoints, such as the improvement of the maritime security capacity and regional cooperation among neighboring countries, and to stabilize the precarious situations in Somalia, which provides a background to the increasing incidents of piracy.
     
  3. In this context, Japan has been taking measures aimed at improving the maritime security capacity of the countries in the region, including by inviting officials of the coastguard organizations of Yemen and Oman.  Coastal countries such as Yemen and Djibouti have already expressed their expectation for specific assistance, and Japan has been giving consideration to what it can provide.  Japan will dispatch an ODA mission to Yemen at an early date, to specify wide-ranging opportunities for ooperation.   Japan also intends to strengthen its support for Djibouti.  The international community is also making efforts, such as the establishment of the Contact Group, an international cooperation mechanism set up pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1851, and the holding of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sub-regional meeting to address piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.  Japan intends to actively participate in these efforts, and will continue to make full use of its own experience and resources, for example, by sharing its experiences from the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, for which Japan has taken a lead.
     
  4. Stability in Somalia is vital for the ultimate solution of the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia.  Japan joined the International Contact Group on Somalia at the meeting in Brussels in February.  We intend to continue to play a proactive role in the efforts of the international community, including through its activities as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council.  Japan has provided funds to international organizations for enhancing the capability of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia to maintain security and control border areas, and also for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).  Japan will continue to proactively consider further assistance.
     
  5. I hope that such a multi-layered approach by the Government will enjoy public understanding and cooperation.
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