(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)
Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura
Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 6:13 p.m.
Place: Front Entrance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topic:
- Special Measures Agreement on Host Nation Support
1. Special Measures Agreement on Host Nation Support
Question:
I understand that an agreement has been reached between Japan and the United States on the Host Nation Support. Please provide us with the details of that.
Minister:
We have agreed substantially. We have substantially reached agreement through our final talks with US Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer regarding the Special Measures Agreement on Host Nation Support.
I will give you an overview of the content of the agreement. The next Special Measures Agreement will be specified for a three-year period, and Labor Costs including base pay as well as Training Relocation Costs will remain the same during these three years. Regarding utilities costs, a reduction of approximately 400 million yen will be made in the second year and then again in the third year. Furthermore, in overall terms, we will be calling upon the United States to make even greater efforts at reduction and we agreed that we would implement a "comprehensive review" in order to ensure that Host Nation Support is even more efficient and effective.
Overall, I do believe that this agreement should be welcomed. Host Nation Support is important for ensuring smooth and effective operation of the Japan-US security regime and I have heard that both Ambassador Schieffer and Commander of US Forces Japan Lieutenant General Bruce A. Wright, strongly explained Japan's views to Washington. Of course they were also adamant toward us in their positions during our negotiations but I do believe that the fact that we have been able to reach such an agreement is indeed extremely beneficial from the perspective of maintaining and strengthening the Japan-US Alliance.
Question:
I am sure that at the outset, the Government of Japan began with a negotiating position that called for a major reduction. However, in the end only a small reduction was achieved in numerical terms. What are your thoughts on that?
Minister:
Considering that the United States was seeking an increase, I believe that as a result of our negotiations we did in fact achieve a relatively satisfactory outcome.
Question:
What reason did the United States give in explaining its request for an increase?
Minister:
I do not think it is really up to me to explain the reasons given by the United States, but I can tell you that at one point in the negotiations, they did talk about overall burden sharing for security and that as a result of our negotiations we were able to steadily focus the dialogue on this Special Measures Agreement on Host Nation Support, and that is how we produced this outcome.
Question:
I am sure there are some who take the view that given the overall amounts involved, 400 million yen is a small number. What do you say about that?
Minister:
I am sure there are many points of view. In a negotiation, you start out by stating the numbers you are aiming for and in the end you come to a conclusion. The other party has their position and we have our position. And after overcoming those difficulties, we produced this result.
Question:
Did the fact that Japan has suspended its refueling operations exert any influence on these negotiations?
Minister:
Although that certainly had no direct influence, it may be a factor in pushing the United States to speak strongly, although I do not believe that during the actual negotiations that came up as a topic.
Question:
The other day the issue of rent for the US embassy facilities in Tokyo was settled and now it seems that you have in one sweep solved two areas of concern between Japan and the United States.
Minister:
Japan-US relations are extremely good and against that background we must one by one solve any concerns that arise. Otherwise, such extremely good relations could be eroded from a very small issue, like an ant's hole. That would be a big problem and therefore we intend to continue to steadily resolve each issue as it arises.
Question:
Was there any time during the negotiations to touch on the issue of joint military and civilian use of Yokota Air Base?
Minister:
There was no talk about that today. Today's conversation was focused only on one point.
Question:
You stated that although during the negotiations, the United States did not specifically refer to any influence of the suspension of refueling operations, perhaps the background to the strong statements made by the United States might have involved that.
Minister:
I did not say it quite like that. There was a point in the negotiations when the United States was speaking from a broad perspective including such matters as burden sharing and what I said was that perhaps there was an implication to that in that context.
Question:
Conversely, in Japan's stance going into the negotiations, did you feel that there was some weakness and that there was any influence in that regard?
Minister:
I do not think so. During these negotiations we stayed very focused on the matters at hand and did not mix things up.
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