(* 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: Tuesday, February 15, 2008, 6:10 p.m.
Place: In front of the Minister's Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topic:

Suspected Assault by US Marine of a Schoolgirl in Okinawa

1. Suspected Assault by US Marine of a Schoolgirl in Okinawa

Minister:
Concerning the abhorrent incident that has occurred in Okinawa, although it will take time to create perfect recurrence prevention measures, I will do my very best to put some measures together so that we can make a reasonable presentation within the next week.

The basic idea is that because this kind of incident has occurred once again in spite of the recurrence prevention measures that have been carried out many times up to now, our first aim must be to make the next set of recurrence prevention measures truly effective.

Next, with regard to the present incident, given the consideration that the suspect is a comparatively older service member who lives outside of the base, and that the existing recurrence prevention measures are aimed at young service members who live on-base, this time we will aim at wider and even more comprehensive measures.

Essentially, the US Forces on their own take measures to strengthen discipline and prevent the recurrence of incidents, but because on this occasion a Japanese citizen has suffered harm, even though we have had significant discussions up to now, the Japanese side will have to hold even closer discussions with the US side than we have in the past.

I welcome the call made by Commander of US Forces Japan Lieutenant General Bruce A. Wright yesterday for a special task force to prevent a recurrence. I think that this task force will probably visit Okinawa next week or the week after. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate things so that a working team made up of officials from the Japanese Government and from the local authorities can hold talks with the task force at that time.

In the meantime, although this has not yet been finalized, we are aiming to make tentative arrangements within the next week, and we would like to present our basic ideas then.

Question:
In the Diet as well, it was addressed as significant that a service member living outside of the base was suspected of committing the assault. But in specific terms, what sort of things can be considered as recurrence prevention measures aimed at service members who live outside of bases?

Minister:
The specifics will be considered from now on. The US Forces side will carry out the actual measures based on special power relations[UC1]. But one thing that may be up for consideration is a sorting of the personnel whereby some are told, "You are not qualified to live outside of the base." In addition, although this is precisely the sort of thing that concerns the US Forces' strengthening of discipline, those living off-base could be told, "Since you are living off-base, you should keep to these things." We will listen to what the US side has to say and we will raise questions such as, "Is that good enough?" or ask them, "If you are considering such a thing, please do so up to this point." I think there are many things that we can consider.

Question:
You mean that though the US Forces are to draw up the arrangements on their own, the Japanese side is also actively involved, and both sides draw up the measures together, is this correct?

Minister:
That's right. There are measures that the US side draws up and there may be measures that the Japanese side draws up. There are a lot of ideas that can be addressed and some were presented in the Diet, so we would like to consider all of these ideas without rejecting them in advance.

Question:
Concerning that point, you presented an idea at today's Committee on Budget meeting that Japan would discuss the issue of off-base US Forces personnel at a Japan-US Joint Committee meeting. Could you please explain about that?

Minister:
I meant that we would discuss this issue on various occasions, including at meetings of the Japan-US Joint Committee. I did not mean to suggest that we could not discuss it unless we were to hold a meeting of the Japan-US Joint Committee.

Question:
In the coordination that the working team and the task force will carry out in Okinawa from next week, will this point also be taken up on the agenda?

Minister:
As I have explained, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will undertake the coordination for the talks that will take place between the Japanese working team and the US task force.

Question:
Separately from the psychological software response, do you have any plans on the hardware side, such as, for example, using some sort of equipment?

Minister:
For example, the idea of installing security cameras was brought up. But concerning this, among the various local authorities, there are places that wish to install them and others that want to be spared the effort. This is not something that the Government should force on them, so we will consider the issue including such things.

Question:
As to the reason why the Government wants to hurry the arrangements, are you considering the influence this issue may have on the so-called process of the relocation of Futenma Air Station, as might be expected? For instance, the Government wants to carry out the environmental impact survey within this month, etc.

Minister:
No. This has nothing to do with that issue directly. It is just better to move swiftly. Isn't it better to hurry such things without considering the influence on other matters? I would never expect that we could set out perfect measures within the next week, but nevertheless, my present feeling is that it is better to institute measures promptly rather than to wait for several years while we craft a perfect set of measures.

Question:
Regarding the working team you mentioned, would this be the existing working team that is running the Secretariat at the Okinawa Liaison Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Minister:
At least, the working team that will meet with the US Forces' task force from next week is the existing working team. However, we also need to talk about whether or not we should further raise the level of this working team in the future.

Question:
What sort of image do you have concerning the constituent members of the task force?

Minister:
Talking about what sort of image, I guess each of the services will participate in the task force. But this is something the US Forces will organize. I believe that Commander Wright has already begun to do so.

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