(* 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: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 1:35 p.m.
Place: Press Conference Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Foreign Minister's Visit to India
Foreign Minister's Aspirations upon Reappointment
Japan-ROK Relations
Leakage of Coolant Water from Nuclear-Powered Submarine USS Houston
Japan-DPRK Relations
Realignment of US Forces
Replenishment Activities in the Indian Ocean
The WTO Doha Round

1. Foreign Minister's Visit to India

Minister:
I will visit India from August 3 to August 6, and hold the Second Strategic Dialogue at the Foreign Ministerial level with Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs of India. At the talks, I intend to exchange opinions on a range of issues including bilateral relations and the international situation. I had planned to visit India at quite an early stage, but I canceled the visit owing to the political situation inside Japan. Given this background, I am extremely glad that the Indian side has graciously accepted my offer to visit, now that the situation allows me to go. I look forward to having a fruitful dialogue there.

Question:
How will you approach the ministerial talks on developing bilateral relations with India, which has risen to become one of Asia's emerging powers? I imagine there are a number of points to be discussed, including economic issues, security issues, and so on.

Minister:
I intend to cover all the topics. From ancient times, Japan has regarded India as somewhat exotic, despite the geographical proximity. This is changing now, and I believe the two countries should become ever closer. It is indeed important for Japan to build a friendly relationship with India, which is expected to grow further in the future. With India becoming the largest recipient of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), I believe every sector in Japan is making an approach toward forging closer relations with India.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Foreign Minister's Aspirations upon Reappointment

Question:
Please share with us your aspirations upon reappointment as foreign minister.

Minister:
As I said at the previous conference, I intend to advance the "synergy diplomacy" advocated by Prime Minister Fukuda: i.e., to further deepen the Japan-US Alliance and, at the same time, step up diplomacy with Asia on that basis. I believe better relations with Asia will help take the Japan-US Alliance a step further.

On North Korea, we have yet to resolve the nuclear issue, the abduction issue and the missile issue, all of which are of grave importance, and which I intend to resolve through cooperation with the international community. I will also consider how Japan can contribute in peacekeeping operations (PKO), the fight against terrorism, disaster prevention and international trade, based on the Prime Minister's concept of Japan as a "Peace Fostering Nation." And of course, there are global issues such as climate change, which cannot be tackled by the Foreign Ministry alone, but which I would like to address by joining hands with the related ministries.

There are no single clear-cut conclusions in diplomacy. We can conclude individual items, one by one, but there are many issues that are interrelated, which cannot be concluded all in one go. These issues continue to exist regardless of the Cabinet reshuffle, and often take longer to resolve than one term of any single minister. That is why I think there are some cases for which diplomacy may not proceed very well if I stick to the idea of concluding things within my term.

3. Japan-ROK Relations

Question:
Japan's relations with the Republic of Korea (ROK) have not been going well due to the issue of Takeshima Island. With the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Japan, China and the ROK expected to be held in Japan in September, how would you work on improving the relations?

Minister:
What the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has decided is to teach children what Japan has been claiming from before, which is in no way against the norm of the international community. Given the importance of Japan-ROK relations, we cannot allow one issue to undo the whole. Therefore, I would like to approach the issue with an eye to the overall picture. I do not think that going too much into the specifics will be of great help.

4. Leakage of Coolant Water from Nuclear-Powered Submarine USS Houston

Question:
It has been found out that there was a leakage of coolant water from nuclear-powered submarine USS Houston. Please let us know if you have any intention to give a particular message to the United States.

Minister:
I have already told the US side to let me know if anything new comes up. Regardless of that, I told the staff to make the announcement immediately when I heard the news this morning. I still think that the announcement should have been made much earlier.

Question:
Local municipalities say that they wanted to be notified earlier. How do you take this?

Minister:
What I meant by "announcement" was that we should have notified the people concerned at a much earlier stage, not just an announcement for the press.

Question:
Around what time in the morning did you receive the report?

Minister:
As a matter of fact, I did not receive the report. I made calls myself upon noticing that something wrong was going on while watching CNN this morning.

Question:
What is the reason behind the delay in the announcement?

Minister:
The reason was already explained by the staff, but that should not excuse our delay. Therefore, I will not repeat it.

Related Information (Press Release)

5. Japan-DPRK Relations

Question:
In the Cabinet reshuffle, Ms. Kyoko Nakayama, previously the Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, has been appointed the State Minister for North Korean Abductions of Japanese Nationals. In what way will you cooperate with her?

Minister:
No matter what way, we will certainly cooperate as we are both in positions charged with resolving the issue of abduction.

Question:
Your basic stance on the issue of Japan-DPRK relations seems to be an "action-for-action," approach, which I assume will not change with the reshuffling of the Cabinet. On the other hand, Ms. Nakayama seems to be taking a tougher approach, so to speak. Therefore, I suspect some difference between your two approaches to resolving the issues. Please share with us your thoughts on how to cooperate effectively in spite of that difference.

Minister:
I believe she, as an experienced minister, will follow the policy of the Fukuda Cabinet, given that she has accepted the post of minister. I think that is what she has been doing until now, and will continue to do going forward.

6. Realignment of US Forces

Question:
On the relocation of Futenma Air Station, I understand that the environmental impact survey has been carried out at the site by the two working teams inaugurated previously. On the other hand, the people of Okinawa demand revision to the agreement reached between Japan and the US on the alternative base and the relocation of Futenma Air Station. How will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respond to this?

Minister:
This agreement between Japan and the US is an international agreement, negotiated with the US side on the basis of the request of the local community, which balances a range of concerns including the natural environment, quality of life and feasibility in a comprehensive way. Therefore, the Foreign Ministry will basically stick to the current policy so far agreed. It may not be absolute, given the nature of a people-to-people agreement, but we are all too aware that international agreements cannot be changed easily unless there is an exceptionally good reason. What I have always been saying is that we cannot persuade our counterparts without a reason that we ourselves can believe in. Therefore, we will follow the current policy as long as there is no good reason to do otherwise.

Question:
A working team has been launched on eliminating the danger associated with Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, where the base is located. The Government issued a report on this, compiled with the US, in August last year, but Mr. Hirokazu Nakaima, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, requested, at the previous talks, holding further discussions with the US side. Please share with us your thoughts on this, including the possibility of further discussions with the US.

Minister:
The best and the ultimate way to eliminate the danger associated with Futenma Air Station is to relocate it at the earliest possible date. So one approach is to do my utmost to realize this. That being said, the relocation cannot happen in a matter of days. Therefore, I fully understand the local people's concern about removing whatever danger we can at this moment. Meanwhile, the proposal that has already been issued is the best the two sides could have done at that stage. To take it a step further, I think the Japanese side must first examine if the things promised are actually carried out properly, and what more needs to be done. After that, we may consider if there is anything that requires further discussions with the US. That proposal, again, is the best that could have been made at that stage. Also, there is the possibility that not all promises will be fulfilled exactly as agreed, and that other problems may arise. So I think the Japanese side should scrutinize these things, and see if further talks are needed with the US side. That, I believe, must be the procedure.

7. Replenishment Activities in the Indian Ocean

Question:
One of the ruling parties, the New Komeito Party, shows a restrained stance on passing the bill to continue Japan's replenishment activities in the Indian Ocean. Does this change the Government's policy?

Minister:
I have no detailed knowledge of the New Komeito Party's stance. I imagine there are people of various opinions within the New Komeito Party, just like in our Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Ultimately, there should be an agreement between the ruling parties on this issue. The replenishment activities carried out today in the Indian Ocean have been much appreciated by the international community, and are expected to be continued into the future as one contribution Japan can make in its capacity. This also directly concerns Japan's national interest. A large number of Japan's commercial tankers traverse the Indian Ocean, and the refueling activities have a side-effect of protecting these tankers, although that is not specified in the law as a primary objective. Therefore, I think it is only natural for Japan to continue replenishment operations. I am aware of the various opinions, in light of which the ruling parties must join hands to continue the activities.

8. The WTO Doha Round

Question:
The WTO Ministerial talks collapsed last month, and the move toward Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) is expected to accelerate. How will you approach EPA policies, including with regard to the US and the European Union (EU)?

Minister:
At bottom, I find it regrettable that the WTO talks have collapsed. I believe that Japan needs to be even more proactive in advancing its EPA policies.

Related Information (Japan and WTO)

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