(* 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 Hirofumi Nakasone

Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 7:32 p.m.
Place: Press conference Room, the Prime Minister's Office

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
Japan-China Relations
Visits to Yasukuni Shrine
Response to the Privatization of the Postal Services

1. Opening Remarks

Minister:
I have just taken up the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this period in which there are great and severe changes taking place in the international community, as the person in charge of our country's foreign policy and in order to realize the interests of our nation, I intend to take a thorough approach in my efforts. Ever since being elected to be a Member of Parliament I have focused a tremendous amount of effort on diplomatic issues. Within the Diet there are many parliamentary friendship alliances with parliaments of other nations. I have belonged to many of these parliamentary alliances, and have served as the chairperson, vice chair or executive member of several of these friendship alliances. Speaking from the experiences that I had in that regard I believe that diplomacy is something that should not be conducted simply at the intergovernmental level, but that exchanges amongst parliament members are also very important. Still, I deeply feel that what is of foremost importance is building relations of trust between leaders. Prime Minister Aso has also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and has wide-reaching relations with the leaders of various nations around the world, and for that reason I am certain that he will take the lead and be very active in addressing diplomatic issues as the Prime Minister of Japan. From my perspective as the Foreign Minister, I intend to take every opportunity available to build relations of trust with the foreign ministers and others who serve as my counterparts in other nations, and to work together with the Prime Minister to assist him in conducting diplomatic affairs. Ensuring the security and prosperity of Japan is an extremely important part of ensuring our nation's interests and for that reason I intend to strive to strengthen the Japan-US alliance. Furthermore, I intend to take a sincere approach to advancing the cooperative relations that Japan shares with its neighbors, including the Republic of Korea and China. At the same time, regarding the issues related to North Korea, I intend to devote my utmost efforts to achieving a comprehensive solution to matters such as the abductions issue, nuclear issues and missile issues. Moreover, it is extremely important for Japan, which is a nation that requires peace and stability around the world, to fulfill a role that is commensurate with its standing in the international community. It is very important for Japan to participate in international measures to combat terrorism and I intend to devote my utmost efforts to ensuring that we continue our refueling assistance activities. From tomorrow, I will accompany the Prime Minister on a visit to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Together with the Prime Minister, I intend to send a clear message to the world that our nation will proactively work toward resolving international issues such as climate change and African development. Furthermore, coordination efforts are currently underway so that I can actively engage in talks with foreign ministers and others from nations around the world, beginning with the United States, and including China and others.

2. Japan-China Relations

Question:
Together with the General Assembly of the United Nations, I understand that it is scheduled that there will be Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Talks. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, looking out toward these Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Talks, what type of message do you intend to issue forth toward China? Moreover, what are your thoughts, going forward, on Japan's measures toward China?

Minister:
I am scheduled to have talks with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi of China. As neighbors with a long history of exchanges, relations between Japan and China are of extremely high importance for Japan and I think it is also very important to evaluate those relations. From that perspective, I intend to take opportunities to deepen specific exchanges across a broad spectrum, and thereby advance our strategic mutual relations. After attending this session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, I intend to continue to take advantage of close dialogue opportunities at high levels in order to appropriately respond to areas of concern.

3. Visits to Yasukuni Shrine

Question:
You say that you intend to focus importance on relations with neighboring countries. Looking back to the time of the Koizumi Cabinet, relations got worse with Japan's neighboring relations as a result of the visits made to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. As Foreign Minister, what are your thoughts on making visits to Yasukuni Shrine?

Minister:
As for visits to Yasukuni Shrine, this is a personal issue for each of the members of the Cabinet and I, as well, intend to make an appropriate decision in this regard. Personally, as a child I grew up living near Yasukuni Shrine and I recall playing in the Shrine's grounds. In the days right after the end of the war, I remember seeing with my own eyes wounded veterans who were playing the accordion and other instruments at the Shrine and I recall seeing their suffering. That is why as a child I felt in my heart that we must never again allow war to happen. I truly think that there is a need to pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of those who suffered and perished in war. However, now that I have assumed the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs, I intend to make an appropriate decision going forward.

4. Response to the Privatization of the Postal Services

Question:
It is said that at the so-called Postal Services Diet session of 2005, you were responsible for generating a major current that led to the defeat of the bill in the process of considering the passage of the Bill to Privatize Postal Services within the House of Councillors. Now that you are serving as the Foreign Minister within the Aso Cabinet, please tell us your thought in this regard.

Minister:
Since I am a politician, I believe that it is correct for me to reflect the intent of the people of our country in considering various issues that come up from time to time, and for me to make decisions and take actions based on my own experiences. At the time, that was the decision I chose to take in that regard. Now I have been asked by Prime Minister Aso to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and therefore I intend to use as much as possible the connections that I have with people around the world in other countries, and fulfill my role as Foreign Minister. I assume that Prime Minister Aso was aware of these points and kept them in mind when he selected me to serve in this post.

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