(* 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: Thursday, September 25, 2008, 1:52 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Opening Statement
North Korean Issues
Appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs
Japan-US Relations
Abduction of Japanese Nationals in Ethiopia
Replenishment Support Special Measures Law
Reorganization of the US Forces in Japan (USFJ)

1. Opening Statement

Minister:
I apologize for starting at such a late hour. Just now, the Imperial attestation ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace, followed by the first Cabinet meeting. In fact, I will be in my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs from now. I would like to ask for everybody's cooperation and direction in my role. Furthermore, I will attend the United Nations General Assembly from tomorrow. Regarding the matter of my personal connection with foreign diplomacy, I have long been interested in such affairs, have occupied some major positions of political activity because I thought these were matters of great importance, and today am delighted to have been appointed to the position of Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also have a strong sense of the importance of my responsibilities. I hope to provide sound assistance to Prime Minister Taro Aso, and to put all my efforts into the development of Japan's foreign diplomacy. There was a press conference just now at the Prime Minister's Office, so I wished to greet you all with this opening statement.

2. North Korean Issues

Question:
The disabling of the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, North Korea has been halted, and in addition to communicating to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is carrying out surveillance, that nuclear materials are to be reinserted into the reactor, North Korea has also stated that it will send the IAEA staff away from the site. What is the response of the Government of Japan to this?

Minister:
What is concerning us is the move towards starting up the nuclear facilities at Yongbyon again. We would like North Korea to restart its disabling of its nuclear facilities, agree at an early stage with the IAEA on a concrete program of verification, and to continue to cooperate with the progress of the Six-Party Talks.

Question:
Minister, at the press conference at the Prime Minister's Office just now, you stated that you would seek a comprehensive solution to Japan-North Korea relations. However, regarding the revival of the investigation on abductions (as the most pressing issue in this matter), this has fizzled out due to the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Fukuda. From the perspective of North Korea, this situation means that North Korea is not moving until it has seen what the new administration is like. If North Korea will not budge, will Japan make proactive approaches from its side towards North Korea? Or will Japan's position be that since North Korea has already given its promise, we will wait for them to move?

Minister:
I think this message from North Korea, that they will wait to restart the investigation, is a great pity. We would like to push forward the North Korea issue, including the issue of the abductions, based on the agreement of the Japan-North Korea Working-Level Talks. As regards our future response, we will continue to put all our efforts into the start of the revival of the survey as quickly as possible

Question:
Specifically, how are you going to approach North Korea?

Minister:
At the present time, I cannot say how we should approach North Korea.

Question:
Under the Aso administration, will there be no change in Japan's policy of lifting the sanctions against North Korea as was done at the time when North Korea started up the committee for the revived investigation of the abduction issue?

Minister:
There is no change in the decision of the Government of Japan.

3. Appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs

Question:
You have stated that as a politician, you have focused a lot of energy on diplomacy. During your career, you have served as the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and recently you have focused a lot of your efforts on educational matters, including issues related to mobile telephones. Why is it, do you think, that Prime Minister Aso asked you to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs?

Minister:
I do not know why it is that the Prime Minister decided to select me to serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs. One thing that I can imagine is related to something that happened the year before last when Prime Minister Aso, who at the time was serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Lithuania and other countries. As far as that region is concerned, at the time I was serving as the Chairman of the Japan-Poland Parliamentary Association of Friendship of the House of Councillors, the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Diet Members' League, and the Japan-Latvia Friendship Diet Members' League. As such, I was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Leagues of all three countries. Therefore, at the time, I spent time with then Foreign Minister Aso during his visit to Lithuania. Perhaps in addition to that, Prime Minister Aso had at some time a chance to see me involved in other parliamentary exchange activities, and perhaps that is why he asked me to be Foreign Minister.

4. Japan-US Relations

Question:
I understand that Prime Minister Aso has stated that he expects you as Minister for Foreign Affairs to strengthen the Japan-US Alliance. However, given that currently it is not clear whether it will be possible to extend the refueling activities, what is your outlook for strengthening the Japan-US Alliance along the lines of the intentions of Prime Minister Aso?

Minister:
The number one basis of Japan's diplomacy is strengthening Japan-US relations, focused on the Japan-US Security Treaty, and thereby strengthening the Japan-US Alliance. Although currently Japan-US relations are good, it is now important for us to thoroughly maintain our cooperative relations and the Japan-US Alliance. Furthermore, I believe that it will contribute greatly to Japan's national interests for Japan of its own accord to engage in international contribution activities in the Indian Ocean. For that reason, I think that we must continue to carry out these activities. In any event, relations between Japan and the United States serve as the basis of our diplomatic front, and therefore not only regarding refueling activities in the Indian Ocean but elsewhere contributing to building peace and stability in the world, I think it is the most fundamental thing for Japan in its diplomacy to thoroughly maintain good cooperative relations with the United States.

5. Abduction of Japanese Nationals in Ethiopia

Question:
There are media reports indicating that Japanese nationals may have been abducted in Ethiopia. Please tell us what has been confirmed by the Government of Japan, and what measures will be taken in the future.

Minister:
The headquarters of the organization Medecins du Monde International (MDM) has issued a press release on this incident, in which they stated that "two foreign national workers" were abducted. At the current point in time, this is all that I can say from my perspective.

Question:
Can you confirm that the Government of Japan has confirmed that amongst those two foreign nationals, there are Japanese nationals?

Minister:
No. What I said was that at the current point in time, all I can tell you is "two foreign national workers." That is all I can say at this point in time.

6. Replenishment Support Special Measures Law

Question: I would like to ask you about one of the points that is currently being debated, which is whether it is an option to use the two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives to pass the bill to revise the Replenishment Support Special Measures Law in the Diet as a way to continue carrying out the refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. Prime Minister Aso stated that he would like to consider whether to use the two-thirds option after seeing the response that comes from the Democratic Party of Japan. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Minister:
When I consider the importance of the activities that are being undertaken in this region, the influence that has on the people of Japan, and on the international community as a whole, as well as the role that Japan plays in the international community, personally I think that probably even the members of the opposition parties understand just how important this matter really is. Once the Diet session starts, we will be able to see at that time just what kind of response the members of the opposition party make on this issue, and I agree with Prime Minister Aso, who said that right now we cannot really talk about whether we will use the two-thirds option.

Question: Regarding the handling of the bill for providing refueling support, it seems that in the near future, the extraordinary session of the Diet will be held and that the bill will be submitted. Otherwise, there is a possibility that there will be a dissolution of the Diet and the holding of a general election, which will be followed by a special session of the Diet. What are your thoughts on that and on the timing of when this bill might be submitted?

Minister:
Regarding that bill, I believe that we will be able to submit it to the Diet some time early next week.

7. Reorganization of the US Forces in Japan (USFJ)

Question:
Regarding the reorganization of the US forces, currently there is some movement to build a working group between the local community and the government regarding the relocation of the Futenma Air Station. Governor Makoto Nakai of Okinawa and the local community are requesting that the air station be moved offshore. What are your thoughts on this? Also, one of the working group's issues is how to remove the dangers of the current Futenma Air Station. What are your thoughts on the issue of removing the dangers of the Futenma Air Station before its relocation to Nago City?

Minister:
A total of 8,000 of the US military personnel stationed in Okinawa are scheduled to relocate to Guam, while the US military forces are stationed in Okinawa as part of the Japan-US Security Arrangements, which are provided by the Japan-US Security Treaty which forms the core of the Japan-US Alliance. I believe that it is very important to conduct the reorganization of the US military according to schedule in order to thoroughly maintain the deterrence of the US-Japan Security Treaty, as well as to lighten the burden on the local community.

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