Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > July 10, 2009

(* 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: Friday, July 10, 2009, 8:47 a.m.
Place: In front of the Ministers' Room in the House

Main topics:

  1. Opening Statement
    • Partial Revision of a Cabinet Order - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reorganization
  2. Issue of the Northern Territories
  3. "Secret Agreement on the Introduction of Nuclear Weapons"

1. Opening Statement

Partial Revision of a Cabinet Order - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reorganization

Minister:
At today's (July 10) Cabinet Meeting, a decision regarding the partial reorganization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made. A partial amendment of the Cabinet Order concerning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was decided on at the Cabinet Meeting. Specifically, this reorganization aims to enable us to invest more human resources into operations with high priority in consideration of the human resources restraint we operate under, especially those related to security issues, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and climate change. We also aim to realize the realignment and strengthening of our implementation framework for ODA, in light of the establishment of the new JICA. Material on the details will be handed out later by our staff.

2. Issue of the Northern Territories

Question:
There was expectation that the Russian side would offer up a new proposal regarding the Northern Territories at the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting during the G8 Summit. However, the meeting ended with no new concrete proposal. There are opinions that this is due to the Russian side stiffening their attitude because of either Prime Minister Aso's statement at the Diet or the new law regarding the Northern Territories. How do you evaluate this situation?

Minister:
There was a comprehensive explanation regarding the issue of the attribution of the Northern Territories by President Medvedev. Regrettably, this explanation was not one that could satisfy Japan's position. We have agreed to continue to explore every option. I will pay close attention to the Russian side's actions going forward. Regarding what you just said, I do not think that it is appropriate for me to say what the other side thinks. Either way, the two leaders agreed to support the acceleration and strengthening of work toward a resolution, so we will continue forward with negotiations with a strong will.

Related Information (Japan's Northern Territories)

3. "Secret Agreement on the Introduction of Nuclear Weapons"

Question:
Regarding the so-called "secret agreement," a former senior government official stated in this morning's edition of the Asahi Shimbun that the document about the "secret agreement" was destroyed before the establishment of the 2001 Information Disclosure Act. Please tell us the truth of this matter.

Minister:
I am aware of the media reports. However, as I have answered repeatedly at the Diet, there is no such "secret agreement." The introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan, port calls of ships carrying nuclear weapons, and passage through territorial waters by such ships are subject to prior consultation, and always have been. Such events as these have never occurred. Therefore, there has never been any introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan nor a "secret agreement".

Question:
Do you have any plans to investigate this matter?

Minister:
I have no plans to do so.
The grammar of this sentence requires an object here.

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