(* 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 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Place: Briefing Room, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

Opening Statement
- Nomination of a Candidate for the By-Election of International Criminal Court (ICC) Judges
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the United States Dr. Kurt Campbell's Visit to Japan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone's Attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
The Development of Natural Resources in the East China Sea (Shirakaba Oil and Gas Field)

1. Opening Statement

Nomination of a Candidate for the By-Election of International Criminal Court (ICC) Judges

Minister:
A by-election of International Criminal Court (ICC) judges will be held in November this year. At the Cabinet Meeting today, I explained that the Government of Japan would nominate Ms. Kuniko Ozaki, Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and Special Assistant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a candidate. Ms. Ozaki is a leading expert on human rights and humanitarian issues. As you know, this by-election is being held after the sudden passing of Ms. Fumiko Saiga, who was the first Japanese ICC judge. By having a Japanese national elected successively as an ICC judge, I believe it will contribute to the promotion of the Rule of Law in the international community to which Japan attaches great importance. The Government will make united efforts during the election campaign aiming for the successful election of Ms. Ozaki.

Related Information (Press Release)

2. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the United States Dr. Kurt Campbell's Visit to Japan

Question:
I believe that Dr. Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, who is coming to Japan will pay you a courtesy call today. What will you talk about with him?

Minister:
I believe he is going to have a meeting with the Director-Generals of various bureaus today. He will pay me a courtesy call around noon, so I will see him then. Taking into consideration the current international situation or the conditions surrounding Japan, I believe we will exchange views on situations such as North Korean issues and various situations in the Asia Pacific region. As for the meeting with the Director-Generals -- I do not think this has started yet -- I believe they will exchange opinions on a wide range of issues and confirm the importance of strengthening Japan-US relations.

3. Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone's Attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

Question:
North Korean issues are on the agenda at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) next week which you are scheduled to attend. What will your position be on this?

Minister:
I believe that at the ARF, each country is already fully aware of the North Korean issues. UN Security Council Resolution 1874 having been adopted, the most important thing is for each country to firmly implement the resolution now. Therefore, I believe my position regarding North Korean issues will basically be to call on the other countries to effectively implement what was decided on in the UN resolution.

4. The Development of Natural Resources in the East China Sea (Shirakaba Oil and Gas Field)

Question:
If you have anything new on the situation of the Shirakaba oil and gas field, please tell us.

Minister:
As I answered at the last press conference, upon requesting an explanation from the Chinese side, the Chinese side responded that they were conducting work related to maintenance and management and there was no substantial change in the current situation at Chunxiao, as it is called in Chinese. We have expressed our continued serious concerns and will continue to watch over the situation with great interest.

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