(* 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 Katsuya Okada

Date: Friday, June 18, 2010, 4:55 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Emergency Grant Aid to the Kyrgyz Republic
- (2) Visit to Japan by President Karzai of Afghanistan
- (3) First Meeting of the Diplomatic Records Declassification Promotion Committee
US Military Realignment Issue
Minister Okada’s Perception of the Japan’s SDF
Visit to Japan by President Karzai of Afghanistan
Democratic Party of Japan’s Manifesto for House of Councilors Election
Dispatch of PKO Units to Sudan
Energy Partnership Agreement
Basic Energy Plan and Nuclear Development
Sanctions against Iran
ROK Patrol Ship Sinking Incident
Election of Members of House of Councilors
Kidnapping of Japanese Citizen in Afghanistan

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Emergency Grant Aid to the Kyrgyz Republic

Minister Okada: I have three announcements.
The first announcement concerns emergency grant aid to the Kyrgyz Republic. This was finalized at today’s Cabinet meeting. The Government of Japan has decided to extend emergency grant aid up to $500,000 to refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the armed clashes in the southern part of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Government of Japan plans to immediately implement this assistance in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Japan has decided to extend assistance as various countries are doing the same.

(2) Visit to Japan by President Karzai of Afghanistan

Minister: The second announcement concerns the visit to Japan by President Karzai of Afghanistan and his party. President Karzai met with Prime Minister Kan yesterday, and I believe there was a good exchange of views yesterday. I paid a courtesy call to the (Afghan) Finance Minister and the President, and after that, I attended the summit meeting between the President and the Prime Minister. Today, I held talks with Foreign Minister (Zaimal) Rassoul. Last year, under the administration of Prime Minister (Yukio) Hatoyama, we decided to extend to Afghanistan a large amount of assistance up to $5 billion over a five-year period. As this is a large amount, it is extremely important that this aid is properly used for the people of Afghanistan and help rebuild the country. I conveyed this to the Foreign Minister, and from this viewpoint, I told him that amid the situation in which such matters as the Afghan Government’s (capabilities with regard to) security and governance are entering a very important phase, the Afghan Government should take the initiative to present concrete plans for rebuilding the country and to carry out more specific coordination in view of the Kabul International Conference on the 20th of July. Foreign Minister Rassoul told me that he wished that we could contact each other frequently.

(3) First Meeting of the Diplomatic Records Declassification Promotion Committee

Minister: The third announcement concerns the first meeting of the Diplomatic Records Declassification Promotion Committee, which was announced yesterday. After that announcement, I made the following confirmation on the basis of yesterday’s committee meeting. With regard to 38 volumes of administrative document files concerning negotiations on the reversion of Okinawa and negotiations on the revision of the Japan-US Security Treaty, we plan to publicize them shortly, shall I say, or transfer them to the Diplomatic Record Office for declassification. Some administrative tasks reportedly remain, but we plan not to take too many days to transfer them for declassification.
There are approximately 22,000 volumes (of diplomatic records) that are more than 30 years old. We will work on (declassifying) them sequentially in order of precedence. We had a study done on such work yesterday with the participation of a third party, and as a rough estimate, we will complete the work on 6,000 to 7,000 volumes a year and declassify them in sequence. In light of that, work on the existing stock, shall I say, or those that are more than 30 years old will basically be completed in three to four years. After that, records that reach the 30th year will be declassified each year, so we hope to bring things to normal within three to four years.

2. US Military Realignment Issue

Nezu, NHK: I believe that you met Prime Minister Kan and Defense Minister Kitazawa at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier and held talks. To the extent that you are able, can you tell us what you discussed?

Minister: I gave a briefing centering on the current situation of the Futenma (Air Station relocation) issue and past developments. I cannot make any further comments.

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: When I questioned you at the previous press conference, you said that you had yet to start talking with the relevant ministers on the Futenma issue. In that sense, may I take it that the fact that you met Defense Minister Kitazawa and the Prime Minister today is the start of communications in that sense?

Minister: I spoke to them about the situation so far and past developments. I did not make any further remarks.

Ukai, Asahi Shimbun: Prime Minister Kan has spoken about setting up a new team to deal with the Futenma issue. Was there any discussion on that at today’s meeting? Or, have the prospects become clear?

Minister: It is just as I said earlier. I have no intention to make further comments.

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: In the written answers to questions (at the Diet) that were finalized at today’s Cabinet meeting, in the part related to (a question by) Ms. Sanae Takaichi on the Futenma issue, it is written that (the government) “will move forward with the verification and validation of the Futenma Air Station relocation plan based on the (Japan-US) joint statement.” I believe that (to move forward with) the verification and validation of the relocation plan creates (the impression of) a slightly concrete image, shall I say, but to begin with, a concrete study of the construction method by the end of August is something on which the government is to start working from here on. In light of that, what does verification and validation of the relocation plan mean?

Minister: I do not remember the text of the answers, but it was written in line with the joint statement.

Hashimoto, Jiji Press: With regard to the study to decide on the construction method and the specific location of the (replacement) facility by the end of August, US Assistant Secretary of State (Kurt) Campbell came over yesterday and today, and the Prime Minister and the governor of Okinawa held a meeting this week. In light of these developments, how have arrangements been worked out so far with regard to how this technical study will move forward?

Minister: This is a technical study by experts, so it is indeed a study by experts as is written (in the joint statement).

Takahashi, Jiji Press: I am asking about the current schedule of the experts.

Minister: I believe that that is something that I should not speak about in particular. Although the end of August as written there is a deadline that is one of the goals, I have no further comments to make on that in particular. I believe that that is something that will be addressed from now on while holding consultations within the government.

3. Minister Okada’s Perception of the Japan’s SDF

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: My question is about your perception of the Self-Defense Forces. At the press conference on Tuesday in connection with the matter concerning President Karzai, you used the expression, “As, at the moment, Japan has not deployed a military force,” or rather (Japan) “does not have a military force deployed.” Since I believe that under the current Constitution, Japan does not possess a military force, please tell us about the true intentions behind this comment.

Minister: Since there is no military force in Japan, there is no doubt that it does not have a military force deployed.

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: I feel that saying that (Japan) currently does not have (a military force) deployed can normally be interpreted that (Japan) did have (a military force) deployed in the past. Was this just a simple mistake (you made by) referring to the SDF (as a military force)? If so, I think it would just be a matter that can be taken care of by correcting yourself (of the mistake) by saying that that is the case. However, if, for example, this were to be left on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website as is for a long time, I think that some people will increasingly suspect that you perceive the SDF as a military force. How do you feel about this?

Minister: Thank you for your concern. Of course, the SDF is not a military force. However, I spoke of it (the SDF) as an organization that possesses power.

4. Visit to Japan by President Karzai of Afghanistan

Saito, Kyodo News: My question concerns assistance to Afghanistan. I posed a question during the previous press conference, but since an aid program worth $5 billion is quite large in scale and taxpayer’s money is used for this, I feel that from their standpoint, it is natural for the taxpayers to seek confirmation that their money is used in a transparent and proper manner. How do you intend to provide that assurance? With regard to this point, if there were any agreements or progress made on such matters as the creation of some specific framework or an acceptance mechanism in Afghanistan during the latest series of meetings with the foreign minister and financial minister, please brief us on those points.

Minister: Of course, when we provide money to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs naturally makes an announcement on every occasion. As to whether, aside from this, there are other ways to provide a further explanation, Foreign Minister Rassoul himself spoke today about whether there may be ways to explain to the Japanese people so that they can understand it more easily and mentioned that he has been thinking of various ideas and would definitely like to hold consultations on this matter. I told him that it was a good idea and that we both should first have our working-level officials thoroughly study the matter. Today, I was able to reconfirm that the Afghan side also feels that – as we have repeatedly said – it is necessary to explain to the Japanese people that it (the aid money) is properly used and has been effective and of much help. In light of that, we would like to think hard about what possibilities there may be.

Muhammad, Online - International News Network, Pakistan: What specifically did you discuss with President Karzai? In addition, tell us whether, depending on circumstances, there is a possibility of deploying the SDF to Afghanistan or to the Indian Ocean.

Minister: With regard to what was discussed with President Karzai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made an announcement, so I would like you to look at that by all means. I have no intention to make further comments. We are not thinking about sending the SDF to Afghanistan at this moment. Instead, the Afghan side has actually thanked Japan for providing civilian aid packages to support the Afghan people’s livelihood, and Japan has no intention to deploy the SDF to mainland Afghanistan. As for sending the SDF to the Indian Ocean, there are no specific plans at the moment. Instead, since we actually stopped that operation, no such discussions are being held within the government at the moment.

Muhammad, Online - International News Network, Pakistan: With regard to President Karzai’s visit to Japan, the term “good governance” appears in the joint press release. I would like to know what specific meaning “good governance” actually has and what was discussed. In addition, please tell us whether you have any plans to visit Pakistan and Afghanistan soon and whether that was discussed.

Minister: I think that “good governance” came out during our discussion when I said that (the Government of Japan) would like (Afghanistan) to use the aid money in a way that is convincing to the Japanese people, the taxpayers. Another point is that there indeed was the Peace Jirga, and (the Afghan Government) will be moving toward reconstructing the country. Amid this situation, we would like (the Afghan Government) to thoroughly deal with such matters as the issue of security and the problem of corruption, so this term came up in the context of such discussions. As to whether I plan to visit Pakistan and Afghanistan soon, I do not know about the future. However, the Kabul International Conference will be held on the 20th of July, so while there are such matters as the Diet session, if the schedule works out, I am thinking about attending the Kabul International Conference. Nothing specific has been decided yet.

5. Democratic Party of Japan’s Manifesto for House of Councilors Election

Ishikawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: This question is about the consumption tax and not foreign affairs, but yesterday, the Prime Minister mentioned the consumption tax at the announcement of the manifesto. He indicated a plan of settling the matter of the tax rate by the end of the fiscal year, keeping in mind the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign promise of 10%. Please tell us your reaction to this topic being broached immediately before the House of Councilors election, and its impact on this election.

Minister: This was the plan described by the Prime Minister after consideration, so I have absolutely no intention of voicing any disagreement with it. Also, my own theory is that while we must of course strive to reduce our annual expenditures, this alone will not be enough. Consequently, we must consider a future tax increase, and when I speak of a tax increase, I am speaking specifically of carbon taxes and consumption taxes. Of course, we have also made campaign promises, so I think that raising them without going through general elections will cause various debates to arise, but from the Prime Minister's statement, I do not think that he went that far. I think that there will be various debates over whether we should study it within this fiscal year, but I think that it is necessary to discuss the specific details of the consumption tax. If you recall the election of the party leader one year ago, I emphasized this.

Asaka, Freelance: I have a question about the manifesto that was announced yesterday. The manifesto does not mention territorial issues. With territorial issues such as Takeshima, until now you have shown approval of persistent diplomatic efforts to find peaceful resolutions in government answers (to the Diet interpellations). As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Party of Japan government, I would like to ask your view on territorial issues that are not mentioned in the manifesto.

Minister: The manifesto only has a limited amount of space, so it focuses on key points to a certain extent, so even though it does not mention territorial issues, we are of course not backward-looking on the importance of territorial issues.

Asaka, Freelance: Then to ask again, does this mean that the things written in the manifesto have higher priority, and territorial issues have lower priority than those?

Minister: I do not think that one must necessarily think in that way.

Asaka, Freelance: If that is the case, then there is a list about foreign relations and security in the manifesto, and in there it also says "First election. Joins politics," with a photo of Prime Minister Naoto Kan labeled "Naoto Kan HISTORY." What is the priority of this?

Minister: In the final instance, the manifesto is created by the party, including the layout and things like that, so opinions may differ on whether the photo was a good idea, but the party deemed that it was appropriate.

Asaka, Freelance: So does this mean that the party gave this priority, and although I do not know whether it has higher priority, they at least consider it to have higher priority in terms of what to write?

Minister: Compared to territorial issues? I do not think that it is very desirable to make such a comparison. In the overall layout, there are other places that turned out this way, aren't there? This photo is (2), so as I recall, there were around four photos. So I think that they decided to use this space from the beginning, and the question was what to write in the remaining space, taking that as a premise.

6. Dispatch of PKO Units to Sudan

Yamao, Asahi Shimbun: As a fact-finding mission was sent in May to study the feasibility of dispatching PKO units to Sudan, has a conclusion been drawn as a result of the study? In addition, some media have reported that the Ministry of Defense has conveyed to relevant ministries and agencies that due to such reasons as the deteriorating security situation, dispatch is difficult. What are the facts?

Minister: The study is still under way. No conclusion has been drawn.

Yamao, Asahi Shimbun: What about whether the Ministry of Defense has sent notices?

Minister: The government is still studying the matter. I feel that I should not make any further comments.

Yamao, Asahi Shimbun: I believe that there is high international interest in a referendum to be held in southern Sudan. How do you feel about the significance of deploying PKO units to Sudan in this regard?

Minister: That is why I feel that individual ministers should not make various remarks when the government is currently conducting a study. So, I have no intention to comment on deployment of PKO units. However, since this (referendum) in southern Sudan will be a kind of election to determine the propriety of independence, there is no mistake that it will be a very important election for Sudan itself and for Africa, as well.

7. Energy Partnership Agreement

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: Yesterday, the Governor of Okinawa came to Tokyo, and there was a ceremony cementing a partnership on energy support with Hawaii. The joint declaration by Japan and the United States also mentions energy issues with the term "Green Alliance." Is there some sort of link or relationship between these?

Minister: I am sorry. I had not noticed that far, so I do not know. It is not impossible when you think about it, but I cannot give an immediate answer. Speaking broadly, that may be possible.

Takimoto, Ryukyu Shimpo: This was not intentionally included in the joint declaration?

Minister: That is not necessarily the case. But it will be extremely important for Japan and the United States to cooperate in various ways on the issue of global warming, or shall I say energy. Therefore, although this may be called a part of that, I think that it is better not to consciously link this to the Japan-US agreement.

8. Basic Energy Plan and Nuclear Development

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: This relates to the earlier topic of mitigating global warming and energy, but a plan to build additional nuclear power-generating plants was decided at today's Cabinet meeting. Japan currently has a policy of recycling nuclear fuel, so it extracts plutonium from spent nuclear fuel. This being the case, the more nuclear plants we have, the more surplus plutonium we will produce. If this happens, plutonium can easily be converted into nuclear weapons, so there is a risk that other countries will suspect that Japan intends to go nuclear. Please tell us how the Government of Japan intends to explain that this danger does not exist?

Minister: This is conducted under the strict monitoring of the IAEA, so I am not aware of any countries that now hold this suspicion. We accept monitoring extremely openly.

9. Sanctions against Iran

Nezu, NHK: I have a question about sanctions against Iran. After the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on sanctions, the United States and EU adopted independent sanctions, and I think that there are some countries voicing opposition to these independent sanctions, but could you tell us what kind of response Japan will take?

Minister: I do not think that the EU has decided on specific sanctions yet. When this becomes clear, then the Government of Japan will carefully study the additional sanctions by the United States and EU, and determine if Japan should do something additional. Nothing has been decided at the present time.

10. ROK Patrol Ship Sinking Incident

Saito, Kyodo News: A considerable amount of time has passed since the results of the investigation of the sinking of the patrol ship were announced, but it would appear that the specific text, or shall we say message, that the victim country – the ROK – should bring to the UN Security Council has not yet been decided, or at least judging by the media reports and statements by the ROK authorities, there is still nothing clear. Amid this, Japan is providing solid support to the ROK, but speaking roughly, should they essentially ask for a resolution with binding force, or since there are the permanent members like Russia and China, considering these countries should they seek something that is softer overall? If you are able to comment on the overall direction, please tell us.

Minister: I have nothing to say (about this). We are maintaining close contact with the ROK Government, both between our headquarters, and also at the UN in New York. We are maintaining close contact, and as to what is most preferable, the situation changes from day to day, so based on this, we are maintaining extremely close contact.

Saito, Kyodo News: At your last press conference, I believe that you mentioned preventing recurrence, preventing this kind of thing from occurring again. If the UN Security Council were to create a result that guaranteed the prevention of recurrence, one could inevitably think that this would have a certain degree of binding force, but are you personally thinking of this? What about from the perspective of preventing recurrence?

Minister: What I said last time was the very limit. I do not intend to speak further about this. Also, as to whether or not there is binding force, if I say that I think both ways would be possible in terms of preventing recurrence, then I may be suspected of aiming for (a resolution) without binding force, so I will not speak any further on this, but in any case, our approach is to aim for the best solution amid the situation we have been placed in.

11. Election of Members of House of Councilors

Kamide, Freelance: This is somewhat related to the earlier matter of the House of Councilors election, but the Liberal Democratic Party has reacted to the enactment of a national referendum law by broaching the subject of a revision to the Constitution. As a primary Cabinet member, what is your view on this? Please tell us whether the Democratic Party of Japan will embark on that path.

Minister: Revising the Constitution is an extremely vital topic for the nation, so I think that discussions on a daily basis are needed. But I do not necessarily think that this should be a central theme of the current House of Councilors election. Further discussion is needed within the Democratic Party of Japan, and I do not think that the Liberal Democratic Party has converged on a direction for revising the Constitution, or the details. Although I of course think that there is significance in raising the issue, I think that there are many other things that should be debated in this House of Councilors election.

Ida, Shukan Kinyobi: I have a question related to your statement that "there are many other things that should be debated in this House of Councilors election." In particular, please tell us which issues of foreign affairs you expect to be debated, including deeper debate among the Japanese citizens.

Minister: It is quite difficult to make foreign affairs a theme of an election. Since I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I recently spent the weekend going to five constituencies, and speaking on various topics. I have also spoken about the Japan-US alliance. I plan to decide on the foreign-affairs themes to appeal for during the election campaign after trying various other topics and viewing the reactions. There has hardly been any reaction, so I sense that foreign affairs may after all not be a topic that can be appealed for in a stump speech. But since I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I always try to bring up one topic of foreign affairs. Speaking of areas of foreign affairs that will be major points of contention between the political parties, for example between the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party, I think that of course things like the current criticism about the Futenma issue will naturally be brought up by the Liberal Democratic Party, but unfortunately, I sense that no themes will be found that can be debated constructively as concrete points of contention.

Beppu, NHK: Last year, the concept of "close and equal relations between Japan and the United States" grabbed attention. What role will this have in the current House of Councilors election?

Minister: This time, "a close and equal relations between Japan and the United States" will come up as "in order to build a close and equal relations between Japan and the United States" in the context of proposing a revision to the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the United States, so it is not(treated as) a headline. The expression "close and equal" was used in the manifesto that was created under former Prime Minister Hatoyama. It is not that it is not used at all this time, but I actually think that I have almost never used the phrase "equal relations with the United States," outside my role as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Hatoyama administration. I actually do not want to use this phrase very much, because it might be understood that our relations are unequal at present. Although of course, if the Prime Minister says that, then I will naturally comply as a member of the Cabinet.

12. Kidnapping of Japanese Citizen in Afghanistan

Hatakeyama, freelance: I would like to ask about Kosuke Tsuneoka, who has been missing in Afghanistan since the end of March. The other day, Mainichi Newspapers interviewed Mr. Tsuneoka in person via telephone, and reported that his life is not in danger. Also, MSN Sankei News reported that at a speech today in Tokyo, Afghan President Karzai spoke on whether Mr. Tsuneoka is safe, saying that although he could not speak of details, "There will be good news, very very hopefully." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken the stance of making absolutely no comments on this matter, but has the Ministry been able to confirm the safety of Mr. Tsuneoka? Are you currently also taking the stance of making absolutely no comments? If there is something that you can say, could you tell us?

Minister: I have no comment.

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