Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > November 29, 2011

(* 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 Koichiro Gemba

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 9:35 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Ministerial Committee on Global Warming Issue
    • (2) Visit to Japan of H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
  2. Nuclear Agreements
  3. Visit to Myanmar by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
  4. Issue of Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  5. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Ministerial Committee on Global Warming Issue

Minister Gemba: I would like to touch on two matters. The first one is about Japan's position toward for COP17, which opened in Durban, South Africa, on Monday, November 28. The position was approved at the Ministerial Committee on the Global Warning Issue this morning. Japan's basic policy is to seek to have final deliberations toward adoption of a new single comprehensive legal document for the construction of an fair and effective international framework where all major green house gas emitting countries participate. Accordingly, at COP17, Japan will pursue clarification of a path toward a comprehensive framework and commencement of necessary work to that end, in addition to the implementation of the agreement in Cancun.
 The second one is Japan's Vision and Actions toward Low-Carbon Growth and a Climate-Resilient World, a proposal which the Committee approved to announce as Japan's initiative. I would like to have MOFA officials provide a detailed explanation later. This vision includes three approaches. The first one is the development of technological innovation to reduce further emissions, the second one is the dissemination and promotion of low-carbon technology, and construction of a new market mechanism, and the third one is special consideration for vulnerable countries. We would like to take the initiative in implementing relevant measures based on the three approaches and work so that the entire international community can advance in similar approaches.
 We will fully mobilize technologies, markets, and funds to enable Japan to contribute continuously to lead the entire world to low-carbon growth.

(2) Visit to Japan of H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Minister: The second one is about the visit of H.E. Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, as a guest of MOFA from Thursday, December 1, to Monday, December 5.
 The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to hold ministerial talks with me and sign a technical cooperation agreement. Besides, he is expected to visit relevant organizations and exchange opinions with some private enterprises. Japan and Ethiopia, which celebrated the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year, have been maintaining a good relationship.
 We expect that Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam's visit to Japan will further reinforce the friendly and cooperative relations between Japan and Ethiopia, a major power in East Africa, toward TICAD V, which will be held in Japan in 2013.

2. Nuclear Agreements

Noguchi, Nippon Television: I have a question about the progress of Diet deliberations. The nuclear agreements are expected to be deliberated in the House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee. Please tell us how you are going to approach this matter.

Minister: I hope that the four nuclear-related treaties that have been submitted to the Diet will be approved as soon as possible. As I often mention this, but we have been negotiating these treaties in good faith. The treaties have been already approved in the respective counterparts domestically. I do not think we should impair the trust with our partner countries.
 On the other hand, as I have been reiterating, I think that it is necessary to take a differentiated approach, that is, to handle entirely new projects fully incorporating the result of verification.

Noguchi, Nippon Television: Some DPJ members still claim that the nuclear agreements should be handled carefully, because they will lead to nuclear power plant exports. What do you think of this?

Minister: As I said a while ago, we should be careful not to damage our trust with other countries from a diplomatic viewpoint on ongoing cases  or negotiations that have been effectively kicked off. Furthermore, it is usually the other side that takes up the matter first. Therefore,we have to take such circumstances into account when we decide how to proceed with these cases.
 As for new projects, I think we should formulate basic policies with due consideration of Japan's future energy policies.

3. Visit to Myanmar by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Yokota, Mainichi Newspapers: I have a question about Myanmar. U.S. Secretary of State Clinton will visit Myanmar tomorrow. This will be the first visit of an U.S. administration official in 57 years. The U.S.'s involvement will be the point of development. How do you evaluate the Secretary of State Clinton's visit and the significance of her visit? Furthermore, what is your own idea of visiting Myanmar?

Minister: My visiting schedule has not been decided. At the Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting, however, we exchanged opinions about how we see Myanmar. At the Japan-Myanmar Foreign Ministerial Meeting, which was held in October if my memory is correct, I mentioned that we evaluated the developments in Myanmar to a certain extent and that we are thinking of sending afact-finding team to Myanmar with a view to further promoting its democratization. I think Secretary of State Clinton made a decision with comprehensive considerations, including Japan's opinion shown at the Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting.

Kamide, Freelance: Which Foreign Ministerial Meeting was it?

Minister: The latest one that was held in Hawaii.

Kamide, Freelance: Did Japan and the United States agree in all points or have there been any discrepancies?

Minister: I do not think it is proper to mention the details of our exchanges, but you can guess about right. After all, as I mentioned before, it is our position that we should evaluate the current development positively and should engage, in order to make it irreversible. It seemed to me that the United States attached slightly larger importance on the aspect of human rights.

4. Issue of Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Matsudo, Ryukyu Shimpo: I have a question about the Futenma issue. The Director of Okinawa Defense Bureau said at a meeting with press yesterday that whether a rapist says he will rape somebody before he actually does so, with reference to Japanese Government's reluctance to mention the timing of submitting a report on environment impact assessment. What do you think of this as you have been making efforts toward the building trust?

Minister: It is an egregious act if it is true. I understand that the Ministry of Defense is now investigating.

5. Domestic Political Situation (Omitted)

- (Omitted)

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