(* 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 Seiji Maehara

Date: Friday, February 4, 2011, 4:23 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) G4 Foreign Ministerial Meeting
- (2) Holding of "Dialogue with the Foreign Minister"
- (3) Situation in Egypt
Situation in Myanmar
Northern Territories Issue
Japan-Russia Relations
Relations with China
Situation in Egypt
"Pioneering Day of the Senkaku Islands" Commemoration Ceremony

1. Opening Remarks

(1) G4 Foreign Ministerial Meeting

Minister Maehara: With regard to the G8 Foreign Minister’s Meeting, coordination had been under way to schedule a meeting of the foreign ministers of four countries on reform of the UN Security Council, and it was decided that the meeting would be held in New York on February 11. Unfortunately, I will be visiting Moscow, so I have decided to have State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Matsumoto attend the meeting. I conveyed this plan to the Prime Minister earlier and gained his approval. At the moment, I would like to refrain from commenting on the details because it is a matter of upcoming negotiations. However, I would like to have State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Matsumoto follow through with that plan.

(2) Holding of "Dialogue with the Foreign Minister"

Also, I would like to have a forum set up for direct dialogue with people called "A Talk with the Foreign Minister" starting at 2:00 p.m. on March 5 (Saturday) in Kobe. We would like to open the forum starting at 2:00 p.m. at the main hall of Kobe International Conference Center. I have heard that so far, lectures of this type have been held 19 times throughout Japan ever since the first such event was held in April 2002. This time, it will be the 20th time.

(3) Situation in Egypt

Finally, I have one more announcement. This is about the situation in Egypt. I would like to speak about the current situation of Japanese nationals there. This morning, we held a meeting of the response headquarters for the 13th time. In Cairo, there is only one person there who has been hospitalized for a stroke. The rest of the people have left the country from Cairo Airport. As for Luxor, 35 people are scheduled to depart on a flight from Luxor for Doha today. Including those people, there are currently 103 people in Egypt. Among them are 68 people on a cruise, and as we have issued an evacuation advisory, urging them to evacuate as soon as possible. Unfortunately, however, those on the cruise have indicated that they intend to continue the cruise. The 68 people plan to leave Luxor on February 6 for Doha at their own risk. If the 35 people leave on today's flight, there will be one tourist remaining in Cairo and 68 tourists remaining in Luxor. If the cruiser leaves on February 6, the person hospitalized in Cairo would be the only one left.
Meanwhile, there are more than 1,000 Japanese residents in Egypt. These 1,000 people exclude Embassy staff. Currently, however, there are about 610 of these people still residing there. There are about 400 Japanese nationals who have no intention to leave the country. They are such people as the spouses of local nationals or the managers of corporate organizations, and have indicated at the moment that they intend to stay in the country, so the rest, 210 people, are thinking about temporarily evacuating the country.
Additionally, what we feel some concern is that there are about 60 Japanese reporters who have entered Egypt. Two or three days ago, there were 20 reporters, so this means that the number has tripled. There has been an increase in the number of incidents in which Japanese reporters are getting in trouble and we are very concerned. These are people in the same profession as all of you here, so in that sense, we are very grateful for their news coverage. Nevertheless, we would like them to be very careful about their personal safety in doing their job.

2. Situation in Myanmar

Oshima, Asahi Shimbun: I have two questions on the election of the new president of Myanmar. According to reports, Prime Minister Thein Sein has become the president. Putting aside the question of whether the Government of Japan has confirmed that, in any case, an election was held, at least as a formality, and the Parliament was convened to elect the president. My first question is how you evaluate the fact that progress has been made in this process of "transition to civilian rule."
As for my second question, in the wake of the inauguration of a new government, please tell us your thoughts on the Japanese Government's policy toward Myanmar, including how ODA programs ought to be implemented.

Minister: As for your first question, I have not received any reports yet that a new president has been elected.
With regard to your second question, from our standards, although a general election has been held for the first time in 20 years, I would not say that this was an open election, as there are an extremely large number of military officials holding seats in the Parliament. However, I give a certain level of credit to the fact that a general election was held for the first time in 20 years and that the Myanmar Government has freed Ms. Suu Kyi from house arrest and gradually granted her freedom to engage in various activities. We would like to think about our policy toward Myanmar while discerning its orientation in that direction in the future.

3. Northern Territories Issue

Shimada, Hokkaido Shimbun: As the defense minister of Russia visited the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu today, please tell us what you feel the objective of the visit is and your reaction to this. In addition, please tell us whether, in the wake of this visit, you lodged some kind of protest with the Russian side or expressed regret over it.

Minister: I feel that it is extremely regrettable that Defense Minister Serdyukov visited the four northern islands today, as it conflicts with our country's position. Today, the 4th, Director General Kodera of the European Affairs Bureau summoned Ambassador Bely to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a strong protest.
With regard to the details, we said that the visit was extremely regrettable because it conflicts with Japan's fundamental position and lodged a protest to the effect that this kind of visit at a time when we are trying to promote Japan-Russia relations, including resolution of the territorial issue, goes against the agreement between the top leaders of the two countries and also pours cold water on such efforts.
The Russian defense minister has visited the four northern islands a number of times in the past. Although we are not in a position to analyze the intentions behind those visits, as I stated earlier, we expressed regret and lodged a protest because the visits conflict with our position.

Shimada, Hokkaido Shimbun: I believe that you said earlier at the beginning with regard to the matter on the G4 that you would be in Russia around February 11. As I think that a (Japan-Russia) foreign ministerial meeting will likely be held on that occasion, do you intend to directly lodge a protest with Foreign Minister Lavrov?

Minister: We do not hold foreign ministerial meetings through the mass media. There is absolutely no change to our fundamental position of firmly saying what we feel about the various developments that have taken place so far.

Yoshioka, Jiji Press: It has been reported that prior to the defense minister's visit, Minister of Regional Development Basargin indeed visited the Northern Territories and that on that occasion he proposed participation by South Korean companies in development projects for the Chishima Islands, including the Northern Territories. Based on this, please tell us whether you have taken any kind of measures to prevent third countries from participating in the development project, such as calling on the South Korea side not to go along with the Russian proposal.

Minister: This is completely based on press reports, and with regard to report-based matters, we cannot take specific action, as we have not confirmed the facts.

Yoshioka, Jiji Press: In that case, is it the government's understanding that since this is all based on press reports, there is a possibility that the facts in themselves may not actually be true?

Minister: Perhaps I should say that we do not have confirmation.

Nagai, Nihon Keizai Shimbun: With regard to the Northern Territories, as the current situation is that Russia has effective control over them, I believe that it would be difficult to actually resolve the territorial issue unless there is some kind of signal from the Russian side giving the impression that it wants resolve the territorial issue soon. How does the Government of Japan intend to move the Russian side?

Minister: My understanding is that on the occasion of bilateral talks and meetings that have repeatedly been held so far, Japan and Russia have mutually agreed to resolve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty at an early date.
In that sense, my understanding is that the Russian side also seeks some kind of progress. In any case, the resolution of the territorial issue is extremely important. At the same time, as a partner in this region, we would like to further strengthen Japan-Russia relations in the future in such aspects as economics or resource development.
With regard to the territorial issue, there is no change to our fundamental policy of determining the attribution of the four islands and concluding a peace treaty.

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: With regard to policy toward Russia, I believe that ever since President Medvedev visited Japan, you have presented your idea of not limiting economic cooperation to the four northern islands but further expanding it to include such projects as development of the area east of the Ural Mountains and then using that as leverage to resolve the territorial issue. However, as to the case with the latest visit by the defense minister, I have the impression that your thoughts and message unfortunately have not been conveyed to Russia. How do you feel about that?

Minister: Pardon me if it this sounds as if I am taking your words out of context, but although you used the phrase "not limiting economic cooperation to the Northern Territories," we have no intention to provide economic cooperation in the Northern Territories. Although it would be a different story if this could be done under full assurance that there would be no infringement of our sovereignty, we have no intention to carry out bilateral economic cooperation in the Northern Territories in that sense. Amid such a situation, however, we do feel that we need to promote Japan-Russia relations in various ways. As I stated earlier, we have no intention to conduct diplomatic negotiations through the mass media. As such, I would like to convey the thoughts of the Japanese side during talks with Foreign Minister Lavrov and thereby further strengthen Japan-Russia relations, and at the same time, firmly do all I can as foreign minister to help resolve the territorial issue.

Inukai, Mainichi Newspapers: In the past, there existed the thinking that we would not provide economic cooperation unless progress is made in the territorial issue. May I understand that you have no intention to adopt that thinking and that you intend to treat the two matters separately?

Minister: I do not agree with looking at things in such a dualistic way. I also do not think that there ever existed the idea of not providing economic cooperation at all unless the territorial issue is resolved. Apart from the number of times that we have done so, we have provided economic cooperation, and I believe that we should firmly carry out further economic cooperation. This is important in two ways, even though we have a problem like the territorial issue. The first is that it would be beneficial to Japan. For example, I believe that if you in fact look at this from the standpoint of Japan's interests, joint development of various resources or infrastructures that Russia possesses with the backing of technology that Japan possesses would not only be beneficial to Japanese companies or Japan, but at the same time, it would also be beneficial to Russia. In that sense, I think that it would be possible to build a “win-win” relationship. In the sense of not taking a dualistic approach of choosing whether the economic cooperation should be provided at the beginning or the end of the process, I believe that if more weight is placed on promoting cooperative relations, it would be beneficial to them and beneficial to us, and in turn, that would lead to strengthening the bilateral relations and enhancing confidence, thereby improving the environment for resolving the territorial issue.

4. Japan-Russia Relations

Sakai, Sankei Shimbun: My question concerns your visit to Moscow next week. I believe that during the APEC Summit last year, Russia invited Prime Minister Kan to Russia for this year. What is your current outlook, or what is your understanding as to what may happen?

Minister: This is about the need for the top leaders of the two countries to hold talks in order to further promote Japan-Russia relations and to resolve the territorial issue. Foreign ministerial talks are essentially for preparing the right conditions, and the top leaders will ultimately make various decisions, so my answer to your question is that nothing is definite. However, I would like the summit meeting to take place by all means.

Inada, NHK: I have two question concerning Moscow. First, while you said at the beginning that it has been officially decided that you would be visiting Russia on the 11th, I would like a confirmation.
With regard to the defense minister's visit to the Northern Territories, you said earlier that you were in no position to analyze the intention behind the visit. However, I still have difficulty understanding why you would say that you are not in a position to make an analysis when a cabinet minister of a foreign country enters a territory that Japan calls its own. Please explain to us in more detail what you really mean.

Minister: First, with regard to my visit to Russia, coordination is under way so that I can make the visit. We have repeatedly discussed various matters. In the Diet, I have mentioned, for example, that Russia made a cabinet decision in 2006 on what is known as the Kuril Development Program, and after that, a considerable number of ministers have paid visits as a follow-up.
However, the defense minister had visited the Northern Territories some times even before the cabinet decision was made on the Kuril Economic Development Program. Of course, as one who is in charge of foreign affairs, I have conducted various analyses, but since this is a topic related to national security and military affairs, I said that we are not in the position to actively comment on the intentions behind the visits.

5. Relations with China

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask questions on the government's strategy with regard to China. First, as Prime Minister Kan plans to gather experts and hold informal talks with them around noon to exchange views on issues related to China, how does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which provides administrative support to the advisory panel of experts, position this session and understand the Prime Minister intend to take advantage of it? My other question concerns strategy regarding China. Views have been expressed even in the past by experts and others that since China has become so large, it is necessary to set up a strategy taking into consideration not only diplomacy, but also security and economic affairs in a unified or integrated manner. If you have views on this point, we would like to hear about them.

Minister: Even until the present, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have listened to advices from various experts and referred to them in firming up our policy toward China, which is currently being implemented.
My interpretation of the reason that the Prime Minister decided to form an informal panel of experts at this time is that since next year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, this decision is an expression of the Prime Minister's intention to further solidify the two countries' literally Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests by somehow restoring the bilateral relations that were temporarily strained over the Senkaku issue.
In that sense, although we firmly continue to mutually confirm our policy toward China even now, I believe that the Prime Minister's intention is to further strengthen Japan's strategy toward China in the process of listening to the advices of people from various fields.

6. Situation in Egypt

Nanao, Nico Nico Douga: My question is on behalf of our users. With regard to Egypt, although President Mubarak announced his intention not to run in the next presidential election, the Egyptian citizens are not convinced, and a large mass demonstration is planned to be held again on the 4th. It is being reported in Japan as "Friday resignation" or "Friday expulsion," and the possibility of a big clash and bloodshed is being rumored. What is your view on the messages of various countries such as the United States to the Mubarak administration and how do you feel about the Egyptian citizens?

Minister: Some people have referred to February 4 as "departure day," while others have called it "expulsion day." Since there are calls for a large-scale demonstration, we are very concerned about the current situation. Tomorrow morning, which is a Saturday, we plan to hold a meeting to discuss our responses and do a follow-up and analysis of the current situation. While European countries and the United States are demanding that President Mubarak step down immediately, one president has been in power for 30 years. In that sense, I feel that we should think about the matter more realistically. What I mean by that is that although he has been elected in elections so far and the people have also cast various doubts about those elections, if they were to choose a new leader, an election system held under a scheme that the people would approve must be thoroughly examined, and the people would have to be convinced. Then, if the leader disappeared before these things were done, we would need to thoroughly think about whether this could be accomplished under a proxy.
I think that it was about 14 or 15 years ago that a session of the IPU, in which parliamentarians from various countries of the world gather for a conference, happened to be held in Cairo. I participated in the IPU. About a month-and-a-half later, the Luxor shootings occurred, a tragic incident in which 10 Japanese nationals, including a newlywed couple, were killed. Taking such matters into consideration, I feel that in particular, Egypt is a leading country in the Middle East and has been the keystone of stability of the region. In order for Egypt to continue fulfilling its role as a keystone of the Middle East in a stable manner in the future, while I do understand the feelings of the Egyptian people, I believe that they need to calmly think realistically about what it means to achieve a transition of power or create a new government. In that sense, I would like the current government, the military and security authorities, as well as the anti-government demonstrators to calmly think about the future of their country, as well as think about how they should handle or deal with the situation right now. I believe that it would be desirable to see the establishment of a new Egyptian government that is peaceful and reflects the will of the people, standing on that basis.

7. "Pioneering Day of the Senkaku Islands" Commemoration Ceremony

Takahashi, Sankei Shimbun: This is about a matter that was brought up at the Budget Committee meeting yesterday. With regard to the issue over the government and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) failing to participate in or send a message to the ceremony held on January 14 in Ishigaki City commemorating " Pioneering Day of the Senkaku Islands," there seems to be a commotion with Ishigaki City saying that it sent out invitations and the government and the DPJ asserting that they did not receive any invitations. To begin with, it was known that this ceremony would be held, and it would be a problem if the DPJ were not aware of it. In any case, I believe that even if it did not receive invitations, the DPJ, as the ruling party, should have inquired and attended the ceremony. How do you feel about this?

Minister: Although I am a member of the DPJ and a member of the Diet belonging to the DPJ, I am currently a member of the Cabinet. Yesterday, the Chief Cabinet Secretary was responding to interpellations and although there was a verbal exchange over whether the party received invitations, I believe that this is a matter on which the party should make a decision. What is important is that the local people feel that they should firmly protect their territory, and I am very grateful about that. Regardless of whether such events are held, I believe that as the islands are inherent Japanese territory from a historical viewpoint, and are a part of our sovereignty, which must never be infringed upon, it is the mission of the government or the ruling party to maintain effective control over them. With this feeling in mind, I would like to continue making efforts as a member of the Cabinet.

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