Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > February 22, 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 Seiji Maehara

Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 5:04 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island
    • (2) Situation in Libya
    • (3) Meeting of Volunteer States Hosted by the EU Concerning Egypt and Tunisia
    • (4) Meeting of the Joint Committee on Japan-Mexico EPA
  2. Earthquake on New Zealand's South Island
  3. Situation in Libya

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island

Minister Maehara: Let me start off by speaking about the earthquake in New Zealand. At 12:51 p.m. New Zealand time today, the 22nd, or 8:51 a.m. Japan time, as they are four hours ahead of us, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred near Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island. It was a near-field earthquake with an epicenter 5 kilometers below the surface, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand has announced that as of this time, 65 persons have died. It is possible that the damage will continue to expand, and we would like to express our sympathy and condolences to those who have suffered damage. We would also like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the people of New Zealand.
   There are various reports regarding the situation of Japanese nationals 21 students of the Toyama College of Foreign Languages on a study tour and two accompanying faculty members, one of whom is of foreign citizenship, apparently have all suffered damage inside a building that has collapsed, according to reports received by the Japanese Embassy in New Zealand and the Toyama College of Foreign Languages. At the moment, at least three of them have reportedly been rescued. While I understand that others are being rescued or their whereabouts being confirmed, we are still in the process of confirming the details of the damage. The Japanese Embassy in New Zealand has made an urgent request to the local police to conduct rescue operations, and I understand that rescue operations are currently underway. Japan intends to continue making efforts to gather information. We also intend to continue making utmost efforts to protect Japanese nationals. To that end, response headquaters for this earthquake have been set up at the Japanese Embassy in New Zealand as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I am the chief of the response headquaters. We will shortly be convening a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss countermeasures. We have extended a message of sympathy to the New Zealand side and notified that we are prepared to offer emergency assistance. We also plan to have New Zealand's Ambassador to Japan in Tokyo come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon so that we can convey our intentions. If we wait for their request, it would take considerable time, so we plan to first send an advance fact-finding team on a flight tonight. 

(2) Situation in Libya

Minister: With regard to demonstrations that have been occurring in Libya since the 15th, we strongly condemn the fact that the Government of Libya has allowed significant acts of violence to go on. We also have strong concerns about the fact that many people have been killed or injured. Japan continues to urge the Government of Libya to respond to demonstrations by peaceful means and in a restrained manner. At the same time, we intend to continue paying close attention to the local situation.
   We hope that in the Middle East and North Africa, progress will be made in reforms in such a way that the freedom of expression is secured, the will of the people is reflected, and governments of that sort are established so that the stability of the region is secured. 

(3) Meeting of Volunteer States Hosted by the EU Concerning Egypt and Tunisia

Minister: A meeting of volunteer states hosted by the EU concerning Egypt, Tunisia, etc. is scheduled to be held tomorrow, the 23rd, in Brussels. Director-General Matsutomi of our Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau will be attending the meeting. We hope that constructive discussions will be conducted concerning the response of the international community in consideration of the current situation in this region. Upon preparing contributions that we can make, such as passing on know-how about democracy, personnel contributions, election monitoring, transfer of election expertise, and employment support for young people, Japan, for its part, is thinking about taking the initiative in collaborating with the international community with regard to stabilization and peaceful transfer of power within those countries. 

(4) Meeting of the Joint Committee on Japan-Mexico EPA

Minister: Lastly, a meeting of the Japan-Mexico EPA Joint Committee was held on the 21st in Mexico, with Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamahana serving as co-chairman. An agreement was reached in principle on such matters as the re-consultation of the Japan-Mexico EPA that started in September 2008. As a result of this agreement, the Mexican side will improve market access with regard to automobile parts, etc. exported from Japan, while the Japanese side beef, pork, orange juice, etc. exported from Mexico. We will distribute material separately with regard to the details. 

2. Earthquake on New Zealand's South Island

Inada, NHK: You said earlier that all 23 people had reportedly become victims of the earthquake; in what way were they all victims in that building? Please tell us this if you have confirmed it. Also, please tell us in detail about specific future aid and rescue of the Japanese nationals.

Minister: We are still conducting confirmation of the situation, and we have received other information indicating that not only the students of the foreign-language school in Toyama, but also other students became victims of the earthquake. Therefore, we are collecting information, working with local police, and asking them to rescue the victims as soon as possible, not to delay a day or even an hour more than necessary.
  Having experienced many earthquakes in the past, we have rescue teams ready to be sent at the discretion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We have communicated this to the Government of New Zealand, but the teams cannot be sent without their consent. However, if we waited to prepare until we receive a request from them, it would be too late, so an advance team consisting of two investigators will be sent there on a flight tonight on my order. We also have a large number of personnel on standby, including firefighters, Self-Defense Forces, and medical doctors. In other words, we are prepared to send teams at any time, upon request. We have already got ready to send them as soon as New Zealand asks for aid. 

3. Situation in Libya

Saito, Kyodo News: You described the situation in Libya just now; how has Japan positioned Libya as a country? Please describe to us, from a medium to long-term perspective, how these riots will impact Japan's Middle East diplomacy and the international situation, and how Japan’s diplomacy should deal with this situation.

Minister: Libya has a dictatorship ruled by Colonel Gaddafi for 41 years. Although Libya has a form of direct democracy that is rare anywhere in the world, not without their own parliament, it has absolutely no experience with such a parliament as we know it. Additionally, we have information that some of the Armed Forces have taken up arms against Colonel Gaddafi as well as the country's executive leadership, and also are seeking to flee the country, so in this sense, I understand that it is an extremely critical situation.
  There are no direct shipments of petroleum to Japan from Libya. It is, however, an oil-producing nation, and I sense that it has an extremely large impact on worldwide oil prices. It is of great concern that currently, among the various crude oil prices, some have exceeded $100 per barrel, and there is an upward trend.
  Demonstrations are spreading across the Middle East and North Africa, or in such countries as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen. In many cases, we do not yet know how far they will spread, or how they will be brought under control. Amid this situation, as Japan in particular is dependent on the Middle East for nearly all its oil, in this sense we are concerned over the future, this morning the concerned Cabinet Ministers formed a response headquarters under the leadership of Prime Minister Kan. The headquarters has given instructions to analyze information, and follow the situation in the Middle East, above all trends in oil prices, and on how to care for our reserves and the like. We intend to continue to advance initiatives from that perspective.
  Also, speaking of peace in the Middle East with Israel, I think that Egypt probably holds a major key to this. Fortunately, the situation in Egypt has now stabilized, and as I just mentioned, the EU and interested countries have gathered in Brussels, and will hold a meeting on assistance. I think that as we provide concrete aid, it will be important to act to stabilize those countries. We intend to take solid responsibility for the initiatives in which Japan can take the lead, and work for the stability of the region. 

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