(* 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, March 1, 2011, 4:22 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island
Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island
Domestic Politics (omitted)

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island

Minister Maehara: With regard to the earthquake in New Zealand, while Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga has spearheaded the task force in Christchurch as its chief since immediately after the earthquake occurred, Sate Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto will depart for New Zealand this evening. I have asked Vice-Minister Matsumoto to make utmost efforts in New Zealand in providing support to the families of the victims of the earthquake, as well as in acting as a mediator in firmly collaborating with the government of New Zealand and the local police and rescuers. At present, we have dispatched a 66-member international disaster relief team to New Zealand, and the members are conducting relief activities around the clock practically without any sleep or rest. Yesterday, we dispatched 21 additional members and on today's flight we dispatched 11 more members as the second contingent of our international disaster relief team to continue conducting search and rescue operations without a break, so I would like to make that announcement.

2. Earthquake in New Zealand's South Island

Hanamura, TV Asahi: How long will the government aircraft currently at the site of the earthquake be there? Also, today, the mayor of Toyama City said in a press conference, "I have asked the Prime Minister’s office to provide with a chartered flight or something else for the family members to return to Japan, even if it is not feasible to use the government aircraft." Has there been a decision about this, or is it being considered?

Minister: The Ministry of Defense has jurisdiction over this matter, so it is being coordinated within the government. I heard on the grapevine that periodic maintenance (of the government aircraft) is required, which is entrusted to Japan Airlines, and there is a set maintenance schedule. In any case, this is currently being coordinated within the government.

Hanamura, TV Asahi: How about a chartered flight?

Minister: With regard to chartered flights, for example in Egypt, we used three chartered flights to Rome in order to have Japanese nationals flee the country due to armed clashes between the government and anti-government forces, and spreading demonstrations, and in that case, we had each person pay an equal share of the actual cost. With regard to a chartered flight, although of course we intend to provide a wide range of support, the question is how this cost can be borne, or who will pay for it, in accordance with the law. Therefore, although we will listen to requests, I think that we will need to consider how the government can contribute with reference to the law, and the concomitant conditions and the like. In any case, we intend to provide the maximum support possible to the victims of the disaster and their families.

Ichihara, NHK: If that is the case, then will the 66-member disaster relief team use the government aircraft to return to Japan? Also, would it now be unfeasible for the people who went there and were caught in the disaster, and people who were injured and their families, and the families of people whose safety has not yet been confirmed to board that aircraft to return to Japan?

Minister: I will summarize the situation.
Firstly, four people have been injured. However, one of them, Mr. Kento Okuda, a male, returned to Japan yesterday on an emergency transport flight. There are currently three females who are hospitalized. To transmit to you the information that I received in the report on local conditions from Parliamentary Secretary Tokunaga, one of those individuals was fairly seriously injured. I was told that she will require at least one month of hospitalization. Of the remaining two, they suffer from various injuries, including one with a pelvis broken. The physician's diagnosis for these two is that they will require at least one week of hospitalization, and I was told that if they were to return to Japan, they would require medical support. The conditions of the injured individuals may not fit in well with the timing of the return to Japan by the government aircraft, and even if they were to travel in the government aircraft, it would create the new issue of the need for them to be accompanied by a physician. We thus have these issues of the timing of the return, and support arrangements. Therefore, we intend to determine how to assist these three individuals who are currently hospitalized to return to Japan safely, in consultation with the local physicians, and in a way that does not create undue hardship.
Next, turning to the families of the remaining people whose safety has not yet been confirmed, although I think that the family members have various desires, as of the current time the identities have not yet been confirmed. It is also believed that there were roughly about 100 to 120 victims in the CTV Building on the South Island. However, it has been reported that only 70 to 80 people have been found, and the search and rescue efforts are currently ongoing. Given this, amid the situation in which the safety of some people has still not been confirmed, we will take into consideration when the families wish to return, and we intend to provide the maximum support possible. Consequently, we intend to center our consideration of how to provide support on the feelings of the families and the conditions of those who were injured.

Ichihara, NHK: Will the 66 people return to Japan on the government aircraft?

Minister: This is currently being coordinated within the government.

3. Domestic Politics (omitted)

(omitted)

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