Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > January 31, 2012

(* 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, January 31, 2012, 8:35 a.m.
Place: In the Diet

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks - Holding the 2nd Japan-U.S. Working-Level Talks on the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act
  2. Sanctions on Iran

1. Opening Remarks - Holding the 2nd Japan-U.S. Working-Level Talks on the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act

Minister Gemba: We will be holding the 2nd Japan-U.S. working-level talks on the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act in the U.S. on February 2. Participating from the Japan side is a team led by the Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau which is composed of senior officials from the Financial Service Agency, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. As a country which shares the same concern over Iran’s nuclear problem with the international community, we intend to keep applying pressure on Iran in concert with the international community. Based on this standpoint, we will be exchanging our views on the implementation of the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act. The first such talks were held in Tokyo on January 18 and 19, and we will continue to discuss the interpretation and implementation of the Act in the 2nd round where the agenda will include our oil and non-oil transactions with Iran as well as the exemption from the U.S. sanction measures. We will continue to consult with the U.S. closely on this issue, and I would like you to understand that the upcoming talks represent part of such process.

2. Sanctions on Iran

Shimada, NHK: You mentioned that the talks will also include the exemption the from the U.S. sanctions. As Foreign Minister, how much are you hoping to achieve it in the upcoming talks?

Minister Gemba: I am afraid it is not an issue for which we can reach all the conclusions in the next meeting alone. However, the earlier the arrangement is made, the better. One fact is that the U.S. side has not made it completely clear how they interpret and implement the Act. In that sense, they are still trying and figuring it out along the way, and as I have been saying, what we need is an active exchange of views and that should also include the issue of waivers.

Sakai, Sankei Shimbun: Am I right in understanding that Mr. Glaser and Mr. Einhorn will be attending the meeting from the U.S. side as the last time?

Minister Gemba: I need to confirm it but I suppose they will be our counterparts.

Yoshioka, NHK: When you see the Iranian issue in the medium run, in what situation do you think will the Japanese economy be most seriously affected?

Minister Gemba: It will be when peaceful and diplomatic solutions become no longer viable. When they choose the so-called military options, it will significantly affect the economy of Japan as well as that of the world. At the same time, however, I think military options could take various forms.

Yoshioka, NHK: We tend to focus only on oil, but are there any issues in the non-oil sectors that you are concerned about?

Minister Gemba: Of course oil is a major issue for Japan, considering that 85% of our crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but we will also be discussing non-oil issues in the meeting in an effort to minimize the negative impact.

Yokota, Mainichi Newspapers: In the meeting, is Japan going to make some concrete proposals such as how far we will be reducing our oil imports from Iran?

Minister Gemba: This being a negotiation and a consultation, I am afraid I cannot give you the details here. However, as I have been saying over and over again, we are moving in the direction of decreasing oil imports from Iran, since putting importance on the cooperation of the international community remains our basic position.

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