Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > February 17, 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: Friday, February 17, 2012, 8:35 a.m.
Place: In the Diet

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks - Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety
  2. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  3. The Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety
  4. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
  5. Visit to Japan by Mr. Ehud Barak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the State of Israel

1. Opening Remarks - Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety

Minister Gemba: At today’s Cabinet Meeting, it was approved that Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety will be held from December 15 to December 17 this year and that relevant administrative bodies will extend necessary cooperation.
It is the responsibility of Japan to share with the international community the knowledge and lessons we have learned from the thorough investigation of the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and to contribute to enhancing international nuclear safety.
It is an appropriate timing to hold the conference in Fukushima Prefecture, which is now on the steady path to the recovery and rebirth, to mark this year as the first year of rebirth after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do its utmost for the success of this conference, closely cooperating with relevant ministries and agencies, the IAEA and local authorities including Fukushima Prefectural Government.
Also, in order to ensure smooth proceeding of the conference, today we have established Preparatory Office for the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, which is in charge of various preparation for the conference, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Ikegawa, NHK: According to a media report, the inauguration of a inter-ministerial task force at a senior vice-ministerial level is currently discussed. Could you clarify on whether it is a fact, and if it is, could you tell us about the purpose of this task force?

Minister Gemba: It is true that we are currently discussing it. We are now at the stage of contemplating what the nature of the task force should be if we are to make one, as well as whether or not we should launch such task force in the first place. So, I do not deny that the idea is under discussion.

3. The Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety

Sakai, Sankei Shimbun: About the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety, did you mention it because it concerns our foreign policy or because Fukushima is your constituency?

Minister Gemba: I brought it up because it concerns our foreign policy. The conference is hosted by Japan and co-hosted by IAEA. It is called Fukushima Ministerial Conference, but it’s not the conference of the Japanese ministers but those from around the world. I must admit that the name may be a bit misleading. Ministers in change of nuclear issue will come to attend this conference from various countries.

Sakai, Sankei Shimbun: May I ask how many countries?

Minister Gemba: I think it will be about 40 countries. I will check it and have the ministry officials announce it later. It will be a major international conference with delegations from many countries.

4. Realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Regarding the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan, while this issue has yet to be discussed, U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta referred to the issue of financial burden sharing at a hearing in what seemed to be an attempt to preempt Japan’s move. Do you think this issue will be discussed as part of the agenda at the talks?

Minister Gemba: I read the yesterday’s media report on this issue and the remark Defense Secretary Panetta had made at the hearing. I understand that the Secretary referred to the cost of relocating the Futenma base while he was speaking at the hearing, but I am not yet certain of his real intention. At any rate, the cost issue concerning the relocation of military units and the number of persons involved has yet to be discussed. It is not a fact that we have made any commitment regarding this issue. The substantial discussion on this matter is yet to begin. We must squarely address the Japan-U.S. alliance as a public goods of the Asia Pacific region and within this framework we need to discuss the roles to be played respectively by Japan and the U.S. from a broader perspective. Then an issue like this may come up as part of such process. We have yet to see how this matter will develop.

Hanamura, TV Asahi: If the number of personnel to be relocated decreases, it seems only natural that we should request the reduction of our financial burden. Is this what are you going to do?

Minister Gemba: If you are referring to the relocation to Guam, the discussion has yet to be started. I expect that it will be part of the agenda of the discussion.

5. Visit to Japan by Mr. Ehud Barak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the State of Israel

Tosa, Asahi Shimbun: I understand that you had dinner with the Israeli Defense Minister yesterday. Could you tell us about the talks you had with him, especially on the Iranian situation?  Also, could you explain, as much as you can, about the scenarios that the Japanese government is contemplating as well as the preparatory measures being implemented in regard to this matter?

Minister Gemba: Yesterday, I had a discussion with the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister for about an hour and a half. I told him, as we have already announced, that Japan also has grave concern over the nuclear activity in Iran and that we think it important that we should keep putting pressure on Iran in an effective manner while continuing the dialog with the country. I also told him that we should refrain from speaking or acting in a manner that may be provocative. Furthermore, we were able to exchange views on our intelligence matters in a meaningful way, the contents of which I am afraid cannot be disclosed due to its nature.
Also, I requested him to avoid resorting to a military option, suggesting to him that it would only consolidate anti-Israel sentiment and put Israel at greater risk. Through this discussion, The Defense Minister shared with us their intelligence - Israel has considerable intelligence - and we also provided that from our side, adding the fact that we are working in close coordination with IAEA and other concerned parties.

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