Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > July 6, 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, July 6, 2012, 10:11 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) Attendance at ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings
    • (2) Sanctions against Syria
  2. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations
  3. Questions concerning the right to collective self-defense
  4. Questions concerning the pension system for civil servants
  5. Questions concerning ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings
  6. Questions concerning the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Attendance at ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba: If various conditions permit, from the afternoon, evening or late at night on July 10 (Tue.) until July 15 (Sun.), I will visit Cambodia and Viet Nam.

From July 10 (Tue.) until July 13 (Fri.), I will visit Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where I will attend a series of ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings, such as the Japan-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Friends of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting. With regard to the ASEAN+3 meeting scheduled for July 10, this will be attended by Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi.

The foreign ministers’ meetings this time are scheduled to discuss the way regional cooperation, centering on ASEAN, should be as well as regional and international issues. I hope to actively communicate the stance of Japan while confirming our collaborations with participating countries.

After that, I will jointly chair a Japan-Viet Nam Cooperation Committee meeting and hold a Japan-Viet Nam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. I plan to also pay courtesy calls on relevant officials.

(2) Sanctions against Syria

Minister Gemba: Large-scale government oppression since March of last year is said to have caused more than 10,000 causalities in Syria. Up until now, Japan has been undertaking sanctions such as freezing of assets against people related to the Syrian Government. However, oppression and violence still continues in Syria.

As such, in order to contribute to international the efforts aiming to resolve the problems in Syria, today Japan added three individuals to the list of those subject to the measures such as freezing of assets against people related to the Syrian Government. Added to the sanctions implemented thus far, a total of 23 people and 16 groups are now subject to the sanctions, and Japan no longer approves charter flights using Syrian aircraft to Japan. These measures were approved at today’s Cabinet Meeting.

In addition, Japan undertakes strict review on the issuance of visa against those subject to sanctions related to freezing of assets. The same review will be imposed on the three individuals newly designated today. In terms of trade relations, Japan prohibits in principle export and import of arms, the rule which applies not only to Syria. So, I would like to announce that Japan has already put in place arms embargo against Syria.

I hope that these measures by Japan will contribute to the international efforts to put a halt to the violence in Syria.

2. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations

Nishikawa, TBS: Let me ask you once again about Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Kunashiri Island. He visited the island only around two weeks after the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting. He is also reported to have made some provocative remarks. How do you see the situation?

Minister Gemba: I have my own ideas about this issue. However, I also believe that I should not communicate what I think about this issue through the media.

Nishikawa, TBS: I think that at the Japan-Russia Summit Meeting both countries agreed that you would visit Russia this summer. Is it correct to understand that your schedule remains unchanged even after this incident?

Minister Gemba: I plan to decide the timing of my visit to Russia considering various circumstances. The heart of the matter is that we have not been able to solve the Northern Territories issues, as I also mentioned in Sendai. Japan believes that the four islands of the Northern Territories belong to Japan. Because Russia also has its own position, this kind of incident may sometimes happen. I believe that we must resolve the problem of the attribution of the four islands through negotiations. I think that our basic line of action on this issue should be that we continue vigorous negotiations.

Nishikawa, TBS: You held a doorstepping press conference right after Russian Prime Minister Medvedev visited the island, during which you stated that Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, called in the Russian ambassador to Japan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a protest. Do you plan to lodge further protests?

Minister Gemba: I have nothing specific to say as of now.

Nishikawa, TBS: As the two countries proceed with negotiations, you will visit Russia, and after that, we may see a visit to Russia by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. How do you see the possibility for this?

Minister Gemba: As both countries continue with vigorous negotiations, at the end of the day, the most important element here is the trust-based relationship between our leaders, Prime Minister Noda and President Putin. I believe we have already started to make efforts to enable our leaders to trust each other. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I am committed to fulfilling my duties to further elevate their trust-based relationship.

Ando, Hokkaido Shimbun: Yesterday, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) requested that you refrain from visiting Russia and that the Prime Minister reconsider his participation in the APEC leaders’ meeting. Some citizens in Japan have also showed displeasure with Russia. How do you respond to those opinions?

Minister Gemba: I understand that that sort of sentiment exists, and I do not think it unnatural for any member of the public to feel that way. I will make my decision for the interest of our county by weighing all the possible consequences and acting in an appropriate manner.

Yoshioka, NHK: Yesterday, a Parliamentary Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs said in his press conference that you had directly requested the Russian ambassador to Japan so that Prime Minister Medvedev refrains from visiting the island before his visit. Despite that warning, the visit was forcefully carried through with. How do you view this situation?

Minister Gemba: As I said before, it is highly regrettable. That is why I made my comment on the day the visit was made. You can take that comment as a protest.

3. Questions concerning the right to collective self-defense

Umegaki, Jiji Press: The Frontier Working Group of the National Policy Unit plans to include a passage supporting the exercise of the right to collective self-defense in a report to be submitted to the government. What is your current stance on the right to collective self-defense?

Minister Gemba: I believe that the Noda cabinet has not so far altered the position on the right to collective self-defense from the one of the existing interpretation of the Japanese government. I will just say that I have a strong interest in the issues related to the right to collective self-defense.

4. Questions concerning the pension system for civil servants

Hanamura, TV Asahi: Please allow me to ask you about something you are not responsible for. Concerning the revision of the pension system for civil servants, a panel of experts released its report on the matter yesterday. It says that additional benefit payments depending on the place of work will be abolished, while a new scheme will be created by injecting tax funds. Some cabinet members consider the injection of tax money while the government is raising consumption tax do not make sense from the perspective of the public. Others say that using tax money itself is not a bad idea. What is your stance on this issue?

Minister Gemba: I cannot comment on this issue since I am not involved in the discussion of it. Abolishing additional benefits and injecting tax money seem to be the gist of the matter, but I do not fully understand the overall scheme. All I know is about the old pension scheme. Since I am not well versed in the new scheme, I will only make a comment after I look at it.

5. Questions concerning ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meetings

Shimada, NHK: With regard to the ASEAN meetings, what message do you plan to communicate on such issues as the South China Sea and North Korea?

Minister Gemba: I believe that the primary issue we need to focus on is establishing maritime rules. In particular, the issues in the South China Sea are a matter of international concern. We need to ensure related international laws to be observed, paving the way for robust rules. In that sense, this meeting will be a very important one. I think that we will naturally discuss other issues as well, including North Korea.

6. Questions concerning the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan

Yoshioka, NHK: Let me ask you about the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan. Could you explain once again how Japan will offer assistance, on what principles such assistance will be based, and what role Japan will play as the chair of the meeting?

Minister Gemba: As you know, Japan has been holding meetings on Afghanistan in Tokyo for the last 10 years in order to fulfill our role as an important player in the world. Security issues have been handled by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Chicago Summit and development issues will be discussed in Tokyo. We need to communicate a strong, political, and strategic message specifically about promises from the Afghan government to improve governance in Afghanistan, as well as commitments by the international community on the country’s development through the “Transformational Decade”. I am aware of the trust shared by Afghanistan and its neighboring countries toward Japan and the strong expectations of the United States and Europe toward us. The coming meeting in Tokyo will be a big milestone for Afghanistan after the series of meetings in Bonn and meeting in Chicago. What is critical in this meeting is to see a mutual commitment, which is a hallmark of Japanese approach. At the same time, Japan will take leadership in communicating a strong message on behalf of the international community based firmly in the mechanism in place to solidly review progress every two years.

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