Top > Announcement > Press Conference by Foreign Minister > January 29, 2013

(* 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 Fumio Kishida

Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 11:21 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Main topics:

  1. Opening Remarks
    • (1) The Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA)
    • (2) Three main pillars of foreign policy following the incident in Algeria, and the Donors’ Conference for the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA)
  2. Realignment of U.S. Forces Japan
  3. Japanese private company’s participation in F-35 Joint Strike Fighters production
  4. Situation in North Korea

1. Opening Remarks

(1) The Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA)

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: Today the Cabinet Meeting approved the entry into force of the Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-servicing Agreement (ACSA). Based on this decision, the agreement is scheduled to come into effect on January 31.

Japan and Australia hope that the entry into force of this agreement will further facilitate the two countries’ smooth cooperation in the fields of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping activities among others.

(2) Three main pillars of foreign policy following the incident in Algeria, and the Donors’ Conference for the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA)

Minister Kishida: Last week, in the wake of the incident in Algeria, I have announced that immediate measures including the establishment of a response team will be taken. Based on the deliberations by this response team and under the Chief Cabinet Secretary, we hope to concretely realize such policies as “more detailed responses for the Japanese companies and citizens active in regions under unstable situations,” and “the enhancement of information gathering and analysis systems related to Islamist extremists.”

In addition, in the wake of this incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established three main pillars for foreign policy under which we will actively work for the development of concrete initiatives.

The first of the three main pillars is the “Strengthening of Measures Against International Terrorism.” The second is “Support for the Stabilization of Sahel, North Africa, and Middle East Regions.” The third is the “Promotion of Dialogue and Exchange with Islamic and Arab countries.”

Currently, as the first initiative undertaken under these three pillars, we are considering an additional aid of approximately US$120 million to support the stabilization of Mali and the Sahel region. This support will be utilized for humanitarian support of Malian refugees and others and also for the enhancement of governance and security sector, including assistance for a peacekeeping operation (PKO) training center. It will further strengthen the activities of AFISMA and is expected to reduce poverty, of which are hotbeds of terrorism.

Today, Mr. Matsuyama, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, currently visiting Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), will attend the Donors’ Conference for AFISMA held there and will announce our initiatives for Mali and the Sahel region to the international community, including our deliberation on the new aid. Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister Matsuyama will also make clear Japan’s unshakeable resolve for the fight against terrorism.

Moving forward, I will continue to announce initiatives under these three main pillars on suitable occasions. Also in relation to the budget for the next fiscal year which is scheduled to be approved at today’s Cabinet Meeting, we expect to earmark 3 billion yen for anti-terrorism related measures. We will advance our fight against terrorism in collaboration with other countries, as well as regional and international organizations.

2. Realignment of U.S. Forces Japan

Toiyama, Ryuku Shimpo: Yesterday, you met with the mayors of 41 cities, towns and villages in Okinawa along with the Chairman of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly. They presented a petition to you calling for the removal of the deployed Osprey in Futenma Air Station and the abandoning of relocation of Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture. Please give us your opinion on this matter. In addition, could you also elaborate on your intentions in terms of whether you will ask the Government of the United States to abandon Futenma relocation within Okinawa and seek a new approach? In this context, will you ask the U.S. side to cancel the deployment of the Osprey?

Minister Kishida: The delegation from Okinawa visited me and presented a petition yesterday. First of all, I take the delegation’s requests seriously. The petition refers mainly to two specific topics; the deployment of the Osprey and relocation of Futenma Air Station.

Regarding the deployment of the Osprey, it has been pointed out that the Memorandum for the Joint Committee on New Aircraft in Japan on September 19, 2012, may be violated. I will follow up on this point thoroughly to ensure that the agreement will be implemented. I continue to make efforts in a careful manner in order to gain the understanding of the people of Okinawa.

Furthermore, as for relocation of Futenma Air Station and the process of realignment of U.S. Forces Japan, it is necessary to maintain close communication with the people of Okinawa and to place high priority on the reduction of the impact on them. This is what I thought when I met the group from Okinawa yesterday. A lot of people came to visit me at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Looking at the face of each person, I was reminded of what I have just stated. This is my current view.

3. Japanese private company’s participation in F-35 Joint Strike Fighters production

Nikaido, Asahi Shimbun: I have a question about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters that will be introduced to the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Some media outlets reported today that the provision of F-35 parts manufactured or repaired in Japan for Israel could violate the Three Principles on Arms Exports. Could you please tell us your view on this matter?

Minister Kishida: On December 20 it was decided by the Security Council of Japan and the following cabinet understanding that Japanese companies would participate in the production of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, excluding some of the F-35s that we import. We are currently coordinating our efforts based on the decision. I understand this to be the current situation surrounding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

4. Situation in North Korea

Azumi, Freelance: It was reported that Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, had convened an emergency meeting of top North Korean officials of the committee for national security and external relations on January 26 and had stated that in consideration of the current situation, he would take effective, high-profile measures. It is speculated that this statement might indicate that North Korea resumes nuclear tests or leaves the UN. Could you give us your analysis of the information based on the current state of affairs?

Minister Kishida: Concerning what you have pointed out, I am aware of the report and we are gathering a variety of information. At any rate, we need to strongly demand that North Korea carry out relevant Security Council resolutions fully and in good faith as well as observe and implement the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. We also need to strongly demand that North Korea never take any provocative actions. We must observe the situation closely.

Gomi, Tokyo Shimbun: On North Korea, on January 28th, the Rodong Sinmun denounced Japan in an article concerning the Japan-North Korea Consultations, stating that Japan followed the United States blindly and caused the breakdown of the consultations, so I’ve heard. With regard to the report, did you receive any notice from the North Korean side concerning the halt or suspension of the consultations? Moreover, do you have a recognition that the consultations have already broken down?

Minister Kishida: Intergovernmental consultations between Japan and North Korea were scheduled in early December last year. However, because North Korea announced its launch of a missile on December 1, we had to postpone the consultations. Therefore, it is not correct to criticize that Japan caused the breakdown of the consultations.

In addition, as I stated in my answer to the previous question, we need to continue to demand that North Korea listen to the stern messages of the international community, comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions in good faith, and never take any provocative actions.

In terms of the intergovernmental consultations between Japan and North Korea, we need to make appropriate judgments while considering various situations surrounding North Korea. Under current conditions, I refrain from making any further comments.

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