Press Conference, 29 January 2009

Foreign Minister Nakasone's Diet speech highlights
Foreign Minister Nakasone's visit to Okinawa
Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations
Questions concerning Prime Minister Aso's telephone conversation with US President Obama

I. Foreign Minister Nakasone's Diet speech highlights

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon. Welcome to the conference.

I have two brief announcements to begin with.

First, yesterday, Wednesday, the 28th, Foreign Minister Nakasone delivered a policy speech to the 171st Session of the Diet. In the speech, Foreign Minister Nakasone underlined three areas for priority in Japanese foreign policy making this year: (1) To reinforce the Japan-US Alliance and advance cooperative relations with neighboring countries; (2) To deepen the cooperation with countries which we share fundamental values with so as to achieve global peace and stability; and (3) To assert leadership by making the best use of Japan's experience and insights in order to respond to the common challenges which affect the fate of humankind. Thus, the Foreign Minister clearly stated his readiness to act and cooperate with the rest of international community at this time of changing and tough challenges.

II. Foreign Minister Nakasone's visit to Okinawa

Second, over this coming weekend, Foreign Minister Nakasone will visit Okinawa. There, he will meet the Governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima and visit the site for the Futenma Replacement Facility and other sites. As the Foreign Minister stated in his policy speech yesterday, we will steadily implement the realignment of the US Forces in Japan so as to maintain the deterrence element of the alliance while reducing burdens on local communities including Okinawa.

That's all from me. I would now like to invite your questions, please.

Related Information (Press Release)

III. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations

Q: My first questions will be on the relations with Russia given the recent incidents.

Mr. Kawamura: Which incidents are you referring to?

Q: The seizure of the crab fishing boat and also the requirement for Japanese officials to submit disembarkment cards. How would the ministry describe the current status of Japan-Russia relations given those two incidents?

Mr. Kawamura: As for the issue of the embarkation/disembarkation card issue, we need to address this issue in a correct way and not in the sense that this issue would affect overall Japan-Russia relations. As the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated this morning, both sides agree to consult on this issue in accordance with the bilateral agreement which was confirmed in the exchange of letters of 1991 between the foreign ministers.

As for the crab boat, the basic stance is the same with the embarkation/disembarkation card issue. We are now collecting and analyzing information on how and where the boat was actually captured. So after the correct assessment, we will decide the responses.

But before making a final assessment of the information, we are urging Russia for the immediate release of the crewmembers and the boat to the Japanese side. The early release is written in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

I would like to draw your attention to a past similar case of the capture of Japanese crewmembers and a boat by Russia (in 2007). Japan brought this case to the international court of maritime laws (ITLOS). What I want to stress is that the early release of the members is an international obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Q: So far, how does the Ministry analyze the timing of these two incidents as they happened just a few days after the seemingly friendly gesture from President Medvedev, about his telephone talks with Prime Minister Aso and his invitation for him to attend a meeting in Sakhalin?

Mr. Kawamura: I may need to ask the Russian side that question. We need to consult with the Russian side further and make a correct assessment of the situation. But, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura said this morning, the proposal for the summit meeting between Japanese and Russian leaders should be considered in a positive sense, so I take note of what he said.

In the meantime, for the boat issue, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials and the Japanese embassy in Russia are urging the Russian side to act in the correct way for the early release of the boat and crewmembers. As for the location and timing of the capture of the boat, we will carefully examine the information.

Q: I understand you mentioned that there needs to be further assessment of that whole situation, especially with the disembarkation card incident. Since the Russian side established the law in 2006, but did not require that procedure for Japanese officials in the past three years and all of a sudden with this case, they have made the request. What is the impact that you can see on the atmosphere of the negotiations on the Northern Territories?

Mr. Kawamura: The case of the embarkation/disembarkation card is a different issue. This is a humanitarian assistance issue. This is an expression of the Japanese people's goodwill to the residents of the islands. On the other issue, we have a challenge; to address the territorial issue which exists between the two countries and conclude a peace treaty in the end. But, it has been in place for years and there is no change for this basic requirement which confronts both of us.

With this fundamental commitment unchanged, we need to address this particular problem which arose from the Russian sudden change in the treatment of the visitors.

Q: Are there concerns that this incident might negatively affect the current visa waiver program for the Japanese residents?

Mr. Kawamura: As for the visa waiver program, our understanding is that it was already agreed between the two sides and we implemented it last year and the year before without any problems. So, we need to talk with the Russian side. And we have conveyed and will convey our expectation that the current arrangement should continue because this is good way to bridge the two peoples, the residents in the islands and the Japanese people who have goodwill to help the residents.

Q: And so, will Prime Minister Aso take up this issue, not only on the visa program but those two incidents as well as the Northern Territories issue when he meets with the Russian president when they realize the talks?

Mr. Kawamura: The timing of the meeting between the two leaders has not been set, so I cannot answer in an "if" tense. Anyway, both sides have agreed to discuss this particular issue in accordance with the Foreign Ministers' Exchange of Letters, and we will have it. And as the Chief Cabinet Secretary said, the request for the summit meeting will be discussed and examined with Japan accordingly.

IV. Questions concerning Prime Minister Aso's telephone conversation with US President Obama

Q: And on a separate topic, the telephone talks between Prime Minister Aso and US President Obama, we got the briefing on what they discussed, but can you describe how the atmosphere was? Because, I read in the sheet that it was held in English, so did Prime Minister Aso do all the conversation himself in English? Was there a problem?

Mr. Kawamura: To be frank and honest, I was not at the place. So judging from the information I have, first of all, the meeting was a smooth one because Mr. Aso spoke in English with no interpretation. This is a good advancement of the communications between the two leaders. The meeting was a smooth and comfortable one for both sides' leaders.

And second, Prime Minister Aso made the best use of the ten minutes. He covered all the important issues ranging from the further cooperation in the context of the world financial crisis and up to the strengthening of the Japan-US Alliance. It was a very pragmatic and productive meeting in a friendly atmosphere. To wrap up, it was a very good start for the two leaders.

Thank you very much.

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