Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 6 October 2011

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 6 October 2011

  1. Foreign Minister Gemba's visits
  2. Bombing in Somalia
  3. Election of Judge Shunji Yanai as President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the SEA (ITLOS)
  4. Upcoming events and visits
  5. Question concerning the North Korean defectors
  6. Questions concerning participation in the TPP
  7. Question concerning the UN Security Council resolution on Syria
  8. Questions concerning the scientific research whaling announcement
  9. Question concerning the India and Afghanistan strategic partnership

  1. Foreign Minister Gemba's visits

    2. Deputy Press Secretary Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon. Today I have several topics to introduce to you.

    Ms. Saiki: First, about Foreign Minister Gemba's visits. In fact, he is visiting Seoul, the Republic of Korea, now. He arrived in Seoul this morning, and is now having lunch with members of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union. This afternoon he is going to make a courtesy call on President Lee Myung-bak, and he is going to meet with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, followed by a joint press conference. He is returning to Tokyo tomorrow afternoon. This is Minister Gemba's first visit as Japan's Foreign Minister to the Republic of Korea. We understand that both ministers will confirm the common interest shared by Japan and Korea, Japan's most important neighboring country, and will agree on making further efforts to strength their future-oriented relationship.

    The Foreign Minister's next visit overseas is to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Foreign Minister Gemba is visiting these south-east Asian countries from 11-15 October. He is scheduled to meet the foreign ministers of the countries during the visit, and courtesy calls on the leaders of the countries concerned are being arranged.

    As you know, Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN now, and Malaysia and Singapore are major countries in ASEAN, which are making remarkable economic progress. Foreign Minister Gemba believes that it has become an extremely important issue to capture the dynamism of Asia for the realization of open reconstruction and of the economic growth of Japan.

    As I myself stated, at one of the conferences I held, to create an open multilayered network in the Asia Pacific region is of critical importance. Foreign Minister Gemba will reaffirm Japan's commitment to, and partnership with, the ASEAN countries during his visit to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore next week.

  2. Bombing in Somalia

    3. Ms. Saiki: The next item I would like to pick up is on the bombing in Somalia.

    A bomb attack occurred in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, on 4 October and caused heavy causalities. We strongly condemn this terrorist act and express our deepest condolences for those who have been killed and the families of the victims. We also extend our heartfelt sympathy toward the injured.

  3. Election of Judge Shunji Yanai as President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the SEA (ITLOS)

    4. Ms. Saiki: Third, on the election of Judge Shunji Yanai, as President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

    Judge Shunji Yanai, a Japanese Member of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), was elected as the President of the Tribunal at the election carried out in a meeting of the ITLOS judges held in Germany on 1 October. We wholeheartedly welcome the election. The government of Japan will make further efforts for promoting the rule of law in the international society.

  4. Upcoming events and visits

    5. I will introduce to you upcoming events and visits of political figures to Japan and from Japan.

    1-8 October, visit to Japan by Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

    2-6 October, visit to Japan by the Speaker of the Indian House of the People Meira Kumar.

    2-8 October, visit to Japan by President of the Estonian parliament Ene Ergma.

    6-8 October, visit to Japan by Czech First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

    7-15 October, visit to Japan by 12 IAEA experts to assist Japan's remediation. This team will be visiting Tokyo and Fukushima Prefecture.

    23-28 October, visit to Japan by German President Christian Wulff.

    As many of you are already aware, there is going to be a G20 summit meeting in Cannes, France, on 3-4 November.

    There is going to be an APEC Economic Leaders meeting in Honolulu, the United States of America, on 12-13 November.

    ASEAN-related summit meetings including the East Asia Summit will take place in Bali, Indonesia, on 17-19 November.

    So I would like to take questions from the floor.

  5. Question concerning the North Korean defectors

    6. Q: If I may come back to the situation regarding the nine North Koreans which came to Japan and were brought to South Korea? I was just wondering, is there an official agreement with Japan and South Korea that in the case of that North Korean defectors coming to Japan, they will be brought to South Korea? Or did you just do that because they asked for them?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question.

    There are no rules to that effect between Japan and the Republic of Korea. In this particular case of nine defectors from North Korea, we took measures in light of humanitarian consideration, these nine people wanted to go to the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea accepted them. That is why the arrangement of this case has been made between the two Governments.

  6. Questions concerning participation in the TPP

    7. Q: If you don't mind, I can go on with another question. This time regarding TPP, there will be a panel set up to discuss this in Japan and finally reach a conclusion, probably in the next month, to come forward with a conclusion on joining the agreement. What is the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gemba, regarding TPP? Are you in favor of joining TPP?

    Ms. Saiki: Thank you very much for the question.

    With respect to the TPP, like Prime Minister Noda, Foreign Minister Gemba is of the view that first the government of Japan has to conduct a thorough and comprehensive discussion among relevant ministries, agencies, and stakeholders with a view to reaching a conclusion as to whether Japan is going to participate in the TPP. Our aim is to reach a conclusion as soon as possible.

    Q: As you mentioned, there should be a hearing for all of these ministries which are somehow affected by the topic, so I think that each ministry or minister has its own opinion and will bring this opinion in this process, and you don't have much time to come up with that in just a month, so I think that perhaps the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already made up its mind? Perhaps you could share a little bit about that?

    Ms. Saiki: At this stage, I am afraid I have very little to offer you, because, first of all, we are in the process of collecting information necessary to decide as to what actions or steps we are going to take. My understanding is that Foreign Minister Gemba is not for or against joining the TPP for the moment. We are conducting comprehensive survey and discussion within the government. We would like to reach a conclusion as promptly as possible.

  7. Question concerning the UN Security Council resolution on Syria

    8. Q: The resolution in the Security Council against Syria was vetoed by Russia and China, what is the Japanese stance on this?

    Ms. Saiki: Japan has for some time been calling upon the government of Syria to listen to the wishes of its people and voices of the international community. In that respect, it is highly regrettable that despite requests by Japan and many other members of the international community, the wide scale use of force by Syria security authorities has continued to cause many deaths and injuries among the general public. Given this background, it is regrettable that the United Nations Security Council has not been able to issue a resolution; as you said, the draft resolution discussed in the Security Council was vetoed by Russia and China. Japan wished to see the adoption of the draft resolution by the Security Council of the United Nations.

  8. Questions concerning the scientific research whaling announcement

    9. Q: May I ask one regarding the whaling issue, the Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has announced that they will go on with the research whaling and there were protests from New Zealand and Australia—official protests from their administrations towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have this issue very often in this press briefing room, and at the end of the last time, it seemed that Japan, although it has the right to do research whaling, might stop it regarding the situation as seen by other foreign countries. Why did the Forestry and Fisheries Ministry decide to go on whaling?

    Ms. Saiki: As you correctly pointed out, I understand that to conduct scientific research whaling is a legitimate right and act permitted under the relevant articles and provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). Given that, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Kano, as the responsible minister for the matter, has announced that the scientific whaling research this year will take place as has been scheduled. We have taken good note of what, for instance, Australia and New Zealand have stated with respect to our scientific research whaling, but the responsible minister, Mr. Kano, had made his decision.

    Q: Was the protest by the Australia and New Zealand a formal protest?

    Ms. Saiki: We are aware that on 4-5 October, the government of Australia and New Zealand issued an official statement of protest respectively. Australia on 4 October and New Zealand on 5 October.

    In addition to what I stated, obstruction or disruptive acts by the Sea Shepherd are very, very dangerous and illegal, and must not be allowed. Therefore, we are going to request the governments of Australia and New Zealand to continue to take effective measures against any disruptive acts by the Sea Shepherd or other activists.

    Q: I know it is probably difficult to bear an official opinion about that, but I am just wondering, why exactly now did Mr. Kano decide to go on with the research? Was there any special angle—did they find anything where they had to say they have to go on, because they had this certain evidence? Or was my impression totally wrong that there were some discussion also in the Foreign Ministry and the Fishery Ministry that perhaps there should be the possibility to stop research whaling, although it is your right?

    Ms. Saiki: Since the issue is the research whaling encompassing the principle of sustainable use of natural resources, naturally, the relevant Ministries and agencies, in particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have been carrying out in-depth deliberations on the issue and its implication and ramification. Given the legality of Japan's scientific research whaling, I don't think any Ministry has proposed or indicated that the future scientific research whaling be stopped. The internal discussion within the Japanese Government is to further gather scientific data with respect to marine living resources. Since marine resources are very important to human beings, I think we will, and should, make best use of all the resources. In that respect, I think the position of the Japanese Government is fairly firm to the effect that we are proceeding with yearly scientific research whaling.

  9. Question concerning the India and Afghanistan strategic partnership

    10. Q: Recently the relationship between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and India, has been strained. Now I hear that Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership with India, and this is going to have an effect on the relationship between Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and the United States. Is Japan going to play some role so as to make some affect on the governments and administrations? What kind of evaluations are they doing?

    Ms. Saiki: The Japanese Government believes that the stability and peace in Afghanistan is very important, and is interrelated with that of the neighboring countries, such as Pakistan, India, and others. The position of the Japanese government is that we would like to see a more stable, more peaceful, and more prosperous Afghanistan as well as such a region as a whole.

    With respect to the specific event you have referred to, namely, the visit by President Karzai to India, or the issuance of the joint declaration between India and Afghanistan, I have no comment to make, because that is a matter between the two countries concerned.

    I see no more questions.

    Thank you very much for coming. In fact, next week I will be making an overseas trip, so one of my colleagues will hold a press conference next week. Please come and join him. Thank you very much.

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