Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 15 November 2012

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 15 November 2012

  1. Founding of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces
  2. Fifth Meeting of the Syria Sanctions Working Group
  3. Third Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum
  4. Fukushima workshop on the safety of products from the disaster-affected area
  5. Questions concerning the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan
  6. Question concerning the new Chinese leadership
  7. Follow up questions concerning the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan
  8. Question concerning the bilateral talks between Japan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Mongolia
  9. Question concerning the possible visit of Yokota Megumi’s parents to Pyongyang

1. Founding of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces

Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Before taking your questions, today I have several announcements to make.

First, on the founding of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces: very recently, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was founded as a result of an opposition groups’ meeting held in Doha, Qatar. Japan welcomes the foundation of the coalition. The Government of Japan hopes that the coalition, representing a wide strata of society of Syria, will play a role for the common goal of advancing a Syrian-led transition process as early as possible so that all the Syrians will be able to enjoy peace and prosperity in a new Syria. From such a viewpoint, Japan will provide possible support to the coalition. The Government of Japan will continue its diplomatic efforts for the improvement of the Syrian situation through, for example, providing humanitarian assistance and urging the Syrian authorities to immediately stop the violence, in coordination with the international community.

2. Fifth Meeting of the Syria Sanctions Working Group

Second, on the Fifth Meeting of the Syria Sanctions Working Group: The Fifth Meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People International Working Group on Sanctions will be held on November 30 in Tokyo. Officials at working level are expected to participate from the relevant countries and organizations, primarily comprising members of the Syrian Sanctions Working Group. It is the first time that the meeting will be held in Asia in the series of meetings of this working group. The meeting will be convened as part of efforts by the international community toward stopping the violence in Syria. The focus of discussions will be improving the effectiveness of the sanctions implemented by like-minded countries, including Japan and the Western countries, and broadening the horizon of countries participating in the sanctions. Japan strongly hopes that the Syrian regime will respond promptly to the call by the international community, in particular the one to stop the violence against its own people.

3. Third Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum

Third, on the Third Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum: on December 19 - 20 in Tokyo, the Third Meeting of the Japan-Arab Economic Forum will be held. Expected participants include Japan, of course, the League of Arab States, and its member countries (namely, 21 members and one institution: the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Comoros, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, Bahrain, Mauritania, Morocco, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, and Palestine). As you may be aware, the Japan-Arab Economic Forum was established in 2009 for the purpose of strengthening economic relations between Japan and Arabic countries through cooperation in a broad scope of fields, including trade, investment, energy, science, technology, and human resource development. The Third Japan-Arab Forum will be convened in the wake of the change in the Arab region and the Great East Japan earthquake of last year.

4. Fukushima workshop on the safety of products from the disaster-affected area

And the next item – the fourth one: on the holding of a Fukushima workshop on the safety of products from the disaster-affected area. A month from now, on December 14, in Koriyama city, Fukushima prefecture, a Fukushima workshop on the safety of products from the disaster-affected area will be held. The purpose of the workshop is to share the latest information concerning food safety in Japan, especially the disaster-affected area, including Fukushima Prefecture. There will be presentations by experts and local producers on the safety of foods and drinks from Fukushima Prefecture and panel discussions among Government officials from Japan and other countries concerning the regulations based upon scientific data. You are most welcome to join this workshop to be held in Fukushima. Please do consider.

With these initial announcements, I would be happy to take your questions.

5. Questions concerning the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan

Q: On the cancellation of Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan, could you confirm that it was because of Mr. Noda’s announcement that there will be a dissolution of Parliament?

Ms. Saiki: We have been informed by the Indian Government that the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has postponed his visit to Japan due to the recent political development in Tokyo.

Q: Is it being rescheduled?

Ms. Saiki: Yes. There is an agreement between the two countries, Japan and India, that there shall be an annual summit meeting, meaning once every year, and Prime Minister Noda visited India at the end of last year. So this year Prime Minister Singh is expected to come to Japan in order to hold a summit meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan. We are hoping for the rescheduling of the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan as soon as possible.

6. Question concerning the new Chinese leadership

Q: My question is about the new Chinese leadership, because officially they’ve announced the new leadership today. I was wondering how the Japanese Government or Foreign Ministry regards the leadership. Do you see any changes in terms of diplomacy? What is Japan expecting?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. Generally speaking, I do not think it is adequate for me to make comments on the change of leadership of political parties in foreign countries. However, given the fact that the relation between Japan and the PRC, we believe, is one of the most important bilateral relations for Japan and China and for the entire world. So we really hope that the mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests will be further developed and enhanced with the new leadership of the PRC.

7. Follow up questions concerning the Prime Minister of India’s visit to Japan

Q: Let me double check – it’s about the timing of the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Japan. Basically, there should be an annual meeting and this year’s one is postponed, and the government is hoping to reschedule and set the time as soon as possible. Sorry, is that supposed to be by the end of this year?

Ms. Saiki: May I reiterate what I have stated? There is an agreement between Japan and India that there has to be a summit meeting every year. And last year, Prime Minister Noda visited India; so, this year we are expecting to welcome the Prime Minister of India to Japan. That is why we did prepare with great care for the visit of Dr. Manmohan Singh this week. However, the visit has been postponed. So what we have to do is to rearrange the schedule, but I am not in a position to speculate the date for a meeting. As official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would say, we will do our best to rearrange the summit meeting between the two countries, which is of critical importance in light of the security and economic environment in the region as well as in the world. So we are hoping that the summit meeting between the two countries will be realized in due course. But I cannot say that it will be realized by the end of this week(sic). It depends on the situation.

Q: You mean the end of this year?

Ms. Saiki: What did I mean? Well, I am not saying that it is impossible for us to hold a summit meeting by the end of this year; at the same time, I am not saying that it is possible or it is already decided that there is going to be a meeting by the end of the year. So in short, nothing is decided, but we are doing our best.

8. Question concerning the bilateral talks between Japan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Mongolia

Q: Can I ask about the talks between Japan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Mongolia? I think there were some results. In what form might we be able to find out what happened? Will there be some announcement about what has happened?

Ms. Saiki: Generally speaking, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been making best efforts to let you, the press, know the result or the outcome of various consultations, negotiations and meetings as soon as possible. So I hope that after the consultation between Mr. Sugiyama and Mr. Son Il Ho in Mongolia finishes, we will issue maybe a press release or an oral announcement on the outcome, but I can’t say when and where. As I have taken good note of what you have said, you will be provided with the necessary information after the discussion.

9. Question concerning the possible visit of Yokota Megumi’s parents to Pyongyang

Q: I would also like to ask a related question. I saw reports this morning that Yokota Megumi’s parents would be sent on some kind of visit to Pyongyang.

Ms. Saiki: I am aware of the reports, but there is no truth to them.

If there are no more questions, I would like to conclude today’s conference. Thank you for coming.

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