Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 24 May 2012

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 24 May 2012

  1. Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6)
  2. Attendance of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda at the G8 Summit Meeting at Camp David
  3. Attendance of Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba at the NATO Summit Meeting on Afghanistan
  4. Their Majesties' Visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  5. Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa (EPSA)
  6. Selection of Tokyo as a Candidate City to Host the Summer Olympic Games in 2020
  7. Visit to Japan by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
  8. Visit to Japan by the President of the Republic of Paraguay
  9. Visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq
  10. Question concerning the visit of the Pakistani Foreign Minister
  11. Question concerning the visit of the US envoy on North Korea
  12. Questions concerning comfort women

1. Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6)

Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon. I would like to start by touching upon several issues.

Ms. Saiki: First, on the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, PALM 6. The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) is a summit with the leaders of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) which has been held every three years in Japan. The first PALM was convened in 1997. On 25 and 26 May, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will be hosting PALM 6 in Nago City, Okinawa. It will be the first leaders-level meeting held out of Tokyo and hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.

The main agenda of PALM 6 is tentatively set as follows –five items: response to natural disasters; environment and climate change; sustainable development and human security; people-to-people exchanges; and maritime issues. Based upon discussions among the leaders, a declaration will be issued after PALM 6.

We have distributed a packet of materials which contains useful information about PALM 6. For instance, on the second page, you will find information regarding PALM Goodwill Ambassador "Hula Girls".  And on the third page, you will see the Provisional Program for Leaders, in which it is shown that, in fact, a part of PALM 6 in a wider context is beginning today in Tokyo. We have planned some events and gatherings in Tokyo as the Tokyo program on the occasion of PALM 6 today on 24 May, preceding the meeting in Okinawa. You will find some more information regarding those events on the fourth page. Furthermore, taking advantage of the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Okinawa Prefecture, the government of Japan will co-host a workshop "Accelerating renewable energy deployment in the Pacific Island countries: Meeting those challenges" at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), on Saturday 26 May.

2. Attendance of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda at the G8 Summit Meeting at Camp David

Ms. Saiki: Second, on Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's attendance at the Group of Eight Summit Meeting at Camp David. The Camp David summit took place on 18 and 19 May under the US Presidency. The G8 Summit is an important forum for the leaders of the advanced countries that share common values to have frank discussions on various issues. The US Presidency this year emphasizes the back-to-basics approach and the importance of leaders' discussions in order for the Group of Eight to act together.

The leaders of the eight countries discussed extensively first, regional and political issues, including Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Myanmar. In particular, on North Korea, they – meaning the leaders of the Group of Eight – expressed deep concerns about provocative actions of North Korea that threaten regional stability, and about the North Korean nuclear program, including the uranium enrichment program. The leaders strongly condemned the 13 April launch that used ballistic missile technology in direct violation of the United Nations Security Council's resolutions. They urged the DPRK to comply with its international obligations, and abandon all nuclear and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.

Of course, they also discussed the global economy. To be more specific, the G8 discussed measures to promote growth and increase jobs. They expressed their commitment to take all necessary steps to strengthen and reinvigorate their economies, and combat financial stresses, recognizing that the right measures are not the same for each of them.

Moreover, they discussed food security in Africa, Afghanistan, the transitions in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called Deauville Partnership, and others. On Afghanistan, in fact, the NATO Summit in Chicago followed the Group of Eight Summit Meeting at Camp David. So, the G8 Camp David Summit focused on the development aspect of Afghanistan after the transition, while the NATO Summit in Chicago discussed the security aspect.

I am coming back to the issue relating to Afghanistan when I will talk about Foreign Minister Gemba's visit to Chicago.

Let me go back to the issue relating to Prime Minister Noda's visit to the United States. He was able to have two bilateral summit meetings, namely the Japan-France Summit Meeting and the Japan-EU Summit Meeting. The Japan-France Summit Meeting on 19 May was the first occasion for Prime Minister Noda and President Hollande to meet and to discuss in person. Both leaders affirmed that Japan and France share basic values and interests and are partners who can work together and cooperate on a range of global issues. In that bilateral context, Prime Minister Noda emphasized that the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement was important for economic growth in Japan, France and the European Union. He requested France's cooperation for the early commencement of negotiations. President Hollande stated that, although he supports the Japan-EU EPA, further opening of the Japanese market and two-way Japan-France economic relations were needed.

With respect to the Japan-EU Summit Meeting, which took place on 18 May, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Mr. Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, and Mr. Barroso, President of the European Commission, discussed bilateral relations, including the Japan-EU EPA and the European sovereign debt crisis, and others including international and regional situations.

3. Attendance of Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba at the NATO Summit Meeting on Afghanistan

Ms. Saiki: The third is about Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba's visit to the United States for the NATO Summit Meeting on Afghanistan. In fact, it was the first time for Japan's Foreign Minister to participate in a NATO Summit Meeting. Needless to say, as Japan is one of the partners to NATO across the globe, it has actively participated in various activities initiated by the organization, including sending its representatives to NATO Summit Meetings. But this time, given the extreme significance of the issue related to Afghanistan, Prime Minister Noda had his Foreign Minister, Mr. Gemba, visit Chicago to make Japan's stance clear.

The aim of Japan's participation in the meeting on Afghanistan was threefold. First, to stress the importance of assistance to Afghanistan at this time towards its self-reliant nation building, especially beyond 2014. Second, to build closer cooperation with NATO in Afghanistan. Actually, Japan has been providing support to the Afghan National Security Forces through the NATO trust fund. Third, to explain the objectives of the upcoming Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan. As you may be aware, the government of Japan and of Afghanistan will co-organize the Tokyo Conference focusing on the economic and social development of Afghanistan.

During the meeting on Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Gemba made remarks, in which he stated that the international community must tackle both security and development issues in a comprehensive manner. He continued to state that the most significant challenge is to ensure security in Afghanistan. He expressed that Japan intends to continue its appropriate assistance to the Afghan National Security Forces going beyond 2014.

With respect to the development aspect, he stated that he will be hosting the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan on 8 July together with his counterparts in Afghanistan, inviting approximately 70 countries and international organizations. At the Tokyo Conference, Afghanistan and the international community, we hope, will make mutual commitments; namely, Afghanistan will firmly commit to the stead implementation of the measures to be stipulated in its strategy, while the international community announces specific financial assistance for the development strategy of the Afghan government. Furthermore, we expect that the Tokyo Conference will set up a follow-up mechanism in which mutual commitment will be reviewed by both Afghanistan and the international community in a series of bi-annual ministerial conferences where subsequent commitment will be made based on the review.

On the occasion of his visit to Chicago, Foreign Minister Gemba was able to hold a few bilateral meetings with his counterparts: one was the Japan-France Foreign Ministers' Meeting; the second was the Japan-EU Bilateral Meeting; and the third was the Japan-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

I have distributed documents on the overview of these meetings to you. So I do not think I have to read them out line by line.  But instead, I simply would like to point out that the meetings were very very substantive and fruitful.

4. Their Majesties' Visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Ms. Saiki: Fourth, on the visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. A statement was made by the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura stated that, "It is truly a matter of congratulation that a great contribution has been made to the advancement of friendly relations between Japan and the United Kingdom by Their Majesties' visit. Moreover, it is expected that through this visit, friendly relation between the two countries as well as between the Imperial Family and the British Royal Family will be strengthened even further in the future".

5. Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa (EPSA)

Ms. Saiki: Fifth, on the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa. At the G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005, the government of Japan, together with the African Development Bank Group, launched the EPSA for Africa (Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa), a joint initiative to promote economic growth led by the private sector. Japan pledged the provision of Japanese yen loan amounting to USD 1 billion, which has been accomplished.

The government of Japan has decided to provide additional Japanese yen loan worth USD 1 billion over five years under the EPSA. We intend to continue to actively work on the promotion of African economic growth led by the private sector.

6. Selection of Tokyo as a Candidate City to Host the Summer Olympic Games in 2020

Ms. Saiki: Sixth, on the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on candidate cities to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. We welcome that the International Olympic Committee announced today that Tokyo, Istanbul, and Madrid have made it on the short list of cities bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Tokyo, as a candidate city, will now be requested to prepare its candidature file with an in-depth description of its Olympic project. It will also prepare for the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission. The Evaluation Commission will make a detailed technical assessment of each candidature, and publish a report in advance of the 2020 Briefing for IOC Members in July 2013. On 7 September 2013 at the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, the election of the host city of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games will take place.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with other relevant ministries and agencies, will continue to fully support the campaign activities of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Bid Committee.

7. Visit to Japan by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Ms. Saiki: Seventh, on the visit to Japan by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, will visit Japan from today, Thursday, 24 May to Saturday, 26 May, as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

8. Visit to Japan by the President of the Republic of Paraguay

Ms. Saiki: Eighth, on the visit to Japan by the President of the Republic of Paraguay. Mr. Fernando Lugo Mendez, President of Paraguay, will pay a working visit to Japan from Tuesday, 29 May to Friday, 1 June.

9. Visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq

Ms. Saiki: Ninth, on the visit to Japan by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq. Mr. Hoshyar Zebari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, will make a visit to Japan upon the invitation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan from Sunday, 27 May to Wednesday, 30 May.

With these initial announcements, I would be delighted to take questions from you.

10. Question concerning the visit of the Pakistani Foreign Minister

Q: Can I ask about the Pakistani Foreign Minister's visit? Will she be holding any meetings with government officials?

Ms. Saiki: Tomorrow, on Friday 25 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Gemba and Minister Khar will hold a Japan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Meeting. At the meeting, the two ministers are expected to exchange views on the further strengthening of the bilateral relations, as well as on the cooperation on regional and international issues. In fact, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan. We welcome the visit of the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ms. Khar, which will contribute to the further strengthening of the friendly relationship between Japan and Pakistan.

11. Question concerning the visit of the US envoy on North Korea

Q: Can I ask also about North Korea? I understand that the US envoy on North Korea Glyn Davies is here, and will meet Mr. Sasae this afternoon.

Ms. Saiki: My understanding is that Mr. Davies had a meeting with his counterpart, Mr. Sugiyama, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, this morning. After the meeting they had or may be still having working lunch together. In the afternoon, Mr. Davies has several more appointments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, perhaps also in some other ministries and agencies concerned.

May I advise you to contact Mr. Fukahori, Principal Deputy Director of the Northeast Division? He is ready to respond to your question on Mr. Davies's schedule.

12. Questions concerning comfort women

Q: What was that about South Korea? In the US press recently, there have been stories about the Comfort Women memorial in New Jersey. I was wondering – could you say anything about what has happened, what the Japanese Government's actions are towards this? I understand there are also plans to name a street in New York, to change the name of a street in New York, and possibly other similar memorials in other parts of the United States. What effect do you think this might have on ties between all three countries?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. First of all, let me state clearly that the issue of comfort women was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of many women. The government of Japan has expressed its sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences, and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women. We are aware of moral responsibilities. That being stated, all issues of property and claims, including those relating to comfort women, have been finally and completely settled legally, in accordance with the agreement between Japan and the ROK. That agreement was concluded between the two countries in 1965. So, strictly legally speaking, the comfort women issue has been settled between the two countries and between the two peoples. But, in order to extend atonement from the Japanese people, for instance, the Asian Women Fund (AWF) was established in 1995. That fund has extended all the possible assistances to the comfort women, one of the efforts to discharge our moral responsibilities, and to express our apologies and remorse to all the comfort women.

Having said that, on your specific question relating to the memorials or the naming of the street in the United States, unfortunately, sometimes, not necessarily accurate information is released to the public. Sometimes, incorrect or inaccurate descriptions about the comfort women during the Second World War are made in relation to memorials or some other statues or so. In those cases, the Japanese Government makes efforts to clarify the situation and to explain to the people in the United States, as well as in the ROK, what really happened and what the Japanese Government and the people have been doing since then. So, the government of Japan, on its part, has implemented appropriate measures to rectify any misunderstanding caused by inaccurate data or information. What I can tell you today is that the very, very good, positive relationship between the ROK, Japan, and the United States should not be hampered by these episodes.

Q: Do you think it is possible that the efforts to clarify the situation and make sure accurate information has been conveyed have had the effect of making this into a much bigger issue? If Japan had not complained, then maybe almost nobody would notice the memorials.

Ms. Saiki: You are suggesting that we should not wake up a sleeping child – that type of thing. On that point, what I believe is that the Japanese Government has not made too much fuss about the matter. But, whenever we find some inaccurate descriptions or information regarding anything, including the comfort women issue, I think it is the responsibility for the government to explain the truth to better serve the people of Japan. Japan wishes to maintain and further enhance the good relationship between itself and the ROK. After all, the Republic of Korea is one of the most important partners in the region – in fact, in the world – in order to tackle many challenges, including climate change, the world economic crisis and, in particular, issues regarding North Korea. Japan needs the ROK, and the ROK needs Japan. We share values and interests in common. Although we have the so-called historical issues, including the one relating to comfort women, and we have, unfortunately, a territorial dispute between the two countries over Takeshima, we must further strengthen our relationship. We will be able to do so through efforts by both sides.

Q: Thank you.

Ms. Saiki: You are welcome. Do you have any other questions?

Q: No, that is it.

Ms. Saiki: Thank you very much for coming.

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