Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 5 July 2012

World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku
Visit to Japan by the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Visit to Japan by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Japan-Myanmar Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the “Convention on Cybercrime”
Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan
Question concerning Afghanistan
Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations
Question concerning the resumption of ROK research whaling
Question concerning the deployment of Osprey helicopters to Japan by the United States

1. World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku

Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Thank you very much for coming. Let me begin with several announcements.

Ms. Saiki: First, on the World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku. The World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku was held on 3-4 July, yesterday and the day before yesterday. Plenary sessions were held in Sendai City of Miyagi Prefecture, and three breakout sessions were held in Ichinoseki City of Iwate Prefecture, Ishinomaki City of Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima City of Fukushima Prefecture. The Conference was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Office, Reconstruction Agency, Ministry of Land Infrastructure Transport and Tourism, and Japan International Cooperation Agency, and co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and some other relevant international organizations, Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Sendai City, Ichinoseki City, Ishinomaki City and Fukushima City. A variety of side events were organized by the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society on the occasion of the Conference.

The Conference proposed “disaster reduction in the 21st century” on the basis of the expressed political commitment by the participants to mainstreaming disaster reduction and building resilient societies. The direction of future disaster reduction in the international community was crystallized as incorporating disaster reduction in post-2015 development framework and establishing an effective post-Hyogo Framework for Action.

For its part, Japan expressed its determination to lead international efforts for disaster reduction and prevention. Japan expressed its commitment to providing 3 billion dollars for three years, starting in 2013.

2. Visit to Japan by the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ms. Saiki: Second, on a visit to Japan by the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). On 3 July, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, the Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting Sendai to attend the World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku, received a courtesy call from Miss Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, who also was attending the conference.

Prime Minister Noda stated that the UNDP is an important partner for Japan’s diplomacy and thus, the Government of Japan would like to cooperate with the UNDP on important issues such as support of Afghanistan, discussion on post-Millennium Development Goals, and the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development. In response, Administrator Clark stated that Japan has proactively played leading roles in major issues and the UNDP would like to continue to cooperate in those issues. In addition, Miss Clark expressed her gratitude for Japan’s continuous support to the UNDP.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba held a meeting with her. They discussed long-term challenges facing the international community, including the sustainable development, which issue in fact was widely and deeply discussed in Rio+20 held in Brazil last month.

3. Visit to Japan by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Ms. Saiki: Third, on a visit to Japan by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. On 1 July, Prime Minister Noda received a courtesy call by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Viet Nam. They discussed overall Japan-Viet Nam bilateral relations and cooperation in the economic field. In particular, they concurred in the need and importance of realizing and deepening cooperation in various fields which were agreed upon in the Summit Meeting held last April between Prime Minister Noda and the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

In addition, Prime Minister Noda and Deputy Prime Minster Phuc shared the view that grassroots-level friendly relations between the two countries should be further enhanced as the next year, year 2013, is designated as the “Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Year”.

4. Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Ms. Saiki: Fourth, on a Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. On 2 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Gemba held a meeting with Minister of External Affairs Peiris of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Minister Gemba welcomed Minister Peiris to Japan, who was on his first visit here in two years, and said he wishes to present the expertise and experiences of both Japan and Sri Lanka to the international community as countries that have suffered tsunami disasters.

Minister Gemba also said that Japan wants to continue to support Sri Lanka’s restoration and peace-building efforts. In response, Minister Peiris expressed appreciation for the important role Japan has played thus far in the economic development of Sri Lanka as a key partner. Minister Peiris also said he hopes to share Sri Lanka’s experiences and expertise at the Disaster Reduction Conference in Tohoku.

Furthermore, Minister Gemba said he wants to cooperate to make this year, which is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, a fruitful one, and said he expects to strengthen cooperation in the maritime security sector with Sri Lanka, which is located in a strategic position for sea lanes. Minister Gemba also requested further improvement in Sri Lanka’s investment environment in order to facilitate stronger trade ties between the two countries, and said Japan will continue to extend support for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka’s northern region.

Both ministers also confirmed that they will continue to cooperate in the international arena, including in the United Nations.

5. Japan-Myanmar Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Ms. Saiki: Fifth, on a Japan-Myanmar Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. On 2 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Gemba held a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Minister Gemba stated that Japan will even more strongly support the Government of Myanmar so that the people of Myanmar can feel the fruit of democratization, national reconciliation, and economic reforms of Myanmar. In response, Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin stated that the Government of Myanmar has been continuously making efforts for democratization and national reconciliation and will make such efforts in the future as well.

Concerning human exchanges and support for democratization, Foreign Minister Gemba explained that the Government of Japan invited a bipartisan group of 42 young politicians from Myanmar this week. Moreover, mentioning the Cultural and Sports Exchange Mission which had visited Myanmar last week, Minister Gemba stated that the Government of Japan will implement specific concrete policies in light of suggestions made by the mission concerning sports, modern culture, intellectual exchanges, and other sectors.

6. Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the “Convention on Cybercrime”

Ms. Saiki: Sixth, on the deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the “Convention on Cybercrime”. On 3 July, the Government of Japan deposited the Instrument of Acceptance of the “Convention on Cybercrime” to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Convention will become effective for Japan from 1 November this year. The Convention aims at protecting society from cybercrimes, which have been increasing along with the recent developments of information technology, and provides provisions such as criminalization of illegal access and other certain acts to a computer system, preparation of criminal procedures for expeditious preservation of computer data and international cooperation concerning extradition of criminals.

7. Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan

Ms. Saiki: Seventh and last, just to remind you on the upcoming important conference, namely the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan. On 8 July, this coming Sunday, the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan will be held in Tokyo. Based on the significant outcomes of the previous internal conferences on Afghanistan, the Tokyo Conference aims to pave the way for the sustainable development of Afghanistan, taking into full account the situation beyond 2014.

Quite a few parallel events are scheduled to take place on the occasion of the Conference. Actually, some of them have already finished. I think fliers of the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan are available in this room now. So if you are interested, you are welcome to keep them.

With these initial announcements, I would be pleased to entertain your questions.

8. Question concerning Afghanistan

Q: Thank you very much. Let’s stick to the Afghanistan Conference, if I may. There was an official meeting between the Taliban and the Afghan Government in Kyoto, I think just this week. It was the first time that they sat together during this symposium. The Taliban said they are willing to come to the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan if they are invited. So, I am interested if they are invited now and if they will take part?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you very much for the question. I do not have the updated data on that with me right now. So I have to check and get back to you later, sometime this afternoon.

9. Questions concerning Japan-Russia relations

Q: There was the Russian Prime Minister Medvedev visiting Kunashiri yesterday or the day before, and it was disturbing for the Japanese Government, especially since Prime Minister Noda and the Russian President Putin agreed that they will restart the talks. Are the talks already over again before they even start?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. In fact, you are right in pointing out the fact that on 3 July, the day before yesterday, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Medvedev, visited Kunashiri Island, which is an integral part of the Japanese territory. So, we have lodged a protest against the Russian Federation. For instance, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sasae, immediately called Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Japan Yevgeny Vladimirovich Afanasiev to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vice Minister Sasae clearly stated that the Government of Japan cannot accept this visit by the Prime Minister of Russia to Kunashiri Island and it is extremely regrettable. This visit can only be said to have chilled the recently developing positive atmosphere of Japan-Russia relations.

While it is true that this event is a very deplorable and regrettable one, both governments, in particular on the occasion of the Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Noda and President of the Russian Federation Putin in Los Cabos in Mexico, did agree to continue the process toward signing on to a peace agreement between the two countries with the resolution of the issue regarding the four Northern islands. So we are determined to continue to negotiate with the Russian Government.

Q: If I may stick to the point, when Hatoyama was prime minister during that time, Russia was willing to talk about it, in a broad way was thinking about some solutions regarding the four islands. At that time – not officially – but they discussed or wanted to propose, also Kunashiri would be a chance to get back to Japan, not Shikotan(sic) as far as I am informed, but Kunashiri. Is this visit by Prime Minister Medvedev the sign that we are back to the declaration of 1965(sic) that, okay, Shikotan - Habomai is the possible first step and then we have to talk about Kunashiri and Etorofu in a later stage?

Ms. Saiki: Thank you for the question. Since the matter is being negotiated between the governments of the two countries, I decline to make speculation about the Russian intention or its background.

10. Question concerning the resumption of ROK research whaling

Q: The ROK proposed the possibility that they will resume research whaling like Japan did, and I was just wondering if the ROK beforehand talked to the Japanese delegation so that they could make the move together, or was this a real initiative by the ROK alone?

Ms. Saiki: We have not been approached by the Government of the ROK on this matter. We are aware of the statement made by the delegation of the ROK at the IWC annual meeting in Panama. We understand that the ROK announced its policy to start scientific research whaling, but we do not know the details of the plan. This is what I can say at this stage.

11. Question concerning the deployment of Osprey helicopters to Japan by the United States

Q: And a totally different topic – the Osprey helicopters are on their way to Japan at the moment. I am just wondering – I have in mind that the Defense Minister said that Japan has no chance to say no to the deployment of the Osprey, no legal chance to prevent that. Is that correct, and what chances did Japan have?

Ms. Saiki: First, the Japanese Government and the U.S. Government have been having various discussions and coordination on this matter. We, meaning the two governments, do seriously take note of concerns and worries raised by the people in Okinawa, Iwakuni, and actually all over Japan. This issue of concerns over the safety of Osprey is an important and urgent one. That is why the two governments have been engaging in consultations in order to confirm the safety of Osprey. As you know, the United States has announced that it will refrain from any flight operations of Osprey in Japan until the results of the investigations concerned are presented to the Government of Japan and the safety of its flight operation is reconfirmed. This is one of the evidences of how seriously both governments have conducted consultations on this important issue.

That being stated, Japan and the United States are allies. There is the security treaty between Japan and the United States, and we understand the premise of maintaining the security treaty or the alliance between the two countries is that the United States is to deploy equipment including aircraft necessary to fulfill objectives and purposes stipulated in the treaty. I think deploying MV-22 aircraft into Japan is a part of the U.S. plan to update and improve its equipment and capability in Japan to increase deterrence under the Japan-US Security Treaty.

But again, to dissipate concerns of the people in Japan with respect to the safety of Osprey, we continue to make utmost efforts to confirm the safety of Osprey’s flight operation, and we are waiting for the outcomes of the investigations being conducted in the United States regarding Osprey aircraft. Hopefully, sometime in August we will receive the report from the Government of the United States.

Are there any questions?

You have had a variety of questions.

Q: It is always good to have the chance.

Ms. Saiki: Yes, sure. Thank you for coming. This concludes today’s conference. See you next time.

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