Telephone Conversation between Japanese and Brazilian Foreign Ministers

March 17, 2011
Japanese

On Thursday, March 17, from 19:35 for about 15 minutes, Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a telephone conversation with H.E. Mr. Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, on the latter’s initiative.
At the outset, Minister Patriota extended his deepest condolences to a large number of missing and dead caused by the Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake and expressed his solidarity with Japan. He also stated that Brazil has been mading contribution by some ways including through Red Cross.
In response, Minister Matsumoto expressed his gratitude to Minister Patriota’s warm words of sympathy and support, stating that Japan will overcome this crisis under the leadership of Prime Minister Naoto Kan, and make it’s utmost efforts to extend assistance to all the victims including Brazilian citizens living in Japan.
Minister Matsumoto explained the countermeasures by Japan to the current situation, to which Minister Patriota stated that he had expressed his full confidence on the Government of Japan to the Brazilian media and that he would not evacuate Brazil’s diplomatic establishments in Japan without any recommendation by the Government of Japan. He also expressed his sincere respect for the patience and strength of the people of Japan.

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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