Japan-Argentina Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

April 11, 2011
Japanese

Today (Monday, April 11), Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Héctor Timerman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic, who is visiting Japan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An outline of the meeting is as follows.

The Great East Japan Earthquake
(1) Foreign Minister Matsumoto extended a sincere welcome to Foreign Minister Timerman, appreciated him for visiting Japan to offer Argentina’s condolences and solidarity following the earthquake that has struck the country, and expressed Japan’s gratitude for the various kinds of support it is receiving from Argentina. Foreign Minister Matsumoto also said that today was precisely one month from the day that the earthquake struck Japan, that with regard to the incident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan is proceeding with full efforts to resolve the situation, and that Japan will continue to explain to the international community about the ongoing situation while maintaining the utmost degree of transparency.

(2) In response, Foreign Minister Timerman said that on the present occasion he has visited Japan in order to personally express his sincere condolences and to show solidarity with his Japanese friends more than anything else. He explained that the Government of Argentina does not make decisions based on speculation but that it bases its responses on accurate information announced by the Government of Japan, and he also said that he was sure Japan would overcome the present tragedy and move forward again.

(3) Foreign Minister Matsumoto once again expressed his appreciation to Foreign Minister Timerman for the latter’s present visit to Japan, conveyed his appreciation that the Government of Argentina is adopting a calm response to the present situation, and also requested the Government of Argentina to continue to maintain a similar response.
Bilateral Relations
The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the reform of the United Nations, cooperation in various international organizations, enhancing close economic relations between the two countries, and other matters.

(*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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