(* This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only. The original text is in Japanese.)

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada

Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
Place: MOFA Press Conference Room

Main topics:

Opening Remarks
- (1) Establishment of Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
- (2) Resignation of MOFA Advisors
- (3) Visit to Japan by Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa Cantellano
Resignation of MOFA Advisors
Investigations Concerning the So-called “Secret Agreement” Issue
China-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement
Gas Field Development in East China Sea
Japan-India Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy
Japan-US Relations and Japan-China Relations
UN Security Council Reform
Russian Military Exercises in Siberian Far East
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Office
Situation with Iran
US Military Realignment Issue
Disclosure of Diplomatic Documents
Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico
Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation
House of Councillors Election

1. Opening Remarks

(1) Establishment of Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

Minister Okada: My first announcement is about the establishment of an advisory panel of experts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. In order for Japan to continue exercising leadership in issues related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation so that a “world without nuclear weapons” can be achieved, we have decided to establish an advisory group consisting of intellectuals from outside the government that reports to me.
   There are five members on the Advisory Panel. Osaka Jogakuin College Professor Mitsuru Kurosawa will serve as the chairman. The other members are Hitotsubashi University associate professor Nobumasa Akiyama, Dr. Hiromichi Umebayashi of the non-profit organization Peace Depot, Dr. Heigo Sato of Takushoku University, and Dr. Fumihiko Yoshida, editorial writer for Asahi Shimbun. Each member of the Advisory Panel will be appointed as a Special Assistant to the Minister and hired as a part-time national public servant who is subject to a confidentiality obligation.
   As a general rule, the Advisory Panel will meet twice a month. The first meeting is scheduled to be held on the morning of the 6th (Tuesday). I will also attend the meetings as needed. In addition, at the MOFA’s politically appointed level, I am thinking about having Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Hisashi Tokunaga take charge of the meetings, so Vice-Minister Tokunaga and the director-general of the Disarmament, Non-proliferation, and Science Department shall be attending the meetings.
   The members of the Advisory Panel shall express opinions on various issues related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and Japan’s policy on these issues from a medium- to long-term perspective, as well as express opinions on short-term tasks such as planning and organizing international conferences.
   The Advisory Panel shall first hold discussions on a plan to hold a ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly session scheduled to be held in September. In addition, we plan to have the Advisory Panel hold discussions on the direction of nuclear disarmament in the wake of the newly concluded START treaty or the roadmap for bringing about the reduction of the role of nuclear weapons.

(2) Resignation of MOFA Advisors

Minister: As of this moment, we have five MOFA advisors, but we have decided to have all of them resign, effective the 1st of July. This action is part of the review of MOFA advisors and counselors that we have been engaged in since March this year. Incidentally, there were 20 counselors as of March, but as of now, the number has been halved. We conducted a comprehensive review. As this has been pointed out in concise statements of questions to the Cabinet by Diet members, we conducted a thorough review of the necessity of having advisors and counselors. Especially concerning advisors, it was mentioned in the report by the “Reform Advisory Board” concerning reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there was a practice in which vice-ministers or those in similar positions would serve as advisors to MOFA for 10 years after they retire from their MOFA posts. Of course, they are all prominent figures and we may still seek their advice, but they do not necessarily need to have the title as advisor. We have determined that it is not necessarily appropriate for vice-ministers to automatically become advisors, and as a result, we had them retire at this point. Of course, on the occasion of their resignation, four of the five advisors gathered, so I talked directly with them and received various advices from them. I plan to receive advice from them in this form, moving forward.

(3) Visit to Japan by Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Patricia Espinosa Cantellano

Minister: Secretary of Foreign Affairs Espinosa of Mexico will be visiting Japan from the 5th to the 6th. This year marks the 400th anniversary of exchange between Japan and Mexico, and it will be the third time for her to visit Japan this year alone. She came to attend the 4th FEALAC (Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation) in January and accompanied Mexican President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa (during the president’s visit to Japan from the 31st of January through the 2nd of February), so it will be her third visit this time. She is also scheduled to chair the COP 16, the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held at the end of the year. She and I will meet on the 5th and I plan to exchange views with her on bilateral relations and climate change issues.

2. Resignation of MOFA Advisors

Ukai, Asahi Shimbun: I have some questions about MOFA advisors. What were their roles, what kind of work have they been doing, and as you are saying that this system is going to be discontinued, were there any expenses or personnel costs spent on advisors until now?

Minister: Advisors are not paid for their services as advisors, so there are no costs involved in particular. Their job is precisely to provide advice in an appropriate manner, but ever since my inauguration as foreign minister, I have not received any advice from them in their capacity as advisors. In any case, we are not saying that we will not seek any advice from them at all from here on. In other words, we are leaving the system itself intact, so we could judge when it is necessary to do so. We merely determined that it was questionable for former vice-ministers or those in similar positions to automatically become advisors and serve for 10 years. Since advices given by them carry some weight even from the standpoint of incumbent officials, it would be fine just to receive various advices from them, so I feel that it is unnecessary to keep their title as advisor intact.

Suzuki, Jiji Press: For confirmation, you said that expenses and the like are not involved, but how has it been so far with this office (MOFA) regarding such matters personal office space and secretaries?

Minister: My understanding is that the office space is not for exclusive use by the advisors. However, I think there is a space for ambassadors returning to Japan and I imagine that this space has been shared by the advisors, although I have not actually seen that with my own eyes, but that is my understanding. As the advisors have their own jobs, it is my understanding that they do not come to MOFA very frequently.

3. Investigations Concerning the So-called “Secret Agreement” Issue

Ota, Kyodo News: I have a question concerning the Japan-US secret agreements. My company has been reporting on this since the other day, but various official documents were newly discovered in the United States again, and from one of them – a document dated March 15, 1963 and sent by the US Embassy in Japan to Robert Fearey, officer in charge of Japanese affairs at the US State Department's Office of Northeast Asian Affairs at the time – a passage was confirmed indicating that with regard to paragraph 2c. of the Confidential Record of Discussion, the meaning of that was clearly understood by Prime Minister Kishi and Foreign Minister Fujiyama at the time of negotiations on the revision of the Japan-US Security Treaty in 1960, quoting Fearey's words (in his letter of February 12, 1962). In addition, a separate document dated June 14, 1961 – this is a secret memo prepared by the State Department for a Japan-US summit meeting and addressed to President Kennedy – a passage was found indicating that the Japanese Government tacitly agreed that transits and port calls by US vessels carrying nuclear weapons would be excluded from prior consultation requirements. Therefore, it can be confirmed from these two US documents that the Japanese side was aware of the secret agreements in 1960. However, these conclusions actually contradict the report on the results of the investigations by the Expert Committee. In light of the fact that these new US documents have been found, please tell us how you intend to deal with the issue of Japan-US secret agreements…whether you intend to conduct another investigation.

Minister: I think that is a very interesting story. However, the report of the Foreign Ministry’s investigation is the result of our investigation of documents remaining at the ministry. The result was that nothing was found that indicated that. On the contrary, since then, there emerged evidence that indicated that the GOJ was not aware of such matters. I believe that what is written in such US cables, shall I say, or internal documents is source material, but there is no way of verifying whether they completely indicate correct perception. For example, there is no way of verifying whether all that was written in a cable sent by Ambassador Reischauer to the US Government regarding the outcome of the Ohira-Reischauer talks was consistent with Japanese Prime Minister Ohira’s perception. In that sense, this is something that needs to be verified by experts or scholars. It is a fact that new material has been found, but I think that one cannot necessarily make a comment based on that immediately. In any case, it has been indicated in the results of investigations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or investigations by the experts commissioned by MOFA that in 1968, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs already clearly recognized the existence of the secret agreements. With regard to the 8-year period (between 1960 and 1968), there is a slight discrepancy as to whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized this from the beginning or along the way. I believe that the facts will be revealed with the possible discovery of new material.

Ota, Kyodo News: Therefore, may I interpret that as for now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no intention to re-investigate the US documents in the United States in particular?

Minister: Even if we were to investigate the US documents, we cannot confirm whether what is indicated in the documents is true, but I feel that if many such documents come out, that would increase the possibility that what they indicate is true. Of course, we have no reluctance to verify confirm old documents that are newly found, but I believe that that we cannot necessarily draw conclusions from them.

4. China-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement

Nakaima, Ryukyu Shimpo: The other day, China and Taiwan concluded an agreement to reduce tariffs to zero. Please tell us about your evaluation of that.

Minister: I do not think that that is something I should evaluate in particular. The agreement was concluded according to the judgments that China and Taiwan made. Therefore, it is not something on which Japan, as a third country, should comment.

Nakaima, Ryukyu Shimpo: In connection with that, I believe that the DPJ administration advocates the concept of an East Asia Community, but as China and Taiwan are strengthening economic ties in this way, I think that such matters as security concerns, including tensions between China and Taiwan, are sometimes pointed out. Do you feel that as a result of the deepening of economic engagement or relations between China and Taiwan, the latest development will cause changes in the security environment in Northeast Asia and East Asia?

Minister: I think that is a rather difficult question. With regard to economic relations between China and Taiwan, interdependence between them has already deepened to a considerable extent. Therefore, even if that interdependence were to further deepen as a result of the latest development, I think that it would be quite difficult to answer whether the nature of their relationship will change.

5. Gas Field Development in East China Sea

Saito, Kyodo News: I have a question in connection with China. With regard to negotiations on gas fields in the East China Sea, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Japan on May 31st and indicated a forward-looking stance on the negotiations to conclude a treaty. The Japanese side appreciated that, but one month has passed. At the moment, I have not heard any stories that a specific timetable has been determined for Japan and China to negotiate on the conclusion of the treaty. Since a month has passed, I think it is about time that this be started. Please tell us about the outlook, or any political reasons that the negotiations cannot be started, if any.

Minister: When Premier Wen Jiabao came to Japan, such a confirmation was made. Since then, it is not the case that the process has stopped due to any particular impediment.

Saito, Kyodo News: I would like to ask a question in that connection as a reconfirmation, but the negotiations on concluding the treaty will, of course, focus on the topic of joint development of gas fields. In that case, the waters in the northern part of the East China Sea will be subject to joint development, and the consultations would naturally center on this area, but there is one other gas field, the Shirakaba (Chunxiao, in Chinese) gas field. My understanding is that according to the Japan-China agreement in June 2008, the Shirakaba gas field is not subject to joint development and a Japanese company is to make investments based on Chinese domestic laws. Will this be properly placed on the agenda of the consultations? In addition to the Shirakaba gas field, there are other gas fields scattered in the East China Sea, such as Dankyo and Tengaiten. China has already advanced developing those fields. My understanding is that according to the June 2008 agreement, that issue was considered a matter for consultation. I am talking about the Duanqiao and Tianwaitian gas fields. The Japanese name was something like “Kashi,” but how is that being handled? In addition to that, please tell us whether this is going to be actually discussed.

Minister: What was confirmed when Premier Wen Jiabao visited Japan were negotiations on an international treaty, so I believe that basically, two topics – joint development of the northern sea area and investment in the Shirakaba (Chunxiao) gas field – will be taken up. As for the other issues, I think that they will be discussed separately as issues related to the demarcation line, which has been taken up in the previous agreement.

Suzuki, Jiji Press: It has long been said that Japan would hardly gain economic benefits from developing gas fields in the East China Sea, shall I say, or commercialization would be rather difficult in reality. What is your perception of this matter?

Minister: I think there are various views concerning whether commercialization would be difficult, but if there are companies engaged in project development that hope to develop the gas fields, the government is in no position to comment on that.

Suzuki, Jiji Press: Then, may I interpret that, putting it simply, you understand that the gas fields in the East Chinas Sea are economically important to Japan?

Minister: Since this is about development by the private sector, if there appear companies that want to undertake development, they would be doing so in line with the agreement made between the Japanese and Chinese Governments.

6. Japan-India Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

Kawasaki, Yomiuri Shimbun: This morning, Mayor (Tadatoshi) Akiba of Hiroshima visited came before you, and spoke fairly severely about the nuclear energy agreement between Japan and India: He said, "This could lead to the collapse of the NPT framework. It is an extremely serious impediment to progress toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is difficult to understand since this disregards on appeal from the victim cities of." I would like to ask your views on this, and how you explained this.

Minister: What I said was the same thing that I said to all of you here last time. Of course, it is a fact that India is not a signatory to the NPT, and there is a problem that this development (regarding the agreement) might endorse that fact. But on the other hand, I think that there are also benefits of getting them inside a certain framework, rather than leaving them completely unchecked. Although it is good to keep urging them to join the NPT, India already has nuclear weapons. While getting them to relinquish all of their weapons and join the NPT is a good ideal to pursue, in practical terms the possibility of this happening is very low. Amid these circumstances, I think that it would be effective to get them to enter properly into a certain framework, even if it is moderate. At the same time, we made an extremely hard decision considering various elements, such as global warming. Since the international community has already reached a conclusion, in the end Japan made this decision, while examining that development cautiously. I explained this (to the mayor). Additionally, I think that we must discuss thoroughly the question of how to impose constraint on a nuclear-armed state that is not a member of the NPT and find a direction forward. This was also a theme of the advisory panel of experts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Ota, Kyodo News: My question is about Japan-India relations. I think that one of the factors behind the decision to enter negotiations was the fact that India has followed through to a certain extent on its "promises and actions" announced in 2008, and amid these circumstances, India showed a positive attitude toward advancing negotiations of a cutoff treaty. The current situation is that it is not making any progress due to Pakistan’s opposition against the cutoff treaty at the CD (UN Conference on Disarmament). Do you intend to use Japan's position as a victim of atomic bombing to do something extra; in other words, even if the FMCT (Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty) is not going forward, to ask them to at least install a moratorium, or to halt production? Do you intend to ask for those kinds of individual, specific benchmarks?

Minister: The negotiations are yet to come, so I think that various issues will be raised. In particular, I think that a wide range of discussion will be necessary for negotiating such specific matters as how to react in case of nuclear testing. Since the negotiations have just begun, I do not intend to speak about specifics now.

Ota, Kyodo News: With regard to enrichment and reprocessing, I know that you said that you do not intend to speak on individual topics, but this is a very important factor when addressing nuclear arsenal build up vertical proliferation, and it is also a very important factor for discussing horizontal proliferation. Therefore, in terms of enrichment and reprocessing, do you have an idea as to which extent India must accept or, in dealing with Japan, Japan will not accept?

Minister: This is also something that will be discussed moving forward, but I think there is also the problem of how significant it would be if Japan was the only one saying this. Other major countries have already signed nuclear-power agreements, and are advancing discussions of cooperation in civilian uses of nuclear energy, so I think that we must move forward making an overall consideration on this. India's nuclear issue is one of the topics that I focused on most heavily as a Diet member, so there were very many things to consider up to the end. It was not taken up often by the media, but once we started the (negotiations of) nuclear energy agreement, you all took it up in your editorials, so I do think that perhaps you should have spoken about this topic from early on.

Araki, Chugoku Shimbun: The citizens of the cities that suffered atomic bombings are fairly fiercely opposed to this Ministry of Foreign Affairs policy, and victims of the atomic bombings are saying that they want it to stop immediately. Is my interpretation correct that after the mayor's request today, you have absolutely no intention of changing your policy?

Minister: Needless to say, we reached this decision after careful consideration of many issues, including the fact that Japan is the only country that suffered atomic bombing. My commitment to a world without nuclear weapons is greater than most people, and I think that people who know me know this.

7. Japan-US Relations and Japan-China Relations

Chan, Global Chinese Press: Prime Minister Kan said that he would maintain a strong relationship of trust with the United States, while putting emphasis on relations with China. The text in the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto for the House of Councillors election, however, says that the Japan-US alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. In other words, has the Government of Japan already decided the priority? Please tell us: Is the United States number one? Is Asia number one? Are the United States and China treated equally?

Minister: I have already spoken on this point several times, but I think that China is a very important country for Japan. However, Japan has a very close relationship with the United States that is qualitatively different from its relations with other countries, including China, because the United States is an ally, and it is an ally in terms of security. I would like you to understand that the relationships are qualitatively different. This is not a matter of degree, of which country is more important.

8. UN Security Council Reform

Higa, Kyodo News: I have a question about the reform of the UN Security Council. At the end of 2010, Japan's non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council will end, and since consecutive tenure is not possible, I do not think that any movements will be possible until 2012, but please tell us your strategy for the reform of the UN Security Council, including becoming a permanent member.

Minister: We are considering among many matters. We have not yet reached the stage where I can speak about this.

9. Russian Military Exercises in Siberian Far East

Asaka, Freelance: Russia has been conducting Vostok 2010 since June 29th, but while it involved 8,000 troops people in 2008, this time the scale of the exercise has grown to involved 20,000 troops. I would like to ask your views on how this will impact security in the Far East.

Minister: I am aware that Russia is to conduct military exercises in the Siberian Far East. I do not think that there is anything to criticize about the fact itself that they are conducting military exercises. Japan also conducts military exercises, as does the United States, so I do not intend to say that this in itself is outrageous or problematic.

Asaka, Freelance: This time, the scale is quite large, with the Pacific Fleet as well as the Northern and Black Sea Fleets participating. A Russian military officer also commented that this is the largest scale the exercises have had in the past 15 years. Given the scale of this exercise, the Far East is a little unstable now, given things like the explosion on the ROK patrol ship caused by North Korea this year in particular, but what are your thoughts on Russia holding these large-scale exercises now?

Minister: I am not aware if the current exercises have any relationship with the attack on and sinking of the ROK patrol ship. I therefore cannot comment. However, it has been reported by some media that the scope of the exercise will include the island of Etorofu, and if this is the case, then there is no way that we can accept it, in view of our legal standing with regard to the four Northern Territory islands.

10. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Office

Nakai, Ryukyu Shimpo: I have a question about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Office. About two weeks ago, Ambassador (Sumio) Tarui responded in an interview with my paper that there is encryption machinery at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Office. It is said that there is a rule that official cables are to be encrypted, and I understand that encryption machinery is kept at diplomatic missions abroad in this regard. I am a little uneasy that there is encryption machinery at an office in Japan; what are your thoughts on the reason for this?

Minister: Considering the maintenance of confidentiality, when various types of information are sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, there is a risk that it can fall into other hands during this process in some form. I therefore do not think that there is any problem with encrypting this information.

Nakai, Ryukyu Shimpo: One of the reasons Ambassador Tarui gave for this machinery was that there are US military bases there, and that information relating to security is exchanged. In the sense of maintaining the confidentiality of information, I believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exchanges information with other prefectures where the US Military is stationed, in addition to Okinawa, but if this is the case, then should I understand this as being that encrypted information is exchanged between every location in Japan?

Minister: This is limited to locations in the form of offices. It is not necessarily the case generally.

Nakai, Ryukyu Shimpo: I think then that this of course means that Okinawa is the only place with an office, and an Ambassador, and there are many bases there as well, so the decision was made that these types of facilities are necessary. But is other information besides information dealing with security, besides information provided by the US Military, also sent in encrypted form? Information about things like the opinion of the Okinawan residents, or their desires, or public opinion in Okinawa?

Minister: I am not aware of this. I do not know what Ambassador Tarui said in the first place, so I cannot answer immediately in this case. I would like to confirm this if it is necessary.

Nakai, Ryukyu Shimpo: While of course I think that you cannot instantly ascertain what the Ambassador may have said, or the various things reported in the media in Okinawa, but how frequently do you check what the Ambassador says in Okinawa, or what kinds of responses have been made, or what is reported in the media, and what means do you use to confirm this?

Minister: The reports that the Ambassador sends to the headquarters by cable go up to my level when necessary. There are certain administrative decisions that go into deciding this, but a stack of cables about 5 to 10 centimeters thick makes it to my desk each day. I spend at least an hour just reading these cables, and things make it up to me according to their level of importance. Of course, I generally glance over copies of the Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo.

11. Situation with Iran

Saito, Kyodo News: I have a question about the situation with Iran. US President Obama has signed a bill with independent US sanctions against Iran. I have been told that the bill includes embargo on gasoline. President Obama appreciated various moves to impose independent sanctions, naming Australia and the EU. I would like to ask your views on President Obama signing sanctions against Iran into law, and on Australia and the EU, which could be said to be following the US lead.

Minister: The EU has not yet made a final decision, so I have no comments about this at this stage. Japan will consider what it can do, while confirming the responses by the United States and the EU.

Saito, Kyodo News: As an ally, how does Japan see the decision by President Obama and the United States to go the route of independent sanctions at this time, and how does Japan evaluate this?

Minister: This is a decision by the US Congress, so I do not think that it is appropriate for the Government of Japan to comment on this. However, I am well aware that US Congress believes that tough sanctions must be imposed on Iran.

Saito, Kyodo News: What are your personal views at the current time as to whether Japan should take new measures in addition to the sanctions resolution decided on by the UN Security Council in June?

Minister: This is an issue that must be considered carefully. But saying that we must consider it carefully does not mean that we will not do it. I think that we must act in concert with the United States and the EU as much as possible, but this is also a matter that affects Japan's economic interests, so this issue has no easy answers. I would like to respond in collaboration with the international community, while maintaining a full grasp of the overall situation.

12. US Military Realignment Issue

Nezu, NHK: I have a question concerning the US military realignment roadmap. There were some reports today that with regard to the US military’s transferring 8,000 Marines to Guam, the US side has notified the Government of Japan that it plans to reconsider the composition of the units to be transferred. The US side is to study the possibility of having the 1st Marine Air Wing Headquarters, which commands the helicopter units, remain in Okinawa and instead shift an infantry unit to Guam. Please tell us whether this is actually under consideration right now.

Minister: In the 2+2 (US-Japan Security Consultative Committee) Joint Statement of May 28, it is written that “the US side will examine the unit composition of III MEF personnel remaining on Okinawa in the context of overall theater security, including deterrence, while accounting for the concerns of local communities.” I have nothing more in particular to comment on that at the moment. The US Government, for its part, intends to examine the unit composition of III MEF personnel remaining on Okinawa in the context of overall regional security, including deterrence, while accounting for the concerns of local communities. This review is currently being conducted within the US Government. I believe that the Japanese and US Government will hold consultations after that.

Nezu, NHK: In referring to the security environment, is it your understanding that the US side is reconsidering the composition of units due to such factors as the recent rising of tensions on North Korean?

Minister: This is about something that is a little further off in the future. Transferring 8,000 III Marine Expeditionary Force personnel along with 9,000 family members will be undertaken from here on, so timing wise, that is something we are looking forward to a little further off in the future. Of course, there is the question of what may happen to the Korean Peninsula situation at that time. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to think of this not as a short-term issue that lies right in front of our eyes, but rather as a matter on which a judgment should be made more from a comprehensive perspective.

13. Disclosure of Diplomatic Documents

Minister: Let me comment on the issue of the disclosure of diplomatic documents without taking some time. It has slightly been delayed. Some matters have to be coordinated with other ministries and agencies before disclosure, and this coordination process has yet to be completed. Consequently, I have not been able to give final approval. I have exchanged views with my staff and given them instructions to complete the coordination as soon as possible. However, we have the other parties to deal with, so I think it will take a little longer. If the coordination cannot be completed soon, we plan to start disclosing most of the other parts in the early part of next week as much as possible. I wanted to say this much just for the record.

14. Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

Takeuchi, Video News: Regarding the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the other day the United States decided to accept assistance from Japan, together with several other countries. Could you tell us the specifics of this assistance, and the effects that can be expected from Japan's contribution?

Minister: The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is having an extremely severe impact. We told the United States that we were prepared to give assistance, and the United States just contacted us, and said that they accepted our offer to provide oil booms and two offshore oil skimmers. Hereafter, we plan to coordinate the details of loaning the oil booms and high-speed, high-volume offshore oil skimmers with the United States.

Takeuchi, Video News: Could you tell us exactly what kind of contribution and effects to be expected?

Minister: As I said, we are loaning oil booms and offshore oil skimmers, so it will have a certain amount of effects at collecting the oil and preventing it from spreading.

15. Advisory Panel of Experts on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation

Araki, Chugoku Shimbun: I have a question about the Advisory Panel of Experts in the paper handed out earlier. They are to discuss matters on foreign minister’s meeting and the direction of nuclear disarmament, but I would like to ask if you envision anything else at this stage for the advisory panel, and when you would like to start receiving responses. Please tell us any thoughts you have at this time.

Minister: Foreign minister’s meetings are scheduled for September, so we will be aiming for that. With regard to other issues, a wide range of themes are envisioned, and I would like the experts to have thorough discussions, including those. I think that the issue I mentioned earlier of how we can impose constraints on countries that are not signatories to the NPT will be a big topic, but I plan to consult thoroughly on the details in the days ahead. I am expecting somewhat substantial discussions.

16. House of Councillors Election

Nakamori, Ise Shimbun: I have a question about the House of Councillors election. I believe that you have been campaigning around the country as your official duties have allowed; could you tell us your awareness of the situation, and your sense of things?

Minister: I accompanied the Prime Minister to the summits, so aside from my constituency, I have campaigned twice: on the date of official announcement of the election, and then yesterday. I will be going around Kyushu tomorrow and the day after. Since this is a House of Councillors election, there may not be as much detail-oriented election as with the House of Representatives, but I must say that I have the sense that it has yet warmed up enough in the campaigning yet. In my campaigning, I have been concentrating more on areas with low population density, rather than prefectural capitals and other relatively populous areas. This may be why I get this sense, but I would like to see it a little more heated, and I strongly hope that this will happen over the weekend.

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