(* 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 Fumio Kishida
Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 8:40 a.m.
Place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main topics:
- Japan-U.S. relations
- Japan-Russia relations
1. Japan-U.S. relations
Nishikawa, TBS: You will visit the United States from the day after tomorrow with the Prime Minister. What are your aim and intensions of this visit?
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: First of all, there will be an earnest exchange of opinions between the leaders of Japan and the U.S. They will thoroughly confirm how to bolster the Japan-U.S. Alliance. I hope this will be an opportunity to display the revitalization of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in and out of Japan.
Nishikawa, TBS: I believe that there are many issues between Japan and the United States, such as security and economic affairs. What do you want to make the main issue of this visit?
Minister Kishida: I cannot at this stage predict what will be discussed at the summit meeting. It is extremely important that the two leaders have a candid exchange of opinions on various issues. I expect that there will be a thorough exchange of opinions.
2. Japan-Russia relations
Ando, Hokkaido Shimbun: It has been announced that Mr. Yoshiro Mori, former Prime Minister, will visit Russia from tomorrow. Yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that he expected Mr. Mori to lay the groundwork for a visit to Russia by the Prime Minister, who has expressed his desire for a settlement of the Northern Territories issue and signing of a peace treaty. What are your expectations for Mr. Mori’s visit?
Minister Kishida: Former Prime Minister Yoshihiro Mori will visit Russia from February 20 to 22. He will carry a letter from the Prime Minister, and will practically be a special envoy. I believe that his schedule includes a meeting on February 21 with Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, or a meeting with the Chairman of the State Duma, and a delivery of a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. I expect that the meeting will be followed by the Japan-Russia summit meeting scheduled for this year.
Ando, Hokkaido Shimbun: Specifically, what sort of discussions do you hope they will have on the Northern Territories issue?
Minister Kishida: I imagine that there will probably be an exchange of opinions on a variety of issues. I expect that the exchange of opinions will make the meeting meaningful and lead the way into the Summit Meeting.
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