Press Conference, 23 April 2009

Foreign Minister Nakasone to deliver policy speech on nuclear disarmament
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto visits Belgium for conference on Somalia
Statement on the shift of Sri Lankan IDPs to government control
Japan-Colombia investment agreement negotiations begin
President Johnson Toribiong of Palau visits Japan

I. Foreign Minister Nakasone to deliver policy speech on nuclear disarmament

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon. Welcome. Let me start with a few announcements.

First, on the policy speech by Foreign Minister Nakasone. As I briefly introduced last week, the schedule of the speech has been fixed. Next Monday, April 27th, from 17:30, Foreign Minister Nakasone will speak about his views on global nuclear disarmament. The title of his speech will be "Toward a World without Nuclear Weapons - Key Benchmarks for Global Nuclear Disarmament." If you are interested in covering the speech, please contact the Japan Institute of International Affairs, the host of this event. I will post a contact point on our HP. [Note: Contact: Ms. Masuta, Email: tm_masuta@jiia.or.jp]

II. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto visits Belgium for conference on Somalia

Second, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto is now visiting Brussels, Belgium, where she is attending the Conference on Support of the Somali Security Institutions and the African Union Mission in Somalia or AMISOM. The issue to be addressed is to call for strong support for the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia as well as the attainment of stability and peace in Somalia. Ms. Hashimoto will address Japan's willingness to continue to support the TFG of Somalia with other partner countries and organizations. Japan provided 67 million dollars of security-related and humanitarian assistance over the past two years toward regional engagement and improving peace and stabilization in Somalia with the countries concerned and institutions.

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III. Statement on the shift of Sri Lankan IDPs to government control

Third, Japan welcomes that some 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) in the northern part of Sri Lanka controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have moved to the area under the government's control. Japan calls upon the LTTE to disarm and allow freedom of movement for the IDPs. Japan also urges that both the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE observe the international humanitarian laws and secure the safety of the IDPs within the combat zones.

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IV. Japan-Colombia investment agreement negotiations begin

Fourth, Japan and Colombia are now conducting the first round of negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement between the two countries in Tokyo. Foreign Minister Nakasone and his Colombian counterpart, Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez agreed in principle to initiate the negotiations when Minister Nakasone visited Colombia in November 2008. In this first round of the negotiations the two sides are discussing the basic thoughts and expectations about and the content to be covered by the agreement. The negotiations will continue until tomorrow, Friday, the 24th.

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V. President Johnson Toribiong of Palau visits Japan

And lastly, the President of Palau, Johnson Toribiong, is now visiting Japan. At this moment, Prime Minister Aso is meeting with President Toribiong. One of the main topics is the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders' Meeting or PALM5, which Japan will host on the 22nd-23rd May in Tomamu, Hokkaido.

Related Information (Press Release)

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