Press Conference, 28 May 2009

Questions concerning the nomination of Mr. John Roos as Ambassador of the United States to Japan
Questions concerning the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Aso and President Obama
Questions concerning a possible United Nations Security Council resolution against North Korea
Questions concerning the trial of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar

I. Questions concerning the nomination of Mr. John Roos as Ambassador of the United States to Japan

Deputy Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura: Good afternoon and welcome to the press conference.

Today, I have nothing from me, and I would like to go directly into your questions.

Q: So, Mr. Kawamura, yesterday, President Barack Obama of the United States nominated California-based lawyer Mr. Roos to become the next United States Ambassador to Japan. Do you have any comments on this nomination and how would the Japanese government like to work with the new ambassador, especially in policy areas such as North Korea? Thank you.

Mr. Kawamura: First of all, Japan welcomes the nomination of Mr. John Roos as the Ambassador of the United States to Japan. We understand Mr. Roos has a background as a well-experienced lawyer and he has extensive knowledge of economy, and he also enjoys President Obama's trust. Japan highly appreciates the nomination of Mr. Roos as Ambassador to Japan since this nomination signifies that the Obama Administration attaches importance to the Japan-U.S. Alliance.

To respond to the latter half of your questions, Japan expects that Mr. Roos will assume the Ambassadorship soon and will be actively engaged in various areas. Japan will make further efforts to strengthen the multi-layered Japan-U.S. Alliance by closely cooperating with him to address global issues as well as our bilateral challenges.

Related Information (Press Release)

II. Questions concerning the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Aso and President Obama

Q: Can I ask some other questions too? Prime Minister Aso had telephone talks with President Obama Tuesday. Can you confirm if the two leaders discussed any possibility that the United States government may reimpose putting North Korea back onto the blacklist of terrorist sponsoring nations?

Mr. Kawamura: The fundamental point is that the decision of the list, as you referred, is to be made by the United States government because the action is based upon United States laws. So, it is to be the United States'decision.

In general, the important thing is that Japan and the United States will work closely in such tense situations as North Korea tested a nuclear bomb. Towards the United Nations Security Council Resolution, we are working together very closely. Through these joint efforts, I think our two countries would regain the peace and stability in Northeast Asia. That is where we stand.

III. Questions concerning a possible United Nations Security Council resolution against North Korea

Q: about the United Nations Security Council resolution, what kind of resolution can we expect? Will the resolution include tighter inspections of North Korean ships or maybe will there be any financial sanctions? What kind of resolution can we expect?

Mr. Kawamura: Well, the possible contents of the Resolution of the United Nations Security Council have been reported broadly by various media today and I have read all of them. At this particular moment, we cannot make specific comments or prejudge what will be the contents of the new resolution. What we are doing now is that at the United Nations Security Council, Japan and other concerned members continue the consultations on the 27th, New York time, on a bilateral basis about the possible elements to be included in the new resolution, and some countries are sending back the results of discussions to the capitals for comments and approval. So, we are waiting for the comments to come back.

I hope, in a swift fashion, we will reach a consensus and the Security Council will adopt the additional resolution, and Japan thinks it is important that it demonstrates the unity of the international community and it should also include additional sanctions. We want a strong and swift resolution which includes additional sanctions. With that, our international community could send a very important message to North Korea.

Q: Can we expect that this resolution will be adopted by the end of this week or could it be into next week?

Mr. Kawamura: Judging from the discussions conducted in New York on the 27th, we cannot prejudge how soon we could reach a consensus, but Japan and other likeminded, concerned countries are working together in a sense that swift action is necessary, so we do hope that we will reach the conclusion soon.

IV. Questions concerning the trial of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar

Q: Turning to the situation in Myanmar, Do you have any comments on the ongoing trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi?

Mr. Kawamura: I understand that the Myanmar government declared that the house detention period of Madam Aung San Suu Kyi has been expired. The Japanese Government does not have any specific comment on this particular case, but as you just mentioned, the trial for Madam Aung San Suu Kyi continues in the Insein Prison's Special Court. We, Japan, continue to have grave concern about the situation in Myanmar.

As Mr. Nakasone, Foreign Minister of Japan, told Mr. Nyan Win, Myanmar's Foreign Minister, in Hanoi this week in the context of the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers'meeting, we have four elements to be address in this regard. The first; now is the important time for Myanmar's democratization. Two; Japan urges Myanmar that the country should respond appropriately to the voice and concern of the international community. Three; Japan hopes that Myanmar's democratization will proceed in a way in which the international society gives high regard with the participation of all the parties concerned. Four; Japan continues to closely watch the trial for Madam Aung San Suu Kyi. We still have grave concern about the situation.

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