Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 21 January 2010

Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries
Current Situation of Cooperation from Japan to Haiti
Questions concerning the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries
Questions concerning a newspaper report in Australia of the discovery of remains of a sunken wartime Australian hospital ship
Follow up questions concerning the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries

Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am Hidenobu Sobashima, successor of Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura as deputy press secretary. I hope I will be able to develop good and constructive relations with you.

Today I would like to introduce to you two topics. The first is the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries, which started today and lasts until tomorrow, and the second one is the current situation in Haiti, the Japanese cooperation to the victims of the disaster.

The press release for the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries has already been distributed, but I will repeat the main points.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will hold a "Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries" today, Thursday January 21, and tomorrow, Friday January 22, in the Hotel New Otani. Government officials from 17 Asian countries (the 10 ASEAN members, and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) will attend this event. Specialists from Australia and the United States will also attend the seminar as speakers. Mr. Kaoru Naito, President of the Nuclear Material Control Center (NMCC), will act as the chair to this seminar. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tetsuro Fukuyama, is delivering the opening speech.

Already in 2006 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar on the same subject jointly with the IAEA. The current event is the result of a proposal made at this previous seminar for a follow-up event to be held a few years later. During the current seminar the participating countries will conduct a review of measures to strengthen nuclear security which were implemented after the previous seminar. There will also be discussions and exchange of opinions regarding topics including areas that need to be addressed even further in the future.

After the conclusion of the seminar (scheduled for around 4:00 pm tomorrow, Friday January 22), at the banquet room "Sirius" of the Hotel New Otani there will be a briefing directed toward members of the media and also non-governmental organizations (NGOs), so if you are interested I encourage you to attend this briefing.

Related Infromation (Press Release)

Current Situation of Cooperation from Japan to Haiti

Mr. Sobashima: Second, is the current situation of the cooperation from Japan to Haiti. I think you are already aware that Japan offered emergency assistance, including assistance of US$5 million, going to the recipients through three channels. The first is through UNICEF, US$1.5 million, through the World Food Programme (WFP) US$3 million, and the rest through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Yesterday, the Minister of Defense decided to dispatch a medical team consisting of about 100 people. This team consisting of Self-Defense Forces personnel will leave Japan tonight, and travel to Haiti from Miami in C-130 aircraft.

After their arrival in Haiti they plan to engage in medical services, taking over from the existing medical team of the Japan Disaster Relief Team. We hope that those contributions from Japan would contribute to improve the situation there.

From myself these are two topics that I would like to introduce to you, and I am ready to take your comments or questions.

Questions concerning the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries

Q: I have two questions; the first is about the nuclear security seminar. I just wanted to see how, or whether, this seminar relates in any way to the April nuclear summit that is taking place in Washington. What is the relationship?

Mr. Sobashima: We hope that the conclusions will be considered and reflected in that meeting.

Related Infromation (Press Release)

Questions concerning a newspaper report in Australia of the discovery of remains of a sunken wartime Australian hospital ship

Q: My second question is unrelated to these two topics that you just mentioned, but it is about a media report that came out in Australia. My understanding is that a newspaper there said that the Australian military secretly warned the Prime Minister, that recently, apparently, there were some remains found off of Eastern Australia of a wartime Australian hospital ship that is said to have been sunk by Japan, and with regard to this issue the Australian military told the Prime Minister that he should not bring up this issue with Japan right now because there were concerns about fraying relations between the two countries. I was wondering what Japan's official view is on this ship sinking incident, and also if you might have any comments on this recent report?

Mr. Sobashima: Can you tell me when the ship was sunk?

Q: Apparently the ship was sunk in 1943, so this is during World War II. The newspaper report was saying that some remains from the ship were recently found, sometime in December, and the Australian military told Prime Minister Rudd not to comment on this issue, because the ties, which might be troubled already by whaling issues, could be further strained. So I just wanted to know what the Japanese view on this ship incident is, and also if you might know anything about this report.

Mr. Sobashima: I personally was not aware about this, but my general comment as a response to your question is that we are not in a position to comment on unconfirmed reports. Of course if the issue is brought about by the Australia Government then we would consider what to do as a response, but it seems to me to be premature for me to comment on that issue, although you kindly raised the question. There were many incidents of ships that were sunk, not only near Australia but in other parts, and some information is just a rumor, although there may also be real reports. If you are still interested I would like to check with the division concerned whether they have any official information, but if the information is only the news report or rumors, since you mentioned that the Australian Government is not willing to take up this issue, according to the report, with Japan, then it seems to me to be premature for me to comment.

Q: Would it be possible to get a confirmation on what Japan's status is with regard to this ship sinking incident later?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes.

Follow up questions concerning the Seminar on Strengthening Nuclear Security in Asian Countries

Q: With regard to the nuclear security seminar, of these 17 Asian countries, among them only China is a nuclear power, since India and Pakistan are not there, so what kind of result can you expect from this? In connection with that, this seminar is supposed to review measures to strengthen nuclear security; I understand that the Japanese Minister for Economy and Trade hosts similar seminars with Asian countries to give them advice on export control, for exports related to nuclear or weapons of mass destruction (WMD). What kind of measures is this seminar going to discuss? Are you expecting to announce some kind of statement at the end of this meeting?

Mr. Sobashima: I would advise you to go to the briefing by the people actually involved in this seminar, or get the information from the briefing by some means. The participating countries are indeed those countries listed. Without predicting what will transpire and develop during the seminars, I think it is better for you to check with those who participated who are going to brief the journalists. Indeed, there are many different aspects of the nuclear issue, including export control, and nuclear power generation, etc. Instead of directly responding to your question I will advise you to go to the briefing and ask the same questions to the briefer.

Q: What kind of issues were discussed, for example, in 2006?

Mr. Sobashima: I'm sorry I don’t have the details at hand now, so can I come back to you later? Thank you.

If you have no further questions, thank you very much for coming.

Related Infromation (Press Release)

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