Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 14 October 2010

Mining accident in Chile (Rescue of Miners)
Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) and Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety (MOP5)
Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the Parliamentary Election in the Kyrgyz Republic
The Japan-Jordan Summit Meeting and Dinner between the Foreign Minister of Japan and Prime Minister of Jordan
Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Admission of refugees through a pilot resettlement project
Visit to Japan by Indonesian Ministers
Other upcoming visits and meetings
Questions concerning Australian rare earth materials
Questions concerning Fiji's attendance at the High-level Interim Meeting to Follow-up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)
Questions concerning the nuclear power generation project in Jordan
Further questions concerning Fiji's attendance the High-level Interim Meeting to Follow-up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)
Questions concerning the concept of the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity

Mining accident in Chile (Rescue of Miners)

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

On October 13 local time -- Today, JST -- all 33 miners who had been trapped underground in the San Jose mining accident in the Republic of Chile were rescued. Upon the completion of the rescue, congratulatory messages to the effect that “We share your joy that the 33 trapped miners have been rescued,” were sent from Mr. Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, to Dr. Sebastian Pinera, President of the Republic of Chile, and from Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to Mr. Alfredo Moreno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Laurence Golborne, Minister of Mines of Chile.

Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) and Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety (MOP5)

Mr. Sobashima: Today I have several topics, we have already distributed some papers, and I have also an oral presentation of other topics.

The first is our biodiversity paper. On the first page we explain Japan's stance on how to deal with COP10 of the convention on biological diversity. I will read this. "Japan will lead COP10 into agreement for new actions to be taken by all stakeholders in the world, to ensure 'Living in Harmony with Nature' for the present and future generations around the world."

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the reason why I would like to explain this is because already the meetings have started in Nagoya. The first is the Meeting of the parties to the Protocol on Biosafety, which is also called the "Cartagena Protocol." It is ongoing this week. From next week, for two weeks we have COP10, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity itself. So that is why I would like to explain this.

The first paragraph says that "Japan will host the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Venue: Aichi-Nagoya) and lead the Parties to its successful outcomes such as:

(1) Adoption of the revised strategic plan in post-2010 period for biodiversity conservation and its sustainable utilization.
(2) Completion of the work on the international regime on the Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources (ABS).

To these ends, Japan is actively promoting the following:

(1) Consultation for convergence among the Parties, putting emphasis on "living in harmony with nature" in the revised strategic plan as well as agreement on the international regime on ABS: Japan has financed the recent ABS Working Group, and has been conducting consultation with and among the Parties.
(2) Promotion of assistance to developing countries for achieving the targets and implementing the agreements ("Satoyama Initiatives," etc.)
(3) Public awareness to encourage all stakeholders to take new actions within Japan and the United Nations (UN) system by proposing the "UN decade on biodiversity."

So we look forward to positive outcomes when these meetings are complete.

Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the Parliamentary Election in the Kyrgyz Republic

Mr. Sobashima: Then we have distributed the press releases.

The first is the statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the Parliamentary Election in the Kyrgyz Republic. Japan welcomes that the parliamentary election in the Kyrgyz Republic was peacefully and democratically conducted on October 10.

Concerning this election, international election observation missions including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released a positive evaluation stating that the election constituted the further consolidation of the democratic process and brought the country closer to meeting its international commitments for democratic elections. Similar reports were received from Japanese members of the observation mission dispatched to the OSCE/ODIHR as well as the Embassy of Japan in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Japan expects the swift formation of the new government to take place in the Kyrgyz Republic under the elected parliament, and for all political forces to join hands with a view to promoting the stability and development of the country based on the principles of democracy and constitutional order.

The Japan-Jordan Summit Meeting and Dinner between the Foreign Minister of Japan and Prime Minister of Jordan

Mr. Sobashima: Then we have the press release on the Japan-Jordan Summit Meeting and a dinner hosted by Minister Maehara for the visiting Prime Minister from Jordan.

In the bilateral meeting between Japan and Jordan, Prime Minister Rifai expressed his gratitude to Japan for its support to Jordan as well as the Middle East region, including assistance for peace in the Middle East. The items the two Prime Ministers discussed included such projects as the large-scale infrastructure projects, and also the Japan-Jordan Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and ODA. The Jordanian Prime Minister emphasized that he attached importance to the projects on nuclear power, water and railroads.

A similar discussion was conducted between Foreign Minister Maehara and the visiting Jordanian Prime Minister.

Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Mr. Sobashima: Next, I have an oral presentation of the meeting of the Japan-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Yesterday evening, for about 50 minutes, Foreign Minister Maehara received the visiting Australian Foreign Minister, the Honorable Kevin Rudd, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. The two Foreign Ministers expressed their satisfaction and appreciation for the successful outcomes of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New York on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation. Japan and Australia were co-hosts of this meeting. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to closely cooperate with each other on this issue of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Foreign Minister Maehara explained Japan's position on the Senkaku Islands, and he explained that on the margins of the recent ASEM, the Prime Ministers of Japan and China had a conversation and the two leaders agreed to promote a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. Then both agreed to make efforts to improve their bilateral relationship.

With respect to the economic relationship between the two countries, Foreign Minister Rudd pointed out that there had not been much progress on the negotiation of the FTA between the two countries, and Foreign Minister Maehara responded that the Government of Japan intends to formulate the overall policy for the FTAs or EPAs, and that in this context, he intends to consider the possibility of participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Minister Maehara also stated that Japan is interested in the high-speed railway projects in Australia, as well as Australia's mineral resources, including what is called "rare metals."

Foreign Minister Rudd referred to the case of whaling now considered in the International Court of Justice, and Foreign Minister Maehara responded that the whaling issue is the only problem between the two countries. However, the two Ministers agreed that this problem should not affect the overall cordial relationship between the two countries.

The two Ministers also agreed to advance cooperation in the security fields, including, the Japan-Australian Acquisition and Cross-serving agreement, which is called ACSA for short, signed in May.

They confirmed that it is also important to have a trilateral dialogue between Japan, Australia and the United States as the three countries share common values.

Finally, the two ministers agreed to cooperate with each other for the success of the Yokohama APEC, and also to consult with each other on various issues.

So this is what the two Foreign Ministers discussed yesterday evening.

Admission of refugees through a pilot resettlement project

Mr. Sobashima: Also, I have news on the arrival of refugees from Myanmar in Japan yesterday: two families, nine people, following the arrival of three families, 18 people, on September 28.

These people, five families and 27 people originally from Myanmar, were accepted in Japan through a pilot resettlement project. In accordance with a Cabinet decision, Japan accepted those people. We plan to receive around 30 people yearly for three years consecutively.

Visit to Japan by Indonesian Ministers

Mr. Sobashima: For information on visits, this evening we will have an economic dialogue at the ministerial level between Japan and Indonesia. From the Japanese side, Foreign Minister Maehara and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Ohata, and the Minister Of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Mr. Mabuchi, and the State Secretary for Health, Labor and Welfare Mr. Fujimura, among others, will be participating. From the Indonesian side, Ir. Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Mari Elka Pangetsu, Minister of Trade, Mr. Mohamad Hidayat, Minister of Industry, Dr. Darwin Zahedy Saleh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, among others, will be participating.

In the meeting, the promotion of investment from Japan in Indonesia, as well as the economic partnership between the two countries will be discussed. So this is about the visit of the Indonesian Ministers.

Other upcoming visits and meetings

Mr. Sobashima: We have the High-level Interim Meeting to Follow-up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5) on the 16th of this month in Ikura House.

As for the COP10 of the convention on Biological Diversity, I already mentioned that COP10 itself will be held from the 18th to the 29th in Nagoya, with the high-level segment for ministerial participation from the 27th to the 29th.

We have APEC ministerial meetings for food security in Niigata city on the 16th and 17th of this month.

The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will be visiting Japan from the 24th to the 26th.

As for the meetings to be held in Hanoi, the ASEAN-related summit meetings – of course, as this is a summit meeting Prime Minister Kan is expected, but there is no formal decision yet as to who will be participating in these ASEAN-related summit meetings, including EAS.

So this is what I would like to share with you at the outset, and I invite your questions.

Questions concerning Australian rare earth materials

Q: I was just wondering if you have any more information about the rare earth discussion between Minister Rudd and Minister Maehara. Was there any commitment to take next steps about where the relationship on rare earth might go between Australia and Japan?

Mr. Sobashima: No. We understand that there is no such conclusion. Another thing is that, although we will explain to the extent possible, the details of what we, our side, has stated, we would like to refrain from what the other side stated in detail. As far as we understand, we expressed our interest, and we hope that certainly, this interest was noted. But further than that, I do not have specific information to share with you.

Questions concerning Fiji's attendance at the High-level Interim Meeting to Follow-up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)

Q: About the Pacific Islands forum, I was just wondering if you could tell us who is actually coming from the Government of Fiji to the forum?

Mr. Sobashima: At this moment, I do not have that specific information, but can I come back to you bilaterally later?

Q: Yes, no problem, that is fine.

Questions concerning the nuclear power generation project in Jordan

Q: You said you have three large-scale infrastructure projects in Jordan. One of them is a nuclear power generation project. You are doing that with France or? What is the role of France inside?

Mr. Sobashima: I am sorry, I do not have that detailed information. I am sorry to dissatisfy you.

Of course, there may be the possibility of having international cooperation in terms of the possible supply of equipment or technology, but what we consider first is Japanese technology and Japanese companies. Therefore, without referring to the details on what sort of combination may be possible, I would like to point out that what the Japanese side is wishing is that, in Jordan, Japanese technology and equipment are appreciated, and as a result in the nuclear power plant projects Japanese companies or Japanese equipment and technology will be adopted and used.

As for your question, what is the role of France, or the possibility of joint cooperation between Japan and France, I am sorry I do not have the information. In any event, I think the three areas of projects -- nuclear power generation, water and railroads -- were indicated by the Jordanian Prime Minister. And Prime Minister Kan expressed a willingness to cooperate in these fields. But as far as I understand it, this is a general discussion of intentions or expression of interest. We are waiting. We are expecting specific follow-up actions as a result of the consideration of these general discussions. But as for the specification of what sort of form of cooperation will occur in these areas, what the specific project will be formed, I would like to refrain from further going into that, although we have expectations.

The short answer to your question is "I don't know."

Q: Regarding the nuclear project, people are saying that your country is only financing the project, not doing the technical aspects. They say France will provide the technology. This is my question.

Mr. Sobashima: That is not necessarily true. What we would like to offer is -- of course, we may offer financing; however, what we would like to offer is Japanese technology, Japanese equipment, Japanese companies. Of course, there may be the possibility of Japanese financing as well. We are now considering actively promoting the overseas deployment of Japanese infrastructure, technology and equipment. Therefore, to your second question, it is not only financing, but also technology and equipment that we would like to offer.

Q: There is not any pressure from Israel to not give technology from Japan?

Mr. Sobashima: I may have to go back to the agreement, the agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This is for peaceful use of nuclear energy. We envisage, we have the condition or understanding that the parties to the NPT, those non-nuclear weapon states, have the obligation for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The other thing is that the parties to the NPT have the obligation to safeguard nuclear technology with IAEA. So the parties are ready for inspection by IAEA to ensure that actually nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, or that facilities are used for peaceful purposes. Therefore, there should be safeguards for non-proliferation. We would like to exclude the possibility, of course, of the technology used for military purposes.

Further questions concerning Fiji's attendance the High-level Interim Meeting to Follow-up the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)

Q: On Fiji again, and I appreciate you might also want to take this one on notice as well. The Prime Minister of Fiji, Voreqe Bainimarama, is a person who seized power in a military coup, and he is prevented from traveling to Australia, and I think in 2009 he was also prevented from traveling to Hokkaido for a meeting in this series of PALM5 meetings. I am just wanting to know whether he will be making his way out to Japan on Saturday or whether Japan has taken the same approach as 2009 and prevented him from traveling because of the democratic illegitimacy of his Government?

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you very much for explaining the background of your question. Yes, we will certainly check, but as I explained, I do not have the information at hand. I will come back to you. If there is a sort of request for consideration, certainly we will consider what to do. However, including that, I need to check with the division responsible.

Questions concerning the concept of the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity

Q: Can you give some explanation regarding the Japanese concept regarding the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity in the Middle East please?

Mr. Sobashima: Thank you. The Corridor for Peace and Prosperity is a concept that we developed for the purpose of the stability of the region. To achieve sustainable peace in the Middle East, the support to the region to enjoy the peace dividend is important. From this perspective, Japan offers assistance.

If you don’t have further questions, thank you very much for coming.

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