Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 18 February 2010

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 18 February 2010

  1. Invitation program for young diplomats from the Middle East region
  2. Briefing on visits and meetings
  3. Question concerning Foreign Minister Okada's visit to Australia

  1. Invitation program for young diplomats from the Middle East region

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

    Today I have two or three sets of topics that I would like to explain to you, and later we intend to change the format from the press conference to a briefing about one particular issue.

    The first topic is about the program for young diplomats from the Middle East region. This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited diplomats from Israel, Turkey, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority to Japan to participate in the program, in total four diplomats from the Middle East. This invitation program is intended to contribute to the mutual understanding of the countries in the region, and to enhance friendly relations among them. Also we intend that they deepen the understanding about the diplomatic policy, economy, and culture of Japan, thus to promote the further enhancement of the relationship between Japan and the Middle East region.

    During their stay in Japan from 18 February, today, until 24 February, next week, they will pay courtesy calls on the senior officials of the Ministry, and they will exchange views with the university students and young researchers, and they will visit Kyoto and Hiroshima so that they will be able to experience the Japanese culture. In Hiroshima they are scheduled to visit the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr. Akiba.

    Japan started this invitation program in 1996, and this is the 13th round of the invitation. Up to now more than 60 young diplomats from the Middle East region have participated.

    Related Information (Middle East)

  2. Briefing on visits and meetings

    3. Mr. Sobashima: The second topic is a briefing on visits, just to recap on what has happened and what will be happening.

    Prime Minister of Estonia Mr. Andrus Ansip visited Japan until 17 February, yesterday, from the 13 February, and during his stay he met Prime Minister Hatoyama.

    Mr. Volker Kauder, Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany visited Japan and met the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister among other officials in Japan.

    Then the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Amollo Odinga, is now in Japan, from 16 February until 20 February, and he is expected to meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, among other officials.

    Regarding meetings, as you know, this year Japan will be hosting APEC meetings, and we have launched the website and decided on the official logo. We are having a series of meetings up to the Summit Meeting in November.

    Next week we will have a senior officials' meeting in Hiroshima. We have already distributed the press release for this to you. There will also be a series of ministerial meetings, culminating in the Summit Meeting at the end.

    Coming back to the visits, Foreign Minister Okada will visit Australia this weekend. He will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Australia, and he will have a meeting with the Foreign Minister and Defense Minister in Australia.

    I am ready to take a couple of questions about the Foreign Minister's visit to Australia, but we would like to have a background briefing session immediately after the conclusion of this press conference. 

    These are the topics I would like to share today. Now I would like to invite your questions.

  3. Question concerning Foreign Minister Okada's visit to Australia

    4. Q: Obviously the minister will be discussing issues like climate change and nuclear disarmament as part of his trip to Australia, but obviously the other issue that he will be discussing, we understand, is whaling – one that Japan and Australia have had some trouble over. How confident is the minister that there can be some sort of breakthrough or compromise on the whaling issue during this trip?

    Mr. Sobashima: Thank you for the question. I refrain from adding to what the minister actually said in his press conference a couple of days ago. He said that he intends to visit Australia on the coming weekend, Saturday, 20 February, and Sunday, 21 February. He intends to discuss with the Australian senior officials bilateral issues, and also regional and global issues such as climate change, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. And he intends to further develop strategic partnership between the two countries. He envisaged that he would be discussing the whaling issue among other topics. This is what he said, and I would like to refrain from adding to what he actually said, but we are ready to give a background briefing after this press conference is over.

    Any other questions please? It looks like you are more interested in the Foreign Minister's visit to Australia. If there are no other questions I would like to conclude the press conference. Thank you very much.

    Related Information (Japan-Australia Relations)

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