Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 4 March 2010

Co-Chairs summary of the Eighth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change
Japanese cooperation to Chile for the earthquake disaster
Statement by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Chinami Nishimura at the Human Rights Council
VIP visits
Questions regarding the meeting between Japanese government officials and U.S. Ambassador John Roos
Questions regarding the meeting between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Vice Minister Motoji Yabunaka
Questions regarding Bluefin Tuna

Co-Chairs summary of the Eighth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change

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

First I would like to talk about the issuance of the Co-Chairs Summary of the Eighth Informal Meeting on Further Actions against Climate Change. We had the informal meeting on 1 and 2 March and it is already two days old, so I will not explain in detail. I just distributed the paper. We hope this meeting will provide some contribution to the forthcoming COP16.

Japanese cooperation to Chile for the earthquake disaster

Mr. Sobashima: Second, I will do an oral report of the present situation of Japanese cooperation to the Republic of Chile in the wake of the great earthquake. We announced financial cooperation and we dispatched some people as a part of the medical team. However, because the Chilean Government stated that there was currently no need for foreign teams, we stopped dispatching the rest of the team, so there are only four people on the way. Originally, they were a part of a medical team of the Japan Disaster Relief Team. The four people are now in Santiago and today they will start consultations with the Chilean Government to identify the needs and what the Japanese Government will be able to do in the future, of course upon the request of the Chilean Government. In this connection, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that our Prime Minister yesterday made a phone conversation with the President of the Republic of Chile. The Prime Minister once again expressed his condolences and sympathy to the victims of the earthquake and also explained Japan's cooperation. The Chilean President appreciated the offer of cooperation.

Just for your information, as for Japanese residents who have registered with the Japanese Embassy in Santiago, we have confirmed that all 33 Japanese residents in the city of Concepzeon are safe.

Statement by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Chinami Nishimura at the Human Rights Council

Mr. Sobashima: Thirdly, I will talk about the visit of Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nishimura. She is now in Geneva and yesterday she delivered a statement at the 13th Session of the Human Rights Council. Today she is expected to deliver a statement at the Conference on Disarmament before going to New York, where she is expected to attend the 54th Commission on the Status of Women commemorating Beijing + 15. I have distributed the statement by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Nishimura which she delivered at the Human Rights Council. For your information, there were exchanges of right of reply between North Korea and Japan. Japan requested the North Korea to honor their commitment about the solution of the abduction issue. The Japanese side denied groundless allegations made by North Korea.

So these are the three topics I would like to explain to you today.

Statement by Ms. Chinami Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan High-level Segment of the Human Rights Council at Its Thirteenth Session
Related Information (Human Rights)

VIP visits

Mr. Sobashima: As for information of visits, the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is in town as an official guest. And I already explained that the President of Romania will be coming to Japan from the 9 to 11 March. I announced this last week.

Some new information is that the Prime Minister of Denmark will be coming also from 7 to 10 March on a working visit. These are the VIP visits to Japan.

Already Foreign Minister Okada himself announced that he will be visiting Hokkaido this weekend. On Saturday he will be having a meeting with residents in Sapporo, a kind of "town meeting," and he will explain the Japanese foreign policy and there will be time for exchanges with the residents. He will take questions and he will answer them. He will meet the Governor of Hokkaido, and on Sunday he is scheduled to visit Nemuro city where he will have a meeting with former residents of the Northern Territories.

These are what I would like to present to you and now I invite your questions.

Questions regarding the meeting between Japanese government officials and U.S. Ambassador John Roos

Q: Can you tell us anything about the meeting that took place on Tuesday between Japanese government officials and Ambassador Roos from the United States on Okinawa?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, I read a report, but I am sorry, I do not have information that I can share.

Q: I understand the meeting took place with Chief Cabinet Secretary and also the Defense Minister, but is the Foreign Minister planning a meeting with the Ambassador as well?

Mr. Sobashima: Sorry, I am not in a position to confirm. I cannot give you any information, I am sorry for that.

Questions regarding the meeting between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Vice Minister Motoji Yabunaka

Q: US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg is going to be in Japan from today and he is going to meet with Mr. Yabunaka tomorrow. What would be the main topic between the two; would it be Iran and the Japan-US alliance?

Mr. Sobashima: We presume they will discuss issues of mutual interest. It is up to them to decide what to discuss.

Q: Possibly Iran?

Mr. Sobashima: I would like to refrain from prejudicing.

Questions regarding Bluefin Tuna

Q: Also on a different topic, this month there is going to be a meeting on the bluefin tuna, whether it is going to be placed on the endangered species list. Is the Foreign Ministry taking any sort of action regarding this issue? Is the Foreign Ministry planning to travel abroad to discuss this issue with participating nations?

Mr. Sobashima: I am not in a position to say whether our officials will visit some country or not, but certainly we will try to explain our position to the countries concerned. Of course, our basic position is that we should consider the issue based on accurate scientific data. We also propose the sustainable use of marine resources. We would like to explain our position to the concerned countries and we will try our best so that our position will be understood.

Q: I know that the Agriculture Ministry is sending officials to various meetings. Is there a coordinated effort with the Foreign Ministry as well?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, of course. There will be coordinated efforts between the Fisheries Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Q: What would be the role of the Foreign Ministry?

Mr. Sobashima: We will coordinate with the Fisheries Agency to explain the Japanese position to the countries concerned.

If there are no further questions I would like to conclude this press conference. Thank you very much for coming.

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