Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 25 March 2010

Efforts toward nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
Release of the 2nd Term Report by the Japan-ROK Joint History Research Committee
VIP visits
Questions concerning efforts toward disarmament

Efforts toward nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Today I have two sets of topics and some information on visits. We have distributed a paper on the two topics.

The first one is the submission by the Governments of Japan and Australia of a "New Package of Practical Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation Measures for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)."

Two days ago, the Government of Japan and the Government of Australia submitted this package as a working paper for the NPT Conference which will be held in May.

This package was confirmed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, that is Japan and Australia, as a follow-up item in the Joint Statement by the two ministers released after their meeting on the occasion of Foreign Minister Okada's visit to Australia. The joint statement was entitled "Toward a World without Nuclear Weapons."

This package submitted two days ago, is the result of serious consideration made by both Governments while referring to the reports of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND). Following this submission Japan and Australia will have consultation with other partners and will make our utmost efforts so that this package will be embodied in the final document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

The Government of Japan will deepen discussion with other countries on practical measures that the international community should take now in order to realize the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons, including the reduction of the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies.

Japan will take this initiative in order to achieve positive agreement in each of the three pillars of the NPT - nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy - so that this package will be taken into serious consideration as an initial step towards this goal by the 2010 NPT Review Conference to be held in May.

For your information, the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issue was raised by Foreign Minister Okada a week ago vis-à-vis Mr. Bernard Kouchner, the visiting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of France. Also two days ago, last Tuesday, in Foreign Minister Okada's telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. This was about non-proliferation. And yesterday in Foreign Minister Okada's meeting with Mr. Kanat Saudabayev, Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Also, for your information, although this is not nuclear disarmament but disarmament, in order to celebrate the expected entry into force on 1 August of the convention banning cluster weapons, this Friday, 26 March, we will be having a gathering at Iikura House from 6:30 p.m., inviting ambassadors in Tokyo, members of the Diet, intellectuals, NGOs, and journalists. You are cordially invited to this event at Iikura House.

This is not on the nuclear disarmament issue but on disarmament, to celebrate the entry into force of the convention banning cluster weapons and promoting this treaty. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Koichi Takemasa will be hosting this event, and the Ambassador of Norway will be proposing a toast on this occasion.

Release of the 2nd Term Report by the Japan-ROK Joint History Research Committee

Mr. Sobashima: The second topic is the release of the 2nd Term Report by the Japan-ROK Joint History Research Committee.

Again last Tuesday, the report on the result of the 2nd term Japan-ROK Joint History Research was released following editing procedures upon the conclusion in November last year of the Joint Research that had been conducted over a period of about two and a half years since 2007. The report has been made available on the homepage of the Japan-Korea Cultural Foundation, which has served as the Secretariat of the Joint History Research Committee, and will also be circulated in libraries, through textbook publishing companies, and other media, but I am afraid the text will be available only in Japanese and Korean languages.

The launching of the 2nd term Japan-ROK Joint History Research Committee was agreed at the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting held in June 2005, following the report on the results of the 1st term Japan-ROK Joint History Research that was released in June 2005. Experts of Japan and the ROK have conducted research through period-specific working groups, namely ancient history, medieval and modern history, and modern and contemporary history. In addition, a new working group, "the textbook subgroup", was also established.

This Joint Research, we hope, will contribute to promote mutual understanding of accurate facts and recognition on the history of Japan-ROK relations. In particular it is believed that researchers were able to deepen understanding of their counterparts' way of thinking through academic research and discussions.

The Governments of Japan and the ROK have made the valuable results of this Joint Research widely public, expecting that it will play a significant role in further deepening mutual understanding between Japan and the ROK on their history.

VIP visits

Mr. Sobashima: Thirdly, on VIP visits, we received the Prime Minister of Tanzania, Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda, and H.E. Mama Tunu Pinda, yesterday, on 24 March, and they will be staying until the coming Saturday, 27 March. Prime Minister Hatoyama will be receiving the Tanzanian Prime Minister during his stay in Japan, and also of course Foreign Minister Okada, among other people in Japan, will have a meeting with the visiting Prime Minister.

Another VIP visit is a visit by the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. Michael Somare. He will be visiting from the coming Sunday, 28 March until 31 March. During his visit to Japan he is expected to meet Prime Minister Hatoyama, among other people.

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

Questions concerning efforts toward disarmament

Q: One subject is disarmament of nuclear weapons and the other subject is disarmament?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, we would like to promote disarmament generally. However this Japan-Australia joint initiative was made in connection with the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Conference. Therefore the package was limited to the nuclear field. But of course Japan would like to promote disarmament generally.

Q: Disarmament includes all weapons?

Mr. Sobashima: As for conventional weapons, particularly prohibition and restriction of inhumane weapons, such as cluster weapons.

Q: So it would cover conventional weapons and all kinds of weapons used for military purposes.

Mr. Sobashima: Of course, we would like to promote disarmament in general. But of course, in each independent country there is a need for defense, and we Japan possess the minimum level of conventional weapons for defense purposes. In the conventional weapons field, I understand generally the trend is to ban or restrict inhumane weapons which cause unnecessary injury, damage and pain. As far as the nuclear weapons are concerned, like President Obama envisioned a world without nuclear weapons, Japan would like to promote total nuclear disarmament. However, as for the conventional weapons I understand that the general trend is to first ban or restrict inhumane weapons.

Q: So it means it is for all purposes, including offensive or defensive. Even for defensive we cannot have certain weapons.

Mr. Sobashima: Please check the treaty itself for the exact definition, since I cannot give you a clear cut answer to your question now. The State Parties are required to observe the treaty, such as the banning or restricting in accordance with the treaty provisions.

Q: You mentioned that at this Friday's meeting there will be some ambassadors and media?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, they are invited to this cluster weapons convention gathering.

Q: It is a convention?

Mr. Sobashima: I don’t have the full title of the name of the convention, but the convention banning cluster weapons.

Q: With this joint package between Japan and Australia on the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, will this proposal only to be used for the NPT or will it be used in other occasions, such as through the G8 process or other international meetings or events?

Mr. Sobashima: We hope that this document will be useful in other occasions as well, but this was submitted to the secretariat of the United Nations as an input to the NPT conference. Therefore a primary purpose for us is to have this document reflected in the outcome of the NPT Conference. But because we promote the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, we hope that this document will be useful for the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation generally.

Q: With regard to nuclear, is Japan's policy to support nuclear energies?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, please have a look at Paragraph 14 – "Reaffirm the right of all States parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes" in accordance with the NPT treaty and IAEA safeguards.

Q: Are there other countries that are submitting these kinds of joint proposals?

Mr. Sobashima: Perhaps yes, there should be, but I am sorry I do not have specific information on that. Certainly we would like to explain to the other parties coming to this meeting, and we will seek a kind of co-sponsors who will be supporting this initiative.

Q: Dates have not yet been decided?

Mr. Sobashima: The conference will be held from 3 May to 28 May in New York.

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

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