Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 20 January 2011

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 20 January 2011

  1. Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine
  2. Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Tunisia
  3. Statement by the Press Secretary on the Holding of the Southern Sudan Referendum
  4. The Expansion of Training Relocation of the U.S. Forces
  5. Diplomatic Visits

  1. Visit to Japan by H.E. Mr. Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine

    2. Mr. Sobashima: First, on the visit of the President of Ukraine to Japan. His Excellency Mr. Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, is in Japan from 18 January until tomorrow, 21 January. On 18 January, Prime Minister Kan had a summit meeting and dinner with the President, who is on an official working visit.

    The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations with a focus on strengthening economic ties, as well as on cooperation on global issues, and international affairs.

    After the meeting, the two leaders signed the Joint Statement on Japan-Ukraine Global Partnership. In the presence of both leaders, a bank loan agreement was also signed between the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Joint Stock Company State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine.

    Earlier on that day, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Seiji Maehara held a Japan-Ukraine foreign ministers' meeting with Mr. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, who is accompanying President of Ukraine.

    I now will explain the Joint Statement on Japan-Ukraine Global Partnership, which we have distributed.

    In the first paragraph, the two leaders refer to the bilateral cooperation in the economic sphere. A Ukraine business mission accompanies President Yanukovych, and its meeting with Nippon Keidanren was held. A Nippon Keidanren mission is to visit Kyiv in March this year to hold the 3rd Joint Meeting.

    In the second paragraph, it refers to the bank loan I already mentioned: the bank loan amounting up to 8 billion Japanese yen, to be extended by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the international arm of the Japan Finance Corporation, to the Joint Stock Company State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine, with a view to promoting exports of goods and services from Japan and contributing to the economic development of Ukraine.

    Paragraph three is about the WTO.

    In paragraph four, the two leaders decided to launch in 2011, that is this year, negotiations with a view to concluding a bilateral treaty aimed at mutual promotion and protection of investments. In this regard, Prime Minister Kan offered to send a Japanese investment expert to support the efforts of Ukraine.

    Paragraph five is about ODA.

    In paragraph six, the two leaders affirmed the importance of promoting agriculture and sharing knowledge and technology in the agricultural sector.

    Paragraphs seven and eight are on climate change.

    Paragraph nine is about science and technology.

    Paragraph 10 is about democracy.

    In paragraph 11, it is said that the two leaders decided to hold a third meeting of the Japan-Ukraine Cooperation Committee at the Foreign Ministers' level at the earliest mutually convenient timing in 2011, that is this year, and the second meeting of the Japan-Ukraine Commission for Science and Technology Cooperation in Tokyo, also this year.

    Paragraph 12 refers to the Ukraine-Japan Centre, this is a JICA project.

    Paragraphs 13 and 14 are on cooperation in the aftermath of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident.

    Paragraph 15 is about football.

    In paragraph 16, on the occasion of celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two leaders expressed willingness to hold the Month of Japan in Ukraine and the Month of Ukraine in Japan reciprocally next year, in 2012.

    Paragraph 17 is about aviation.

    Paragraph 18 is on visas.

    Paragraphs 19 and 20 are on nuclear arsenals.

    In paragraph 21, President Yanukovych fully reaffirmed Ukraine's support for Japan's aspiration for the permanent membership in the Security Council of the United Nations, and expressed hope for Japan's consistent support of Ukraine's stance that the Security Council reform must ensure broadened representation of the Group of Eastern European States.

    Paragraph 22 is about the regional mechanism for promoting democracy and economic development.

    Paragraph 23 is on MDGs.

    Paragraph 24 is on terrorism and financing.

    Paragraph 25 is on North Korea and the Korean Peninsula. With regard to the development of a nuclear program by North Korea, the two leaders stressed the necessity of achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated the importance of the steady implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 by all the UN member states. Furthermore, they reaffirmed that it is necessary for North Korea to address the humanitarian concerns of the international community in accordance with relevant resolutions adopted at the UN General Assembly in December 2010 and the UN Human Rights Council in March 2010.

    Finally, in the last paragraph, President Yanukovych invited Prime Minister Kan to pay an official visit to Ukraine in the near future. Prime Minister Kan received the invitation with profound gratitude.

    This is about the visit of the Ukraine President to Japan.

  2. Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Tunisia

    3. Mr. Sobashima: The next topic is the statement by the Press Secretary on the situation in Tunisia, as follows:

    On 17 January, that is three days ago, an announcement was made in Tunisia on the formation of a new cabinet that includes the three leaders of the opposition parties, and also for the freedom of the media and the holding of fair elections, among others. The Government of Japan considers the reference to these political reforms to be of great importance.

    Japan strongly expects that the presidential election, which, according to the Constitution of Tunisia, is to be held in the near future, will be conducted freely, fairly and under peaceful circumstances.

    Japan condemns the violence that is currently continuing to occur in Tunisia and has strong expectations that all the parties concerned will make the greatest possible efforts towards the restoration of public order.

  3. Statement by the Press Secretary on the Holding of the Southern Sudan Referendum

    4. Mr. Sobashima: Also the Press Secretary's statement on the Southern Sudan Referendum: Over the period from 9-15 January, the historic Southern Sudan referendum was held as a final stage in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan. During this referendum, observation missions from a number of countries including Japan and from a variety of international organizations were deployed in various parts of Southern Sudan. Japan expresses its congratulations on the fact that the referendum was conducted as scheduled under largely peaceful circumstances without any major disruptions.

    Japan expects that the series of processes that includes the counting and tabulating of votes, announcing the results, which began on 15 January, will be carried out smoothly and under peaceful circumstances.

    With a view to consolidating peace in Sudan, it is essential that the parties involved in both North and South Sudan accept the results, regardless of the outcome, and that they continuously cooperate with each other as partners. For its part, Japan will continue to actively provide cooperation to this end.

  4. The Expansion of Training Relocation of the U.S. Forces

    5. Mr. Sobashima: Next is about the expansion of training relocation of the U.S. Forces. In the 2+2 Joint Statement announced on 28 May last year, there was a section on training relocation. It said that the two sides, Japan and the United States, committed to expand the relocation of the U.S. Forces activities to include both bilateral and unilateral training, outside of Okinawa ... Both sides also committed to examine the relocation of training outside of Japan, such as to Guam.

    In accordance with this Joint Statement, there were consultations underway, and today, in the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee, an agreement was made about the expansion of the training relocation of the U.S. Forces.

    Basically this agreement is on the expansion of training relocation to the territory under the administration of the United States of America, including Guam. So this is an agreement between Japan and the United States about the expansion of the training relocation of the U.S. Forces to cover, as the destination, the territory under the administration of the United States of America.

  5. Diplomatic Visits

    6. Mr. Sobashima: As for visits, His Excellency Mr. Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, will be visiting Japan from 22-26 January. And His Excellency Mr. Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, will be visiting Japan from 8-10 February. From Japan, Mr. Yutaka Banno, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, is visiting Europe from 18-22 January. He is visiting the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. This is the information I would like to share.

    Thank you very much.

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