Top > Announcement > Press Conference by the Press Secretary of MOFA > 12 May 2011

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 12 May 2011

  1. Present situation after the Great East Japan Earthquake
  2. Visit to Egypt by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Tokunaga
  3. The Second Contact Group Meeting on Libya
  4. Statement by Foreign Minister Matsumoto on Japan's response to Syria
  5. Scheduled Events
  6. Questions concerning the situation in Libya

  1. Present situation after the Great East Japan Earthquake

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

    Mr. Sobashima: First, on the situation after the Great East Japan Earthquake. We have distributed several papers. I will skip the first one -- that is an overview. The second one is about the Press Conference by Prime Minister Kan on 10 May, on the eve of the day marking two months from the Great East Japan Earthquake. In the Press Conference the Prime Minister announced that the Government is preparing to establish an investigation committee on the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and in this regard he explained that "independence", "openness" and "comprehensiveness" are the main principles. The first principle, "independence", means independence from the existing nuclear energy administration. "Those who can make independent judgments, not those who have been involved in the administration, will become the core of the committee", he said. The second principle is "openness". That is that the Government will openly provide the information to the public and to the international community. The third principle is "comprehensiveness". That is that the investigation will be made of not only the technical aspects but also of the systems and institutions, among others. As for the energy policy, he mentioned that so far nuclear energy and fossil fuels are the two major pillars of electricity generation, and in view of the accidents at the nuclear power station, he said that he would add two additional pillars. The first additional pillar is renewable energy, such as solar and wind power as well as biomass, to be one of the core energy resources. The second additional pillar, that is the fourth pillar, is energy saving. Energy saving should be one of the main pillars of the energy policy of Japan. That is the gist of his remarks made on the eve of the two months after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

    Yesterday, that is exactly two months from the Great East Japan Earthquake, Foreign Minister Matsumoto hosted a Thank-You Gathering, inviting members of the diplomatic corps and international institutions stationed in Tokyo, and those who have been working on assistance activities for the affected areas, including NGOs and civil society organizations. This Thank-You Gathering was not only an occasion for expressing our gratitude for those who were invited, but also a part of our efforts to promote business and tourism in the disaster-stricken areas. Local agricultural products, saké, and Japanese wines, were sold, and tourism promotion activities were conducted on the spot, in Iikura House. On this occasion, hosted by Foreign Minister Matsumoto, as you may already be aware, Prime Minister Kan joined, and made remarks. The purposes were both to thank the international community for the support and sympathy extended to Japan, and to provide correct information.

    In this regard we have distributed the text of Foreign Minister Matsumoto's contribution to the International Herald Tribune issued on the weekend of 30 April and 1 May, with the title "Japan Is Open for Business". In the third paragraph he said that "We promise all of you that Japan will reshape itself into a more dynamic country, harnessing the support and solidarity offered to us from all over the world. Japan is and will remain open for business and travel. International organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the World Health Organization have been making objective assessments, and state that excessive travel restriction measures are unnecessary, vis-à-vis Japan."

    "Regarding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, a Roadmap was released by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), and we expect to move from the 'emergency response phase' to the 'planned and stabilizing action phase.'

    The Government has been constantly monitoring the air, water and food. Most of the radioactive materials were released in the first several days of the accident, and radiation levels in the air have been gradually declining since.

    In Tokyo, for instance, the level of radiation has never reached a point at which it would affect human health. It has been declining steadily, and has reached the level at which it was measured before the accident.

    As for food products, measures have been taken to prevent domestic distribution of those products that have a higher radiation level than the standard set in accordance with the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

    Naturally, such products will not be exported. Radiation levels that exceed the authorized threshold have thus far been found only in limited kinds of agricultural and fishery products in limited areas. When necessary, certification is issued to declare that a product does not originate in the affected region.

    Industrial products are manufactured in factories outside of the no-entry zone, and remain under strict quality control. It is therefore unlikely that those products will be affected by radioactive materials, and their safety is ensured. Data on the radiation levels in ports and airports are published regularly. In addition, a guideline on radiation measurements for export containers and ships was published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Attestation of measurement results started at the Yokohama port on April 28."

    He concluded his contribution to the International Herald Tribune by saying that "If you are thinking of supporting us in our path towards the recovery, the most effective way would be to visit Japan and buy our excellent products, just as before. I call on all of you to be more engaged in the exchange with Japan." So this is the message from Foreign Minister Matsumoto contributed to the International Herald Tribune, and a gist of his ideas was expressed by the Minister himself on the occasion of the Thank-You Gathering held yesterday evening.

    Also I would like to inform you that we have made a 30 second film on Japan's reconstruction from the disaster for showing in Cannes. As you know, from yesterday, 11 May, until 22 May, they have the Cannes Film Festival in France, so we will be showing the 30 second film on the large screen in the venue of the festival. Our main theme is to show the visitors there who come to the festival, rediscovery of advancing Japan and further developing Japan. This is the theme that we would like to show to the world through Cannes. And of course we thank the international community for their sympathy and support.

    Finally, I would like to announce that a disaster relief team has just arrived from Sri Lanka today, consisting of 15 officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management of Sri Lanka. This team is going to engage in debris clearance operations in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture for about two weeks from 13 May, in cooperation with the NGO 'Peace Boat'. The Government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has already offered a donation of 1 million US dollars (approximately 80 million yen) and 3 million tea bags. The Government of Japan reiterates its deep appreciation for the cooperation by the Government of Sri Lanka. So these are about the current situation after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

  2. Visit to Egypt by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Tokunaga

    3. Mr. Sobashima: The next major topic is the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. I have three items that I would like to share with you. The first item is the visit of Parliamentary Vice-Minister Tokunaga to Egypt from 8 May to 9 May. During his stay in Egypt he met Mr. Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, and also he met the representatives of the seven groups of political parties and civil society organizations. He expressed the appreciation to Egypt and the people of Egypt for their sympathy and support extended to Japan after the earthquake. Also, he requested a calm response and to refrain from excessive measures, for example excessive importation restriction measures for Japanese products, as the Government of Japan continues to provide information through the foreign embassies in Tokyo and also the foreign media, by regular briefings. The first is about Egypt.

  3. The Second Contact Group Meeting on Libya

    4. Mr. Sobashima: The second is on Libya. We have distributed a text of the Chairs Conclusions of the Second Contact Group Meeting on Libya. The second meeting of the Contact Group on Libya was held in Rome on 5 May and was co-chaired by Italy and the State of Qatar, with the participation of 22 countries, including Japan, and representatives from the United Nations, the Arab League, NATO, the European Union, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss developments in and prospects for the situation in Libya. The African Union attended as an invitee. Observers included representatives from six countries and from OCHA and the World Bank. For your information the first meeting of the Contact Group was held in the State of Qatar on 13 April.

    I would like to highlight a couple of parts of the Chairs Conclusions, prepared with the responsibility of the Chairs, that reflect the views expressed in the meeting. The third paragraph said that "We will intensify the pressure on the (Libyan) regime politically, militarily and economically until they fulfill in full the conditions set out in UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973."

    If you look at paragraph 15 on the third page, it says that, "They (the participants in the Contact Group) welcomed the prompt establishment of the Temporary Financial Mechanism (TFM) suggested in the Chairs' Conclusions of the Doha meeting," that is the first meeting. Also on the fourth line from the bottom, "The Contact Group also welcomed the decision to establish the Libyan Information Exchange Mechanism (LIEM), which can be used to help identify and co-ordinate INC (Interim National Council) in-kind requirements and potential contributors, and the INC's recent statement committing to the transparent use of oil revenues for the betterment of the Libyan people."

    These are the main points of the Chairs' Conclusion, I believe, and Japan has been actively engaged in the discussions on Libya.

  4. Statement by Foreign Minister Matsumoto on Japan's response to Syria

    5. Mr. Sobashima: Finally, the statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Japan's response to Syria. I will read this.

    "Japan and the rest of the international community have strongly condemned the use of force by the security authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic against protestors, resulting in a large number of casualties among civilians, and have been requesting the Syrian authorities to immediately stop acts of violence against civilians. We extremely deplore that the Syrian Government has not earnestly responded to these calls, and many people are still being killed or injured by violence on the part of the Syrian authorities.

    In light of such situation, from the standpoint of strongly urging the Government of Syrian Arab Republic to immediately stop acts of violence against civilians and promptly implement political and economic reforms requested by people in order to restore stability to the nation, Japan has in coordination with the international community, decided to review its economic assistance to Syria. Specifically, Japan will withhold the implementation of new official development aid except for assistance of an emergency or humanitarian nature."

    These are the topics I would like to share with you.

  5. Scheduled Events

    6. Mr. Sobashima: As for scheduled events, we will have the Japan-China-Republic of Korea Trilateral Summit on the weekend of next week, followed by the G8 Summit in France. This is the information I would like to share with you. Now, I invite your questions.

  6. Questions concerning the situation in Libya

    7. Q: About the Libyan situation, with regard to other countries, it is the only country where the United Nations, NATO and the United States has taken tactical actions, compared to other Middle Eastern countries. How long will it take and what is the goal of the NATO and American policies? It looks like a civil war that started in the country, which takes unlimited time to...

    Mr. Sobashima: Foreign Minister Matsumoto issued his statements on the situation of Libya on various occasions. For example, on 18 March he said that despite the UN Security Council Resolution 1970, the Libyan authorities continued violence against its people. He deplored that there are many victims of violence by the authorities concerned. He urged the Libyan authorities to immediately stop the violence. He requested that the Libyan authorities implement the UN Security Council Resolution.

    On 20 March, when the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1973, that would allow military operations, then, Foreign Minister Matsumoto stated that the Government of Japan supports this UN Security Council Resolution – Resolution 1973 – because we believe that it will contribute to urging the Libyan authorities to stop the violence. At the same time, he stated that in order to achieve the cessation of armed conflict in Libya, all kinds of diplomatic efforts should be made. And in this regard he expected the efforts being made by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, and also the African Union, will bear fruit. He attached importance to the role to be played by the Arab League, for the purpose of the peace and stability of the region. So our position is consistent, that we urge the Libyan authorities to cease violence immediately.

    However, Japan is not participating in the military operations per se. While the military operations are basically conducted by NATO members, we support the actions taken that will help progress towards the cessation of violence.

    Q: If the same kind of activity continues in Syria, is there any possibility that the United Nations, NATO, or other countries will take similar action to the action taken in Libya?

    Mr. Sobashima: I would like to refrain from predicting what further actions will be taken by the members of the international community, but as explained in the Foreign Minister's statement, we not only condemn and request the cessation of violence, but we also decided to stop in principle, new ODA to Syria. This is the measure we have taken. We understand that some sorts of actions were taken by the United States and the European Union already
    . I would like to refrain from predicting what additional measures may be taken, but already, some countries are making sanctions.

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

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