Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 26 May 2011

Japan's position on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
Minister Matsumoto's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia
Messages of sympathy from Prime Minister Kan and Foreign Minister Matsumoto to the victims of the tornado in Missouri，U.S.A.
Emergency Assistance for the Flood Disaster in the Republic of Namibia
Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the IAEA team
Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Korean Ambassador
Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Meetings between Prime Minister Kan and foreign leaders in France
Address by Prime Minister Kan at the OECD
G8 Summit Agenda
Questions concerning the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Japan's position on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Deputy Press Secretary Hidenobu Sobashima: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Today I have several topics to share with you before inviting your questions.

First I would like to explain Japan's position on the so-called Hague Convention. We have distributed a paper entitled "Preparations for concluding the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction". This is a provisional translation of the text of the Cabinet Approval done last Friday, 20 May.

I will read this. "The decision has been made to proceed with preparations for concluding the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (hereinafter, 'Convention'), in the recognition of the need to protect the best interest of children affected by breakups of international marriages that are increasing in number in recent years.

For this purpose, legislation necessary for the implementation of the Convention shall be drafted, and relevant Ministries and Agencies shall provide their cooperation as needed.

In drafting the legislation, due attention shall be paid to the understanding of the Meeting of Relevant Ministers as attached".

There you have the attachment. This is also a provisional translation. The attachment is entitled "Understanding of the Meeting of Relevant Ministers regarding drafting legislation to implement the Convention". This is dated 19 May, the previous day, the eve of the Cabinet Approval.

"1. The Central Authority shall be established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. The Central Authority shall perform the following functions in response to applications for assistance for the return of a child:
(1) Discovering the whereabouts of the child,
(2) Taking necessary measures for preventing abuse and other harm to the child,
(3) Providing advice for the voluntary return of the child or for resolution of the issues between the parties concerned, and
(4) Providing necessary information on Japanese legal system, including its judicial procedures.

3. When deemed necessary, the Central Authority for the performance of the functions in item 2 above may require the heads of relevant Ministries and Agencies to provide materials, information, and other forms of cooperation.

4. The Central Authority shall undertake necessary measures in response to applications for assistance for access to a child.

5. Provisions pertaining to the return of a child shall, based on provisions of the Convention, apply solely to cases that arise after the Convention has entered into force for Japan".

Next we have "Procedures Pertaining to Orders for the Return of a Child". Court procedures should be established. As for the grounds for refusal to return a child, we have examined possible grounds for refusal to return a child in accordance with the Hague Convention and reached our own conclusion. The first is "Acts of violence, etc. against the child". The second "Acts of violence, etc. against the spouse/partner". The third is "Inability of the spouse/partner to return with the child to the country of habitual residence, etc.". For all other cases we put the following under the heading "Blanket clause".

"In all other cases where there is a grave risk that the return of the child to the country of habitual residence would expose the child to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation".

In these situations we consider there may be grounds for refusal to return a child, but otherwise, the principle is to return the child to the place of habitual residence. Based on this understanding, the Government will make preparations. After the consideration and consultation among the Ministries and Agencies concerned, we will submit the draft law to the Diet. So this is the process we have established.

Finally a decision was made last week, that the Government would make preparations to conclude the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. So this is the first item I would like to share with you.

Minister Matsumoto's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia

Mr. Sobashima: Second, we have distributed some papers – the press release on the meeting between Minister Matsumoto and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia.

Last Monday, May 23, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Mouldi Kefi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia had a meeting with Foreign Minister Matsumoto. Minister Matsumoto expressed his gratitude to Tunisia for its sympathy and assistance after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Foreign Minister Matsumoto expressed Japan's intention to support Tunisia's steady political transition and reform efforts. The Tunisian Foreign Minister was the first VIP to visit Japan after the so-called Jasmine Revolution in the region.

Messages of sympathy from Prime Minister Kan and Foreign Minister Matsumoto to the victims of the tornado in Missouri，U.S.A.

Next we have distributed a paper of the messages of sympathy from Prime Minister Kan and Foreign Minister Matsumoto to the victims of the tornado in Missouri in the United States.

In the wake of the tornado that hit Missouri on Sunday, 22 May, causing many casualties in the area, Prime Minister Naoto Kan sent a message of sympathy to President Barack Obama and Foreign Minister Matsumoto to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 24 May. In those messages they expressed their feelings of condolence and sympathy, and also conveyed that Japan is prepared to provide necessary assistance.

Emergency Assistance for the Flood Disaster in the Republic of Namibia

Next we have distributed a paper entitled "Emergency Assistance for the Flood Disaster in the Republic of Namibia".

On Tuesday, May 24, the Government of Japan decided to provide emergency relief goods consisting of blankets and plastic sheets, among others, worth 12 million yen to the Government of the Republic of Namibia in response to disastrous floods in the country. Mr. Chiaki Takahashi, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, offered this assistance to Mr. Mauritz Lucky Gawanab, Chargé d' Affaires of the Republic of Namibia to Japan, in the Ministry.

Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Next I will make an oral presentation of what happened recently. Yesterday Foreign Minister Matsumoto had a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Hoang Trung Hai, who was attending the meeting hosted by the Nikkei on the future of Asia.

Foreign Minister Matsumoto expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Japan, to Viet Nam, for its sympathy and assistance extended in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Foreign Minister Matsumoto also expressed his intention to promote the strategic partnership with Viet Nam. The two ministers discussed various issues including nuclear energy cooperation, economic relations and economic and technical cooperation.

Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the IAEA team

Also yesterday, Foreign Minister Matsumoto received the visiting team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Foreign Minister Matsumoto expressed his intention to completely cooperate with the IAEA and by so doing, contribute to the international community. By providing information on what happened at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the countermeasures taken, Japan intends to contribute to enhancing nuclear safety in the international community.

Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Korean Ambassador

Also yesterday afternoon, Foreign Minister Matsumoto called Ambassador Kwon Chul-hyun, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to Japan, to his office, and made a representation with respect to the visit of a Korean Minister to Takeshima and also the visit of Korean parliamentarians to the Northern Territories.

As for the visit to Takeshima of Ms. Paik Hee-Young, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, it is inconsistent with the position of Japan on Takeshima. Foreign Minister Matsumoto regretted it very much and protested. He requested that the visits by the Ministers of the ROK to Takeshima will not happen again.

As for the visits of the three Korean parliamentarians to Kunashiri of the Northern Territories, Foreign Minister Matsumoto explained that the Northern Territories are an integral part of Japan's territory and for nationals of a third country to enter there on the assumption that the other country has the authority and administration of the Northern Territories, by such actions as obtaining a visa from Russia, is inconsistent with the position of Japan on the Northern Territories and is not acceptable. Also, this hurts the feelings of the Japanese people. Therefore it is regrettable and he would protest this.

Foreign Minister Matsumoto also requested that the Korean side to take measures to prevent these kinds of visits from happening again. ROK Ambassador Kwon Chul-hyun explained the position of the Government of the ROK, but he said that he would communicate the representation of Minister Matsumoto to his home Government. The Ambassador also said that there is no connection between the Korean Government's position and the visit of the Korean Parliamentarians.

Minister Matsumoto's meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Another item that I would like to explain is that this morning Minister Matsumoto paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Malaysia Hon. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib. Minister Matsumoto expressed his sympathy for the disaster as a result of the landslide which happened in Malaysia last Saturday. Minister Matsumoto also thanked Malaysia for the various support extended to Japan in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Minister Matsumoto, referring to the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), said that Japan would cooperate with Malaysia with a view to commencing the activities of the MJIIT this coming September. He mentioned that Japan intends to support the infrastructure development of Malaysia utilizing the technologies that Japanese companies possess. He also said that Japan intends to strengthen cooperation with Malaysia in various international fora.

Prime Minister Najib once again extended his sympathy to Japan and he said that he believes that Japan will recover from this disaster. He said that Japan is a very important partner in terms of trade and investment and hoped for strengthening the relationship with Japan by such means as using the EPA between the two countries. As for infrastructure development, he said that he believed that there should be various opportunities for the utilization of the technologies of Japanese companies as Malaysia is undertaking economic reform programs. As for MJIIT, Prime Minister Najib appreciated the cooperation extended by Japan. He stated the importance of encouraging progress of economic integration in the East Asian countries. He also said that Malaysia supports the candidature of Japan to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. These are the key points that were discussed between Minister Matsumoto and the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Meetings between Prime Minister Kan and foreign leaders in France

I'll make an oral presentation on the meeting between Prime Minister Kan and President Sarkozy in Paris yesterday. Before meeting the President, Prime Minister Kan also met Prime Minister François Fillon, the Prime Minister of the French Republic.

In the meeting between Prime Minister Kan and President Sarkozy, first President Sarkozy expressed once again the support for and solidarity with the people of Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Prime Minister Kan expressed his appreciation for it that at the G8 Summit, President Sarkozy would give the opportunity to Prime Minister Kan to make remarks at the outset on an agenda item that had been set to discuss solidarity with Japan and the global economy. The two leaders agreed that, for the further development of bilateral relations between the two countries. He noted that trade is a key issue and that he wanted to launch a strategic dialogue at the Foreign Minister level of the two countries and commence negotiations on an agreement on information protection. Prime Minister Kan explained his policy of nuclear safety and also on energy, whose text I will explain in the context of his OECD speech which we have distributed. As for a Japan-EU EPA, Prime Minister Kan said that he hoped to have progress on this. President Sarkozy responded that France basically supported a Japan-EU EPA; however, he hoped that the Japanese side would take further actions on such areas as the importation of French beef and the reduction of non-tariff barriers, among others.

Prime Minister Kan also met the Prime Minister of Hungary in Paris.

Address by Prime Minister Kan at the OECD

Now I will explain the address made by Prime Minister Kan at the commemorative ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the OECD. We have distributed a text to be checked against delivery.

He first acknowledged the important role of the OECD. I will skip this part. On the second page, in the third paragraph, he said, "At the World Economic Forum held in Davos at the end of January, I spoke of the importance of inter-personal bonds, or 'kizuna' in Japanese. At that time I had not imagined that I would come to appreciate the bonds (kizuna) so deeply just one month later". After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan received warm words of sympathy and many forms of assistance from the international community. In the last paragraph of page 2 he says, "I state this with firm conviction that the birth of the Japanese economy has already been forcefully set in motion". He said, "Economic activities in the affected regions have moved rapidly toward recovery, and more than 60 percent of the production bases, such as in the electronics industry, are already operating again and the remaining 30 percent or so are expected to recover by the summer. An economic recovery driven by the reconstruction demand is expected for the second half of this year. Tokyo and other regions central to the Japanese economy have been fully functioning. Almost all the sightseeing spots in Japan are safe to visit".

So the Prime Minister himself appealed the recovery of Japan to the international community and the Prime Minister explained that "Japan is open for business and travel". On the accident of the nuclear power station, he said that it is the responsibility of Japan to analyze and consider what happened there and share information of the lessons learned with the international community. He expressed his determination to do so.

On energy policy, he mentioned that "Japan will now review its energy policy plan from scratch and is set to address new challenges". He said that in addition to the two pillars to date of energy, that is nuclear power and fossil fuels, he will adapt two new pillars of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

On the second paragraph on page 4 he said, "The first challenge is the safety of nuclear energy". The challenge of nuclear power is safety. In the next paragraph he said, "The second is the environmental challenge of fossil fuels". The challenge of fossil fuels is an environmental challenge. And "The third challenge concerns the practical use of renewable energy". The challenge of renewable energy is the challenge of practicality. And "The fourth is on the potential of energy efficiency". So the challenge of energy efficiency or energy saving is a challenge of further potentiality. He explained the four pillars of Japan's new energy policy and he expressed his determination to tackle these challenges.

In the third paragraph on the last page he said, "Looking back at the past 50 years and thinking ahead to the next 50 years, and considering the expected role of the OECD in this horizon, I believe it is important for the Organisation to strengthen its role in providing economic analyses and policy advice so that it can continue to be a body counted upon as the largest 'action-oriented' think tank in the world. OECD Secretary-General Gurría visited Japan just one month after the earthquake and provided concrete proposals to help Japan's reconstruction. This was indeed an example of the type of OECD action we can count on. The people in Japan are now united at heart behind the reconstruction. I shall turn this energy into the power to transform the country and the power to achieve the rebirth of Japan. In tacking these tasks to achieve the 'Rebirth of Japan' and to address new global challenges, Japan is committed to continuing to work together with the OECD".

G8 Summit Agenda

Finally we have distributed a press release issued by France, regarding the G8 Summit agenda. As I explained earlier, the first agenda item is "Solidarity with Japan and Global Economy". And then the G8 leaders will discuss "Nuclear Safety – Climate Change", "Fight against illiteracy", "The Internet with participation from five major Internet players", followed by a press conference given by the President of the French Republic. And then the G8 working dinner on "The Arab Springs". Tomorrow the agenda items include "Political Issues – Adoption of the Deauville Declaration", a working session which continues the theme of "The Arab Springs", then "Peace and Security in Africa", and "Protection of mothers and children against AIDS", and "Africa's Development". So these are the agenda items of the G8 Summit. After participating in the G8 Summit in France, the Prime Minister will go to Brussels to participate in the Japan-EU Summit.

Thank you very much for your patience. Now I invite your questions.

Questions concerning the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Q: Do you have the text of the Hague Convention?

Mr. Sobashima: Here you are.

Q: Do you have the Japanese text of the Cabinet Approval?

Mr. Sobashima: Yes, certainly. I have the text of the Cabinet Approval in Japanese, but I don’t have it in the form that I can hand out to you now. I will provide the text to you later.

Q: How much time will it take to establish the Central Authority? And what Ministries and Agencies are involved?

Mr. Sobashima: I said that the Central Authority will be established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, there are of course relevant Ministries and Agencies involved in the process of drafting the draft law. For example, the Prime Minister's Office; the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; and the Police. There may be some more. It is a joint exercise of the relevant Ministries and Agencies of the Government of Japan to prepare for concluding the Convention.

Q: How big will the Central Authority be?

Mr. Sobashima: Well, the Cabinet decided to establish a Central Authority in this Ministry. We have a division specifically devoted for this Hague Convention, and certainly this Division should play a central role in forming this Central Authority in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But at this stage I am not ready to explain further detail than this. Japan has just decided to have a Central Authority in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Q: I am interested in the Division existing in your Ministry dealing with the Convention.

Mr. Sobashima: Ms. Takako Tsujisaka is the Director of this Division for the Hague Convention.

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

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