国際機関を通じた協力

議長，

日本政府を代表しこの発言を行う機会を与えていただき感謝申し上げる。

日本政府としては，本件遺産の「顕著な普遍的価値」が正当に評価され，全ての委員国の賛同を得て，コンセンサスで世界遺産登録されたことを光栄に思う。

日本政府は，技術的・専門的見地から導き出されたイコモス勧告を尊重する。特に，「説明戦略」の策定に際しては，「各サイトの歴史全体について理解できる戦略とすること」との勧告に対し，真摯に対応する。

より具体的には，日本は，1940年代にいくつかのサイトにおいて，その意思に反して連れて来られ，厳しい環境の下で働かされた多くの朝鮮半島出身者等がいたこと，また，第二次世界大戦中に日本政府としても徴用政策を実施していたことについて理解できるような措置を講じる所存である。

【注1】

「意思に反して連れて来られ（brought against their will）」と「働かされた（forced to work）」との点は，朝鮮半島出身者については当時，朝鮮半島に適用された国民徴用令に基づき徴用が行われ，その政策の性質上，対象者の意思に反し徴用されたこともあったという意味で用いている。

【注2】

「厳しい環境の下で (under harsh conditions)」との表現は，主意書答弁書（参考）にある「戦争という異常な状況下」，「耐え難い苦しみと悲しみを与えた」との当時の労働者側の状況を表現している。

【参考】

近藤昭一衆議院議員提出の質問主意書に対する答弁書（平成14年12月20日閣議決定）（抜粋）
「いわゆる朝鮮人徴用者等の問題を含め，当時多数の方々が不幸な状況に陥ったことは否定できないと考えており，戦争という異常な状況下とはいえ，多くの方々に耐え難い苦しみと悲しみを与えたことは極めて遺憾なことであったと考える。」

日本は，インフォメーションセンターの設置など，犠牲者を記憶にとどめるために適切な措置を説明戦略に盛り込む所存である。

【注3】

「犠牲者」とは，出身地のいかんにかかわらず，炭坑や工場などの産業施設で労務に従事，貢献する中で，事故・災害等に遇われた方々や亡くなられた方々を念頭においている。

日本政府は，本件遺産の「顕著な普遍的価値」を理解し，世界遺産登録に向けて協力して下さったベーマー議長をはじめ，世界遺産委員会の全ての委員国，その他関係者に対し深く感謝申し上げる。

【注4】

今回の日本代表団の発言は，従来の政府の立場を踏まえたものであり，新しい内容を含むものではない。

【注5】

今回の日本側の発言は，違法な「強制労働」があったと認めるものではないことは繰り返し述べており，その旨は韓国側にも明確に伝達している。

Inscription of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining” on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List (Statement by the Japanese Delegation at the 39th Session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO)

Madame Chairperson,

Thank you for the opportunity to deliver this statement on behalf of the Government of Japan.

It is quite an honor for the Government of Japan that the ''Outstanding Universal Value'' of this property has been duly evaluated and that, with the support of all Members of the Committee, it has been inscribed on the World Heritage List by a consensus decision.

The Government of Japan respects the ICOMOS recommendation that was made from technical and expert perspectives. Especially, in developing the ''interpretive strategy,'' Japan will sincerely respond to the recommendation that the strategy allows ''an understanding of the full history of each site.''

More specifically, Japan is prepared to take measures that allow an understanding that there were a large number of Koreans and others who were brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions in the 1940s at some of the sites, and that, during World War II, the Government of Japan also implemented its policy of requisition.

[Note 1]

The expressions’ brought against their will’ in this statement and “forced to work” are used to mean, with regard to people from the Korean Peninsula, that they were requisitioned under the National Requisition Ordinance which was applied to the Korean Peninsula at the time and that, given the nature of the policy of requisition, there were also cases in which they were requisitioned against their will.

[Note 2]

The expression ‘under harsh conditions’ refers to circumstances surrounding workers at the time who were given “unbearable sufferings and pains“ “under the extreme situation of wartime” as described in a Government’s Written Reply(as below).

[Reference]

Government’s Witten Reply to the Written Question from Mr. Shoichi Kondo, Member of the National Diet, House of Representatives (December 20, 2002) (excerpt, provisional translation)
“The Government regards it undeniable that many people including those requisitioned from the Korean Peninsula were placed under unfortunate circumstances, and that, although it happened in the extreme situation of wartime, it is most regrettable that unbearable sufferings and pains were inflicted upon many people.”

Japan is prepared to incorporate appropriate measures into the interpretive strategy to remember the victims such as the establishment of information center.

[Note 3]

The expression “victims” refers to those who suffered or died from accidents or disasters during their work at industrial facilities such as coal mines and factories, regardless of their origin.

The Government of Japan expresses its deep appreciation to Chairperson Boehmer, all Members of the World Heritage Committee and everyone involved in the process for their understanding of the ''Outstanding Universal Value'' of the property, and for their kind cooperation towards its inscription.

[Note 4]

This statement is based on the position of the Government of Japan held hitherto, and does not include anything new.

[Note 5]

The Government of Japan has repeatedly made it clear that this statement by the Japanese delegation does not acknowledge that there was illegal “forced labour”, and this point has been clearly conveyed to the Korean side.