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トップページ > 報道・広報 > 演説 |
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水野外務大臣政務官演説
Address by Mr.Kenichi Mizuno, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs of
Japan
at the 32nd Council Session of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) May 13, 2002 Chairman of the Council Session, Dr. Jurgen BlaserMinister for Forestry of Indonesia, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Prakosa Minister of Environment of Colombia, His Excellency Mr. Juan Mayr Maldonado Minister of Water and Forests of Cote d'Ivoire, Her Excellency Mrs. Boka Agoussi Angele Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Dr. Manoel Sobral Filho, Distinguished Representatives and guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me to make speech at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Council Session of the International Tropical Timber Organization. First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Indonesia for its great hospitality and wonderful arrangement. Indonesia is a very active member of the ITTO. Indonesia is also a nation that has a very close cooperative relationship with Japan. Also, more than half of Indonesian and Japanese territories are covered with forests, and the both countries have a deep affection to their forests. Mr. Chairman, About 13,000 years ago, Japan was at the beginning of the Stone Age called Jomon Period, when our ancestor lived with respect for forests. Jomon People baked pancakes from minced chestnuts and walnuts. Chestnut forests are found close to their settlement. Researchers found that these chestnut forests are not natural but planted. This episode indicates that the people in the old age lived in good harmony with nature. We need to have the spirit of Jomon People to co-habit with our natural surroundings. Mr. Chairman, Here in Bali in 1990, the 8th Council Session adopted "the ITTO Year 2000 Objective", which has been a very important achievement for the ITTO. Also here in Bali, we agreed to establish "the Bali Partnership Fund". The ITTO continues its work with the UN and other organizations for sustainable forest management. In year 2000, the ITTO reviewed the achievements made under "the Year 2000 Objective". It was observed that considerable progress has been made in the establishment of forest laws and relevant institutions. However, the members recognised that more efforts should be made in the implementation of forest laws and sustainable forest management on local level. The last Council Session in November last year adopted "the ITTO Yokohama Action Plan", which reflects the result of this review work. I hope that the ITTO and its member countries will make further efforts for fulfilment of "the ITTO Yokohama Action Plan". Mr. Chairman, It is our urgent task to take measures against illegal logging which damages the sustainable management of forests. Japan highly appreciates the efforts made by the ITTO and the Indonesian Government in this regard. Japan is determined to continue its support to their efforts to tackle with this problem. Regional cooperation is also important to address the forest issues including illegal logging. In this regard, Japan and Indonesia jointly call for regional cooperation, named "Asia Forest Partnership." This Partnership is a framework for international cooperation which aims at promoting sustainable forest management in Asia through initiatives on illegal logging, prevention of forest fires and restoration of degraded forest land. Japan hopes that the ITTO, countries in Asia, donor communities and international organizations will join us to cooperate with this Partnership. Japan's cooperation in Asia-Pacific Region is not limited to Indonesia. Japan will also continue to support ITTO projects and activities in other Asia-Pacific countries. In Latin America, Japan has supported ITTO projects including conservation of Amazon forests, protection of mangroves in Colombia and Honduras and conservation of transboundary area between Peru and Ecuador. Japan will continue its support to this region as well. Mr. Chairman, This year, a series of international conferences addressing the issue of development has been organized. The International Development Conference was held in Monterrey last March. The G8 Summit is scheduled in Kananaskis this June. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be convened in Johannesburg this late August. The WSSD, in particular, is expected to address sustainable development in the 21st century from various aspects such as economic growth, social development and environmental conservation. Japan holds the view that it is crucial for the ITTO to actively participate in the WSSD, as the ITTO activities are quite relevant to the WSSD and it could make a valuable contribution. Recently, African development has been one of main issues in the international society. Therefore, Japan strongly hopes that this Council Session agrees on concrete actions to assist African member countries, taking into account the results of the recent Technical Mission to Congo Basin countries. We consider that such measures by the ITTO should be acknowledged as a part of the WSSD Partnerships or Initiatives in the field of forestry. In addition, Japan proposes that the ITTO consider to organize a side-event to publicize the significance of ITTO's activities in the WSSD. Mr. Chairman, Japan has been strongly supporting the ITTO activities as the top donor country since its establishment. In spite of recent serious financial difficulties, the Japanese Government will make every effort to support the ITTO. This year, Japan will pledge the same level of voluntary contribution as in the past years, which amounts to approximately 10 million US dollars. At the same time, Japan wishes that the ITTO will continue to improve efficiency of its work, including the streamlining of the Council Sessions which are currently held twice a year. Mr. Chairman, I hope that fruitful discussions will take place during this Session, bringing about productive results for the ITTO's future activities. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Director and his stuff of the ITTO, who have devoted themselves to the preparation of this Council. Thank you. |
政務官 / 平成14年 / 目次 |
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