Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting
(Summary)
June 23, 2005
On June 23, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nobutaka Machimura, held a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the occasion of the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in London. The meeting took place from 11:20am (UK time) for approximately 15 minutes. The following is a summary of the meeting.
1. United Nations Reform
| (1) | Secretary Rice stated that the reform of the entire United Nations was of significant importance, with the United Nations (UN) Summit meeting to be held in September 2005, and that the realization of such reform was important for the entire international community. In response, Foreign Minister Machimura said that Japan also considered it important to see progress not only in the reform of the Security Council, but also in all areas, including the Peace Building Commission and the Human Rights Commission. |
| (2) | Secretary Rice confirmed the US support for Japan's permanent membership on the Security Council. She stated that, while the US supports expansion of the Security Council itself, the Security Council must also become effective and efficient. And Secretary Rice explained the US proposal of increasing the permanent membership of the Security Council by "two or so". |
In response, Foreign Minister Machimura stated that the Group of Four (G4) would seek to carry forward the Security Council reform along the line agreed at the G4 Foreign Ministerial Meeting held the day before (June 22). He stated that Japan and the US shared the goal of reforming the entire UN, and as such expressed his wish to maintain in close contact with the US.
2. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Foreign Minister Machimura noted that the Prion Expert Committee in Japan is currently discussing the import measures imposed on US beef. He explained that the Government of Japan would continue to work towards the prompt resolution of the issue based on science and security food safety of Japanese consumers as indispensable conditions.
Secretary Rice listened carefully to the comments by Foreign Minister Machimura.
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