Press Conferences

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida: The Government of Japan and the U.S. Government have reached an agreement to launch bilateral consultations towards preparing a bilateral agreement that would supplement the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) on environmental aspects. This endeavor is the first of its kind in the 50 years since SOFA entered into force.

The SOFA does not include provisions on environmental protection. The Japanese Government has received requests for the establishment of new environmental clauses from the local citizens in Okinawa that hosts the bases of the U.S. Armed Forces. Recently, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture has also made this request once again.
Based on these requests, the Japan and the U.S. Governments reached a common view on the significance to draw for the first time a bilateral agreement that would supplement the SOFA on environmental aspects, and to promote cooperation. Thus this agreement was reached.
I am convinced that this effort will lead to mutually beneficial cooperation for both the local areas hosting the U.S. Armed Forces bases, including Okinawa, and the U.S. Armed Forces in Japan. The two countries will work sincerely to promote bilateral cooperation to ensure that this effort is successful.

Imoto, TBS: You stated that the agreement would supplement the SOFA. What will be the relationship between the agreement and the SOFA?

Minister Kishida: The SOFA as it currently exists does not include provisions concerning the environment. Therefore, the two Governments have agreed on bilateral consultations to discuss the preparation of a bilateral agreement that would supplement the SOFA on environmental aspects. The launch of the consultations was agreed this time. That is how the agreement and the current SOFA will be interrelated.

Imoto, TBS: What is the background which led to the decision to draw this agreement, and what was the U.S. response?

Minister Kishida: Regarding environmental issues, since the “2+2” Meeting of 2010, the joint announcement has said that Japan and the United States will deliberate on an agreement regarding the environment. Further, through this year’s “2+2” Joint Announcement, both countries also shared the view in creating a new framework concerning the access into U.S. Armed Forces Facilities and Areas in Japan, prior to its land return.

Both countries have also continued discussions on environmental issues from a variety of perspectives. In August this year, we received a request with regard to the environment from the Council for Promotion of Dezoning and Reutilization of Military Land in Okinawa. We also recently received an environment-related request from Governor Nakaima once again. The growing concerns from local communities in Okinawa have accelerated discussion between Japan and the U.S. and thus have led to this achievement. Regarding the U.S. response, the U.S. side has fully understood the background and worked with the Japanese side to reach today’s agreement.

Kikuchi, Asahi Shimbun: Regarding the SOFA, a revision unaccompanied with the improved implementation of SOFA has been considered very difficult. On this bilateral agreement for the first time in 50 years, will you explain your view on your decision and the rough schedule going forward?

Minister Kishida: With regard to the SOFA, Japan has made continual efforts to improve the agreement by working on for instance criminal cases through the Joint Committee among others. Our efforts have been consistent through the accumulation of visible improvements. However, because the SOFA as it currently exists does not include provisions concerning the environment, both countries have decided to take the way to prepare a bilateral agreement to supplement the SOFA on environmental aspects. As for the schedule, I think I will partly repeat my earlier remarks but Japan and the U.S. have noted the significance and necessity of working on environmental issues through the “2+2” Meetings of 2010 or of 2013. Local communities have repeatedly expressed their requests this year. This has prompted us to accelerate our discussions and have led to today’s agreement. That is the case.

Kikuchi, Asahi Shimbun: Governor Nakaima has also been pressing for improvements on environmental issues. Do you think the decision made by the Japanese Government today will be approved by Governor Nakaima?

Minister Kishida: The Japanese Government has been working on this issue based on the belief that we must make our maximum efforts to serve the strong requests from local communities in Okinawa and Governor Nakaima. On how the governor evaluates this decision by the Japanese Government, since it will be Governor Nakaima’s decision, I believe I must refrain myself from commenting at this point.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: What was the reason for the decision to not revise the current SOFA, but to prepare a new agreement?

Minister Kishida: This also overlaps a bit with what I mentioned earlier, but the current SOFA as it exists does not include provisions concerning the environment. Therefore, Japan and the United States have agreed to take the way to start negotiations with a view toward preparing a new bilateral agreement that would supplement this. This is the current situation.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: Was there a choice to incorporate new environmental provisions to the current SOFA?

Minister Kishida: A variety of means were discussed, and the two sides agreed to take the approach that was announced.

Nakamura, Nippon TV: I believe that Governor Hirokazu Nakaima had requested for the revision of the SOFA.

Minister Kishida: The matter was examined upon with thorough consideration of the Governor’s request, and the announced conclusion has been reached.

Watanabe, NHK: I anticipate that specific details will be incorporated into the new bilateral agreement going forward. Are there any goals with regard to outcomes and timelines for such outcomes?

Minister Kishida: Thus far, the conclusions that have been reached upon were announced by Prime Minister Abe today. All of the details that I can share with you today have been announced. I believe that ongoing efforts will be made by parties concerned.

Watanabe, NHK: Do you expect that a certain level of outcomes will be achieved and that these outcomes will be satisfactory to the Governor?

Minister Kishida: All the matters that Japan and the U.S. have agreed upon, and all of the matters that the Government has decided upon, have been announced by the Prime Minister.

Akiyama, Nikkei Shimbun: At the recent “2+2” Meeting, it was agreed that concrete measures would be taken, including on-site inspections by the end of November. Have these measures been shelved?

Minister Kishida: It is my understanding that this agreement was reached regarding the environmental aspect.

Akiyama, Nikkei Shimbun: Does this mean that the improved implementation of SOFA will not be made for the time being?

Minister Kishida: I believe that the fact that a bilateral agreement concerning the environment will be prepared, means that discussions will be held including the matter that you are referring to.

Imoto, TBS: Does this mean that instead of improved implementation of SOFA, all matters will all be resolved through an agreement?

Minister Kishida: Japan and the U.S. have agreed to the preparation of a bilateral agreement which will supplement environmental aspects.

Watanabe, NHK: I believe that Governor Nakaima has called for revisions to the SOFA, but it has been decided that a bilateral agreement will be newly prepared. In response to the request by the Governor, was the matter of revising the SOFA taken up with the U.S. side during the exchanges? Further, in the process regarding the conclusion of the bilateral agreement, what opinions were conveyed by the U.S. side, and what was the U.S. side’s response to the Japanese side?

Minister Kishida: A variety of discussions have been taking place concerning the environment. Also, various requests have been received from the local communities including the recent request from the Governor. The Government has thoroughly taken into consideration these requests, has examined various matters before engaging in discussions. I would like to refrain from sharing the details of the discussions here. The outcomes of the discussions are as stated in today’s announcement.