Press Conferences

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: It is the third week since the Japan-North Korea agreement, but has there been any contact from the North Korean side regarding the establishment of the special investigation committee?

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: The special investigation committee was to be set up in around three weeks. This week is the third week, and regarding the establishment of the special investigation committee, the North Korean side is to notify us on the organization, composition and who is in charge.
Currently we are at the stage of coordinating what format the notification will take.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: In confirming the content of the notification, will the exchange take place in a direct meeting, rather than an exchange via diplomatic channels?

Minister Kishida: We are currently coordinating what format the notification will take.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: Will that involve a director-general level talk, or rather, a government-to-government consultation?

Minister Kishida: We are currently coordinating the format.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: I would also like to ask about the connection between the lifting of sanctions and the investigation committee. Could you please explain once again what the Government’s thoughts are regarding the timing?

Minister Kishida: There will be a notification, as I just said, regarding the establishment of the special investigation committee. The Government of Japan will move forward with its responses after securely assessing that first. I believe that is what will happen.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: That being the case, am I correct in understanding that the sanctions will not be lifted immediately after the committee has been established?

Minister Kishida: As I have been mentioning from before, the Government’s response will be considered after we have received the notification and securely assessed it. We intend to approach the matter according to the existing plan.

Yamamoto, Sankei Shimbun: Yesterday Environment Minister Ishihara made a comment in connection with interim storage facilities for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that attracted attention for suggesting that ultimately it would be the matter of price for having the facilities. What is your opinion on this, and was the comment raised at today’s Cabinet meeting?

Minister Kishida: Regarding your first question, I am aware of the reports. However, I do not know what exchanges took place before and after Minister Ishihara’s comment, or what tone the comment was made in. Consequently I do not have any materials on hand to discuss the real intent and other aspects of that comment. I think the real intent will be explained by Minister Ishihara himself.
And I do not recall any particular exchanges at the Cabinet meeting regarding this point.

Kamide, Freelance: My question concerns recent reports on television and in newspapers. It is being noted that in the issue of the right of collective self-defense, the Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation do not cover rescue missions involving Japanese nationals or how to assist Japanese nationals.
This was reported in Asahi Shimbun recently, but this issue surfaced at the time of the negotiations on the U.S.-Japan Guidelines in 1997. The order of priority in which the U.S. military provides assistance in the event of some emergency does not assign a priority ranking to Japan. At a meeting of a House of Representatives special committee in 1999, Gen Nakatani, who was the Director General of the Defense Agency in 1997, testified that regrettably the U.S. had refused to have the U.S. military prioritize helping Japanese nationals.
That being so, it would contradict the new three conditions on putting the Self-Defense Forces into action , but as Foreign Minister, what is your opinion regarding this?

Minister Kishida: To begin with, you spoke about the process followed in the past, but because I do not have any materials to comment on any details, I will need to confirm them. In any case, however, at present the Government’s policy will be decided after discussions by the ruling parties. We are now at this stage and no conclusion has been reached. Even if you would ask me to try to make a comparison with that conclusion, at present I would have to refrain from commenting.

Kamide, Freelance: This issue was widely reported in Asahi Shimbun and other publications yesterday, so naturally I think you know about it.

Minister Kishida: Japan’s policy, the Abe administration’s policy, and the Government’s policy are not decided yet. I do not believe I can draw comparisons and comment on this policy at the present time.

Kubota, TBS: The report on the ascertainment of the Kono Statement is due out as early as this week. Could you explain the meaning of the timing of this, how it will be explained to the Republic of Korea and other responses?

Minister Kishida: The meaning of the review is to ascertain the process that led to the creation of the Kono Statement, in light of an exchange that took place at a budget committee session. I am aware that the work is currently underway.
Furthermore, those findings will be revealed from here on and I would like to refrain from making any comment at the present stage. In any event, the matter will have to be explained to the countries concerned, but it has not yet been decided when those findings will be made public, for one thing. I do not believe things are at the stage where I can give an explanation or other comment.

Watanabe, NHK: I understand you gave an address at the OSCE-Japan Conference yesterday. I assume various issues were discussed, including on the Ukraine situation and the security situation in East Asia, but what areas did you emphasize in particular?

Minister Kishida: Firstly, the OSCE-Japan Conference is taking place from yesterday to today.
The security environment for Japan and Europe is becoming increasingly intense, and based on the policy of a proactive contribution to peace, the Government of Japan intends to contribute while placing an emphasis on fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law. I raised these points, and where the issue of Ukraine is concerned also, the OSCE is a framework in which all countries concerned take part, including Russia. I explained that in this respect also, the OSCE is important and is an important partner to Japan too.
And I stated that where the Ukraine issue is concerned the Government of Japan by no means views the issue as somebody else’s problem, and that the issue affects the international community, including Asia. I also explained that the role the OSCE is performing in connection with the Ukraine issue is extremely important, and that going forward, just as in the past, Japan will extend solid contributions and support both financially and on the human resources front.
As I recall, that was the content of my address.