Press Conferences

Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida: Our basic stance with regard to the four items on mitigating the burden on Okinawa that were requested by Okinawa Prefecture Governor Hirokazu Nakaima is that “the Government will do everything it can.” Where the Agreement to Supplement the Japan-U.S. SOFA on Environmental Stewardship is concerned, as a result of energetic negotiations a substantial agreement has now been achieved. A U.S.-Japan Joint Statement that includes this has just been announced.

The Supplementary Agreement on Environmental Stewardship represents the first international agreement to supplement the SOFA. Over the 54 years since the SOFA concluded, local communities have made strong request but even “negotiations” had not took place. I personally lobbied U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and the Government of Japan as a whole has made an utmost effort.

Where the content is concerned, the Supplementary Agreement incorporates the items requested by Governor Nakaima, including “access to U.S. facilities and areas for site surveys” and “adoption of the more protective environment standards of Japan or United States” As such, it is clearly different from the management improvements implemented in the past. I believe an outcome has been achieved that meets local expectations. Going forward there is technical work to be done, but I intend to make every effort to ensure the Agreement can be officially signed as soon as possible. That is all from me.

Kurihara, NHK: This is changing the subject somewhat, but Mr. Yoichi Miyazawa and Ms.Yoko Kamikawa, both of whom belong to your political faction, Kishida Faction, have just now been called to the office to succeed Minister Obuchi and the other minister. What are your views on this?

Minister Kishida: I understand that the successors will be decided today. I have not heard yet whether successors actually are called to the office. I think the appointments will be clarified today.

Kurihara, NHK: I think they are just passing behind you now.

Minister Kishida: I want to properly confirm what the outcome is.

Kurihara, NHK: At the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s press conference earlier, it was announced that a decision has been made to dispatch Government officials to Pyongyang. When will that dispatch take place, or when will a decision on that timing be made?

Minister Kishida: Details such as the timing of the dispatch are to be worked out from now via the embassy route. I certainly intend to confirm the specific timing and the response and others once firm adjustments have taken place.

Kurihara, NHK: It seems that the other party in the negotiations will be a responsible member of the Special Investigation Committee, but will it be the committee chair?

Minister Kishida: Those are exactly the sorts of details that will be worked out via the embassy route.

Fujikawa, TV Asahi: Earlier you said that you hope the Agreement will be signed as soon as possible. Am I correct in assuming that means signing this year?

Minister Kishida: Nothing particular has been decided regarding a deadline. I hope that it will be signed as soon as possible. Before it is signed, various details have to be finalized and various technical and other issues have to be finalized. I want to speed up the work.