Press Conferences

Mr. Minoru Kiuchi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs: The Japan-Mekong Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) was held on the banks of Lake Hamana in my home town of Hamamatsu, from Sunday May 31 to Monday June 1. This SOM was held for discussions on the outcome document for the Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting, which is scheduled to be held at the State Guest Houses in Tokyo on July 4 of this year.

The Mekong region consists of five countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Currently it has made quite remarkable economic development, while the economic relations between Japan and the Mekong region are becoming stronger and stronger.

In the current meeting, attendees from the various Mekong countries met with Hamamatsu Mayor Yasutomo Suzuki and representatives of local businesses. Using this opportunity and as part of measures to “vitalize local economies,” it is strongly hoped that it will further strengthen ties between Japan and the Mekong region not just on the national government level, but also on the level of regional cities, such as Hamamatsu.

Matsuura, Kyodo News: My question concerns the relocation of the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Governor Onaga has almost completed his visit to the United States, and during his visit, he requested U.S. government officials to reconsider relocating the Futenma Air Station to Henoko. Do you think that his action will lead to the Japanese and U.S. governments reconsidering their decision to relocate to Henoko in the future?

State Minister Kiuchi: No, I think that the Government of Japan has maintained a consistent position that the indefinite use of the Futenma Air Station should not be allowed. Therefore, while continuing to listen closely to the standpoints of the citizens of Okinawa Prefecture, I think that the Government of Japan should work hard to ensure that the facts regarding this issue are fully understood.

Nakagawa, Yomiuri Shimbun: I would like to ask about Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) relations. On June 1, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and other members of the Japan-ROK Eminent Persons Group met with ROK President Park Geun-hye, and there have been a variety of such developments recently. Various problems between Japan and the ROK still remain, including the so-called comfort women issue; and my personal feeling is that there are not any signs of improvement. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ recognition, and what sorts of initiatives will the Ministry undertake?

State Minister Kiuchi: Members of the Japan-ROK Eminent Persons Group, including former Prime Minister Mori, made a courtesy call to President Park. It is my understanding that as a result, an extremely meaningful exchange took place; and the very fact that difficult problems exist between Japan and the ROK is the reason why it is important to make efforts to communicate closely at a variety of levels, including the Eminent Persons Group. I believe that repeated efforts such an activity will contribute to advancing the relationship between Japan and the ROK.

Additionally, with regard to the recognition of history and the comfort women issue, Japan’s stance on these issues has been repeatedly communicated to the ROK side. I intend to continue to work tenaciously to ensure that the ROK side firmly understands the Government of Japan’s position.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: In connection with Japan-ROK relations, I understand that various efforts continue to be made to explain the Government of Japan’s view regarding World Heritage. Everyone, including state ministers and parliamentary vice ministers, appear to be working on this issue in a variety of ways; but I would like to ask about the Government’s current or recent efforts, and its efforts in the future.

State Minister Kiuchi: I myself visited Germany as State Minister, and the utmost effort is being made at various levels of government affairs in order to secure the understanding of the countries concerned regarding this issue. In particular, regarding the ROK, working-level discussions was held in Tokyo, as you know. I expect that working-level discussions with the ROK will be held again in the future, although I am aware that nothing has been decided yet regarding the next round of discussions.

In any event, the core of this issue is, after all, Japan’s Meiji-era industrial revolution heritage, meaning from the 1850s to the 1910s. The Government of Japan has not changed its position that this should be considered separate from the “requisition of civilians” issue of the past World War. Consequently, we also intend to do our utmost to ensure that committee member countries, including the ROK, understand this point.

Matsui, Asahi Shimbun: I have an additional question. In some respects, the ROK is asserting the ROK’s view, including that it wants the facts of the “requisition of civilians” issue to be displayed on a plate. However, am I correct in assuming the Government of Japan believes it cannot accept to display the issue clearly on a plate?

State Minister Kiuchi: Pardon me, but I would like to refrain from commenting on whether or not any such exchanges took place because it was diplomatic ones. As State Minister, I am not aware of what the government’s specific position is regarding a plate or so forth; but as I mentioned earlier, I believe that first and foremost, our position is to have the other side understand that the eras fundamentally differ.

Shizuoka Shimbun, Morita: Regarding your hometown, I would like to ask you about the Japan-Mekong Meeting you mentioned in your opening remarks. May I ask you to provide a few more specific details about what outcome you feel was made?

State Minister Kiuchi: Regarding the outcome, a document will be produced at the Summit Meeting in July　4, for which the SOM had discussions in advance of this meeting. If I were to discuss what outcome I think will be produced in the future, the Mekong region consists of five countries, but it can be ascertained as a wide area, so-called connectivity. Through developing railways or ports, we can have people and goods moving freely across the whole Mekong region, where significant progress in development has been made. The SOM was extremely significant in confirming the direction that Japan’s various items such as railways, infrastructure technologies and also funding will be utilized among the five counties.

One more point concerns what some of the parties involved in the SOM remarked on, relating to providing the opportunity to hold a meeting like this in a regional location like Hamamatsu. This region is famous for its manufacturing industries, including those for vehicles and musical instruments, but what the attendees mentioned while moving to the meeting venue after getting off the Shinkansen were landscapes full of rice fields, nature, and agriculture, and a regional city full of vitality. They said it was extremely informative and of great reference. It was pleasant that it gave them an extremely fresh image of Japan and that they said they hoped the regional cities in their own countries would come to have a similar level of manufacturing and agriculture. I believe that if there are some opportunities in the future, it would be an excellent idea to hold international meetings not just in Tokyo, but to hold meetings of various levels in regional cities like Hamamatsu.