Press Conferences

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: Japan will serve as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for two years from January of next year with the support of the majority of UN member states, receiving 184 votes. In the past 70 years since the end of World War II, Japan has actively contributed to the efforts of the United Nations as a peace-loving country. I think that the result of the current election shows that the international community highly values Japan’s long-standing commitment and enthusiasm regarding the goals of the UN, and that it expects Japan can make further contributions to this end. We will put into practice our policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation and actively contribute to the efforts of the Security Council.

Fukai, TBS: What is your understanding of the situation with regards to the Security Council reform?

Minister Kishida: Intergovernmental Negotiations on reform of the Security Council will take place based on the decision adopted during the last session of the General Assembly last month and founded on the document that arranges the proposals submitted in the current General Assembly by the group of nations representing approximately 120 nations. Further, during the recent United Nations General Assembly, for the first time in 11 years a G4 Summit Meeting was held and was agreed that the movement toward reforming the Security Council is to be accelerated by the G4. In this way, the momentum for reforms is growing. I believe that Japan should continue to cooperate with the various countries advocating to the Security Council reform, including the G4, and work toward achieving concrete results for these reforms during the current session of the General Assembly.

Fukai, TBS: Concerning the Memory of the World, we learned that the Government of Japan is discussing on its assessed contribution to the UNESCO. Could you tell us when you plan to finish such discussion and which organization leads the discussion?

Minister Kishida: I would like to answer your question on the assessed contribution first. In terms of cooperation with the UNESCO secretariat, as Chief Cabinet Secretary stated, it is necessary to consider every possibility including suspension of payment of the assessed contribution. Concerning our future efforts, we will request the UNESCO to prevent political use of its programmes and strongly request the UNESCO to improve the programmes by ensuring transparency and impartiality. Then, we will continue our efforts to realize the improvement of the system of the project.

Fukai, TBS: What will you do for that?

Minister Kishida: We would like to make efforts first.

Fukai, TBS: Regarding the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting to be held on the sidelines of the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting , while in the United States, Ms. Park Geun-hye, the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), remarked that while the comfort women issue was not a prerequisite, she would be seeking concessions from the Japanese side. How did you receive these remarks and what is the current outlook for the holding of the Japan-ROK Summit Meeting?

Minister Kishida: I am aware of the reports on the remarks made by President Geun-hye. Prime Minister Abe has already stated that he wants to hold a Japan-ROK Summit Meeting with President Geun-hye when the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting is held. I also communicated this opinion recently in New York at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to Mr. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK. There are difficult issues between Japan and the Republic of Korea because the two countries are neighbors; however we are aware that direct talks between us are important. We will continue to work toward realizing the holding of a Japan-ROK Summit Meeting.

Lee, Phoenix TV: Regarding UNESCO, Russia claims that the inscription of the internments in Siberia is a political use of the project. I wonder why that is not a political use but the inscription of the Nanking Massacre is the political use of the programme by China?

Minister Kishida: Russia points to the materials concerning internments in Siberia. However, we have not received any objection from Russia regarding the nomination of the material. Furthermore, Congress of the City of Nakhodka, a sister city of Maizuru City, cooperated with us for the nomination. Taking such facts into consideration, this case is completely different from the China’s case. Therefore, I think it is not a political use at all.

Makita, Kyodo News: My question is also related to UNESCO. I learned that approaches to UNESCO include dispatching Mr. Hiroshi Hase, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, to a UNESCO meeting. Could you tell us specifically who will attend which meeting, or whether you have such a plan?

Minister Kishida: I recognize that nothing has been determined specifically. The entire government will make efforts steadily.

Odanaka, Mainichi Shimbun: Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi, Chief Representative of the Komeito, held a meeting with Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, yesterday. It is reported that Mr. Yamaguchi stated in the meeting that he would like President Xi to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo. Does that mean the Government of Japan aims to realize his visit next spring?

Minister Kishida: I recognize that Mr. Yamaguchi stated so. However, concerning the future Japan-China summit meeting, nothing has been determined at present. On the other hand, we share the view with the Chinese side that both countries will improve bilateral relations based on the idea of “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests.” I consider that it is important to develop stable bilateral relations by accumulating dialogues in various levels in the future.

Watanabe, NHK: I would like to ask you about Japan-Russia relations. What is your plan on the visit to Japan by Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at present? Has a vice-ministerial level or foreign ministers’ dialogue been scheduled as of today?

Minister Kishida: Regarding the visit to Japan by Russian President Putin, we have agreed in the summit meeting held November last year that the two countries would make preparations for his visit at an appropriate time this year. That policy remains unchanged at present. Yet, concerning President Putin’s visit to Japan, we take various elements into consideration in a comprehensive manner to determine the best timing for his visit. In addition, we would like to accumulate various dialogues at various levels between Japan and Russia. Anyway, a specific date has not been determined at present.

Abe, Asahi Shimbun: You have been negotiating a revision of the Host Nation Support with the United States. I learned that Japan is requesting a reduction of the amount. How do you think the negotiation will be settled?

Minister Kishida: That is still under negotiation at present and nothing has been determined specifically. The negotiation will continue.