Press Conferences

Reporter: I think coordination is taking place for you to visit Russia before next month’s Japan-Russia Summit Meeting. Please give an update on where the coordination effort stands.

Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs: The two sides agreed at the Japan-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly in September this year that I would visit Russia as part of preparing for the visit to Japan by President Vladimir Putin, planned for December. Coordination is taking place in accordance with this agreement, and final arrangements are being made now. I hope the schedule will be decided as soon as possible.

Reporter: You just mentioned that the meeting is part of preparations. What is the significance of your visit to Russia coming ahead of the Summit Meeting? Also, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly made hardline comments on the topic of the territories issue. What do you consider to be your mission as Foreign Minister in discussions with Minister Lavrov?

Minister Kishida: Amid efforts to promote exchange in a wide range of areas, including economic activities, Japan’s fundamental position is to resolve the issue of where the four islands belong to and conclude a peace treaty. With the aim of moving the situation forward in line with this fundamental position, the two leaders have met multiple times and President Putin’s visit to Japan is scheduled. Coordination efforts are currently taking place for me to visit Russia as part of the preparations, and I hope to engage in thorough discussion of the issue of concluding a peace treaty too.

Reporter: I would like to ask about discussion of enacting a treaty for banning nuclear weapons. I think a delegation led by the Mayor of Hiroshima came and submitted a written request yesterday. Please explain your thoughts.

Minister Kishida: Yesterday I received a written request compiled by the Japanese member cities of the Mayors for Peace, and the document included a request regarding the recent resolution on a treaty that bans nuclear weapons. I explained Japan’s fundamental stance of proceeding with realistic and pragmatic initiatives based on cooperation among nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states, and that Japan has consistently maintained this stance. I also explained that Japan intends to continue to work toward the realization of a “world without nuclear weapons” in line with this stance.

Reporter: I think a major debate will be starting in March 2017. What is Japan doing in terms of a detailed strategy for serving as a bridge between nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states?

Minister Kishida: Negotiations on a treaty that bans nuclear weapons will begin in accordance with an approved resolution. If such discussions begin, I believe Japan must approach the situation by asserting what needs to be asserted as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in war based on our fundamental stance. I have deeply felt on numerous occasions that concrete results cannot be achieved without the cooperation of both nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states. We will contribute to the discussion by appealing the importance of cooperation among nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states to produce concrete results, not to discuss for the sake of discussions, thereby advancing efforts for the realization of a “world without nuclear weapons.”

Reporter: I have a question about issues related to North Korea. According to media reports, the United States and China have reached an agreement on a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. There is also talk about an unofficial meeting at the UNSC as early as next week. Could you explain your view of the latest developments?

Minister Kishida: The concerned countries have conducted a variety of discussions and made various arrangements toward the adoption of a resolution by the UNSC following North Korea’s nuclear test in September. Japan has also contributed to these discussions and arrangements, while working together with the United States and other relevant countries, as a non-permanent Council member. I have been told that the discussions and arrangements are close to conclusion. That being said, arrangements are still ongoing, so I would like to refrain from commenting on specific details at this point.

Reporter: I also have a question about Japan’s own sanctions. I think the sanction items from the UNSC are likely to affect Japan’s own sanctions as well. What is the current state of related arrangements and what is your outlook for the timing of a decision on such sanctions?

Minister Kishida: Japan continues to review its sanctions. As you noted, Japan needs to make a final decision while taking into account the UNSC resolution and the sanctions taken by other countries. We intend to reach a decision on our sanctions after fully confirming the various conditions.

Reporter: Do you anticipate that Japan will promptly take its own sanctions once the UNSC resolution is adopted? What is your view of the timing?

Minister Kishida: Japan needs to consider suitable timing while taking into account measures by other countries.

Reporter: I have a question about the Japan-China-Republic of Korea (ROK) situation. Efforts are underway in the ROK to pass an impeachment resolution against President Park Geun-hye, and it appears as if an impeachment resolution proposal might be submitted as soon as early next month. A suspension of President Park from her duties is likely to affect attendance at the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting. What is the Japanese Government’s view of the current situation and how is it handling the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting?

Minister Kishida: The Japanese Government sees the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting as a very important meeting and intends to continue its efforts to hold the meeting within the year as the chair country. While Japan is naturally closely monitoring the situation in the ROK, this is an internal matter of another country and I would like to refrain from any speculation. As the chair, Japan plans to continue putting its full efforts into holding the summit meeting.

Reporter: Would you still hold the Japan-China-ROK Summit Meeting even if the attendee is the ROK Prime Minister?

Minister Kishida: As I just mentioned, this is an internal matter of another country so I would like to refrain from any speculation. Our view is that holding the summit is important.