Press Conferences
Extraordinary Press Conference by Foreign Minister Taro Kono
Wednesday, September 12, 2018, 6:05 p.m. Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Japanese
Opening Remarks
Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs: This morning, after being welcomed by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, I attended the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN. I listened attentively to the speeches by the leaders of each ASEAN country. In the afternoon, I met officials from Myanmar, Viet Nam, and Cambodia. First, I held a frank exchange of opinions on the Rakhine State situation with H.E. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. During my courtesy call to H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who paid a State Visit to Japan, since this year is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam, I held an exchange of opinions on how to develop our future bilateral relations. During my courtesy call to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, I held various exchanges of opinions on our future bilateral relations, as the new administration was inaugurated last week. That is all from me.
Question-and-Answer Session
Reporter: Regarding your meeting with Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, did she make reference to how she will handle the issue of Rakhine State?
Minister Kono: I raised various issues including regarding the United Nations and the Independent Commission of Enquiry, and received an explanation of the initiatives by Myanmar. I believe various preparations have been firmly advanced, and I am very pleased that the situation has become one in which staff members of the United Nations can increasingly begin activities in the northern part of Rakhine State. I hope this leads to specific movements that enable displaced persons to return to Myanmar at the earliest possible stage.
Reporter: I believe you are taking a slightly different approach to this issue compared to the United States and Europe. The return of displaced persons is not proceeding as you said, so do you have any concerns that criticism of Japan could arise from the international community?
Minister Kono: Not at all.
Reporter: I would like to ask about your meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen. The ruling party won a landslide victory in the general election. You stated concerns to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at previous meetings, so did you also convey that during the meeting this time?
Minister Kono: This time, I raised Japan’s concerns regarding various aspects such as the many invalid votes. Cambodia’s development as a stable democracy is extremely important for the region. Japan has supported Cambodia for over 20 years and aims for that, so I explained the Government of Japan’s thoughts on Cambodia’s democratization.
Reporter: Did Prime Minister Hun Sen have a specific answer to that? How did he respond?
Minister Kono: I was told the explanation of the Government of Cambodia. Japan will actively support capacity building to establish democratization with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the opposition party. I conveyed to Prime Minister Hun Sen that we are ready to invite the CPP, or the ruling party to support them.
Reporter: Returning to the meeting with Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, I believe that you conveyed Japan’s concerns regarding convicted Reuters journalists. How did you phrase this, and how did Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi respond and phrase her reply?
Minister Kono: This is an issue that is also of high interest internationally, and Japan has made several statements to Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, requesting her to firmly respond to it. I have had many discussions on this issue with Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, but as this is a matter of diplomacy, I would like to refrain from commenting on her response.
Reporter: When you mentioned concerns, did you request for the release of the journalists?
Minister Kono: I would like to refrain from commenting on the exchange.
Reporter: Recently, Mr. Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was released, but there are reports that he is still not entirely free. Did you discuss this during your exchange?
Minister Kono: I have always stated that Japan is extremely concerned about the issue, including his physical condition. I believe there are various aspects for the Cambodia side to consider, but I will continue to urge them to surely respect human rights, including his physical condition.
Reporter: Earlier you mentioned a proper environment for the ruling party and the opposition party, but did you discuss the reviving of the CNRP?
Minister Kono: I would like to refrain from commenting on the statements of the other side, but Prime Minister Hun Sen fully understands the importance of the democratization of Cambodia. He has been in the position of guiding national reconciliation following the end of the civil war, so I believe he fully understands the importance of national reconciliation. Japan is also greatly interested in how democratization of the Government of Cambodia can develop going forward, so as I stated earlier, Japan will firmly provide support where it can, including capacity building.
Reporter: Changing the subject, regarding Japan-Russia negotiations on a peace treaty, President Putin called for the conclusion of a peace treaty within the year without any preconditions at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia. How will the Government of Japan respond to this?
Minister Kono: I have heard that there was no particular discussion on this during the summit meeting. There is absolutely no change to the policy of the Government of Japan of resolving the attribution of the Four Northern Islands and concluding a peace treaty.
Reporter: President Putin’s statement seemed to be one that would undermine the policy until now of preconditions, so how will Japan respond going forward?
Minister Kono: There is no change whatsoever to the policy of the Government of Japan of resolving the attribution of the Four Northern Islands and concluding a peace treaty.
Reporter: What do you think of President Putin’s behavior of not making any such indication during the summit meeting, and then suddenly making a statement entirely different from the discussion until now in a public manner?
Minister Kono: I am not in a position to comment on President Putin’s intention, but there is no change to the policy of the Government of Japan.
Reporter: I believe that perhaps President Putin suddenly making such a statement in a public manner could be analyzed as him not actually having resolve for this.Minister Kono: I am not in a position to comment on President Putin’s intention.
Reporter: I believe you have held long meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov until now, but did you never discuss what President Putin said today, or even a discussion related to it?
Minister Kono: No.
Reporter: I would like to return to the discussion on Prime Minister Hun Sen. Of course Japan is aiming for the democratic political process, including the reviving of the CNRP , so what was Prime Minister Hun Sen’s reaction when you conveyed this and how did you respond?Minister Kono: I would like to refrain from making his reaction public. However, I would say that we agreed on the recognition that the democratic development of Cambodia is important.
Reporter: Regarding the statement by President Putin, is the Government of Japan considering lodging a protest?
Minister Kono: There is no change to the policy of the Government of Japan.
Reporter: Do you have no intention to lodge a protest?
Minister Kono: I have still only heard hearsay about this, so I am not in the position to comment on it.