Press Conferences

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I have questions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of February 24, which marks two years since the invasion, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the UN Security Council (UNSC) meetings are scheduled. Please tell us who is scheduled to attend from the Government of Japan and what message Japan intends to communicate.

Ms. KOBAYASHI Maki, Press Secretary: On February 23, a UN Security Council ministerial meeting will be held in New York in light of two years having passed since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuji is scheduled to attend from Japan.

As a UNSC member, Japan will demonstrate its strong determination to not tolerate Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and to uphold the international order based on the rule of law, as well as its stance of strongly advancing Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Tanikawa: Foreign Minister Hayashi did not attend last year’s G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, but Foreign Minister Kamikawa will personally attend this year’s meeting. Please tell us the significance of this.

Press Secretary Kobayashi: I understand that the decision of who would attend last year’s G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was made based on a comprehensive assessment of factors such as the dates and content of last year’s meeting and official duties in Japan.

It was decided that Foreign Minister Kamikawa will attend this year’s meeting, and she has arrived in Rio de Janeiro. At the meeting, discussions on topics such as responses to the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as global governance reform including UNSC reform, are planned, and it is expected that Minister Kamikawa will actively communicate Japan’s positions and initiatives on these topics.

In addition, Minister Kamikawa will attend the meeting in person, as will various ministers and counterparts from various countries and international organizations, including those whom Minister Kamikawa has met previously, those whom she has met online, and those whom she has not yet met. On the margins of the meeting, Minister Kamikawa will be able to exchange views with such counterparts on bilateral relations and international affairs, which I consider to be highly meaningful as well.