Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have two announcements.

The first is about my meeting today with Mr. Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy, who came here for a courtesy call. We exchanged views ahead of the Summit of the Future, which will be held this September.

Notably, I conveyed to Under-Secretary-General Ryder the important elements for Japan, including human dignity, human security, and the rule of law, as well as our views on realizing a sustainable world, the participation of young people and women, and the importance of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

As the world is at a turning point in history, we will continue to redouble our efforts to make the Summit of the Future an opportunity to increase confidence in the UN and reaffirm the importance of multilateralism.

Minister Kamikawa: Second, on June 11 local time, the election of the members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Japan’s candidate, Mr. TAMON Hiroshi, a lawyer, was elected with 157, the largest number of votes.

Mr. Tamon, as a deaf person himself, has worked extensively on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in Japan and abroad. As a lawyer, he has devoted more than 25 years to protecting and promoting the rights of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.

We are very pleased that Japan’s candidate was elected. We believe Mr. Tamon’s credentials and Japan’s efforts on human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, were regarded highly by the international community, which resulted in this outcome.

We expect that Mr. Tamon, who was elected, will contribute to the activities of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through fully drawing on his legal expertise, extensive international experience and practical accomplishments.

That is all from me.

Mainichi Shimbun, Moriguchi: I would like to ask about the G7 Summit being held in Italy. During the discussion on the G7’s support for Ukraine, the leaders concurred to launch a loan scheme in order to make available USD 50 billion to Ukraine by the end of the year, leveraging the profits of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets. Up to now, Japan’s position has been to consider leveraging the immobilized sovereign assets in a manner that is consistent with domestic legal systems and international law. Please tell us about the Government’s view on what led to this agreement and what method it anticipates for the provision of the loans.

In addition, Prime Minister Kishida held a meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and exchanged a cooperation document. What are your thoughts on the significance of signing this cooperation document?

Minister Kamikawa: First, let me give an overview of the agreement that was reached on the immobilized Russian sovereign assets. Yesterday, June 13, at the G7 Apulia Summit, the G7 leaders concurred to launch a loan scheme to make available USD 50 billion to Ukraine by the end of the year.

Under this scheme, the G7 will provide loans to disburse financing to Ukraine which will bring forward and will be repaid by future flows of “extraordinary revenues” stemming from the ongoing immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the EU.

For further details, please wait for the G7 leaders’ statement that will be issued later. I believe the specific initiatives under this scheme and the details will be discussed among the G7 members. Japan intends to continue contributing to these discussions.

Secondly, on your question about the significance of the signing of the cooperation document, Prime Minister Kishida held a meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, on June 13. At that time, the two leaders signed the “Accord on Support for Ukraine and Cooperation between the Government of Japan and Ukraine.”

Based on the “Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine” issued by the G7 and Ukraine in July 2023, Japan had conducted negotiations with the Government of Ukraine to highlight Japan’s enduring support for Ukraine.

This accord clarifies the areas of support, cooperation and others, including security and defence, humanitarian support and recovery and reconstruction, in accordance with Japan’s constitutional and legal requirements and regulations. We consider that, through the signing of the Accord, Japan has powerfully demonstrated its commitment to support for Ukraine and cooperation, and was able to demonstrate again that the Ukraine issue is an issue of the entire international community by signing such document as the first non-Atlantic country to do so.

Based on the content of the accord, Japan will continue providing strong support to Ukraine in coordination with the international community.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about BRICS and the G7. The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations Meeting was held in western Russia on June 10 and 11. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia criticized the U.S. and its allies, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China echoed this sentiment. It appeared that BRICS intends to position itself as a counterbalance to the West. Please share with us your thoughts about the relationship between Japan and BRICS or the relationship between the G7 and BRICS.

Minister Kamikawa: First of all, Japan would like to refrain from commenting on the activities between other countries. Based on what we can tell from the joint statement that was released, we are aware that regional affairs and other matters of interest to Japan and the G7 were discussed at the meeting.

In order to lead the world to cooperation rather than division and confrontation, Japan will continue making active diplomatic efforts through a fine-tuned diplomacy that emphasizes diversity and inclusiveness, with a view to gaining broad support and interest from the international community.

NHK, Igarashi: My question is about North Korea. One of the leading newspapers in the Republic of Korea (ROK), JoongAng Ilbo, reported that Japan and North Korea had contact in Mongolia last month, according to multiple sources. A delegation including politicians reportedly attended from Japan. Please tell us about the information the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of and its position on Japan-North Korea negotiations.

Minister Kamikawa: We are aware of the referred report. However, due to the nature of the issue, I would like to refrain from commenting on the details.

In any case, it remains unchanged that, as Prime Minister Kishida has reiterated, Japan intends to hold high-level talks under his direct supervision to realize a summit meeting, with a view to resolve the outstanding issues between Japan and North Korea.

Kyodo News, Hayashi: It has been reported that President Putin of Russia will visit North Korea within the next few days. If realized, it will be his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, and it may have a large impact on the situation in East Asia, including Japan. What does the Government foresee at this time?

Minister Kamikawa: Japan constantly strives to gather and analyze information with serious concern about the situation regarding North Korea, including developments related to the reports you mentioned.

The Government is not in a position to answer about the possibility you mentioned. Generally speaking, we consider that the regional security environment surrounding Japan is becoming ever more severe, including the enhanced military collaboration and cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Japan will continue to gather and analyze related information and work closely with the U.S., ROK, and other members of the international community, including for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: The U.S. has imposed new sanctions on over 300 firms and individuals in China, South Africa, Turkey, and the Arab country, accusing them of aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Is Japan planning to follow suit, such sanctions on those people and will you also impose sanctions on Israel, which is accused of genocide by the ICC and also has changed illegally the status quo in the Middle East with their occupation of Palestinian territory and annexing illegally the Syrian Golan Heights? Thank you.

Minister Kamikawa: First, Japan is also of the view that it is important to take severe measures against any attempts to evade and circumvent the sanctions against Russia. At the summit, Japan has just conveyed that it is considering a new sanctions package that includes targeting entities in third countries. We are considering measures against entities in China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

These sanctions are being considered as measures targeting entities that are located in the countries I just mentioned and are engaged in the circumvention of sanctions. They are not targeted at any particular state. The details of the new Russia sanctions package are currently being finalized, and an official announcement will be made shortly.

In addition, Japan is deeply concerned about the critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. I myself have called on Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Katz to implement measures on numerous occasions. We have been steadfastly urging Israel to take actions, such as abiding by international law including international humanitarian law, realizing a sustainable ceasefire, and improving the humanitarian situation.

We will continue to make persistent and active diplomatic efforts toward calming down the situation as soon as possible, improving the humanitarian situation, and realizing a “two-state solution.”