Press Conferences

Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu: I have an announcement regarding the NPT Review Conference to be held next week. The 11th NPT Review Conference will take place from April 27 to May 22 in New York, U.S.

As I have emphasized on various occasions, I believe that Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, has a mission to lead international efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons, which is also critically important for improving the security environment surrounding Japan.

This conference will once again be an extended session lasting four weeks. At its outset, we will dispatch State Minister for Foreign Affairs KUNIMITSU Ayano to deliver a statement at the General Debate on behalf of the Government of Japan, conveying Japan’s strong message to the international community on maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime.

The conference will then move into detailed discussions. Based on past conferences, the first draft of the Final Document is expected to be released no earlier than May. We will send an ambassador to each of the three discussion sessions and work diligently to foster active and constructive discussions through May 22, the final day of the conference.

I will receive reports about the conference at key junctures and will put forth every effort to achieve concrete outcomes.

Chugoku Shimbun, KOBAYASHI: My question relates to the NPT, which you just mentioned. The Government of Japan attaches considerable importance to the NPT and has dispatched the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister in the past. Could you explain why the State Foreign Minister is attending this year and whether the attendance of the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister was considered?

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: Japan’s arrangements for the NPT Review Conference are as I stated in my opening remarks. During the extended four-week conference, including the important opening speeches, substantive work on drafting and formulating the Final Document is expected to begin in the second week. In this process, it will be essential to make tangible progress on various issues, including narrowing the gap between nuclear powers and non-nuclear powers, and Japan intends to steadily fulfill its part in addressing these efforts.

Regarding our approach to the conference, I have already issued three main instructions: first, to provide maximum support to Vietnam, the President of the conference, to ensure a successful conference; second, to make every effort to build momentum toward maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, including through multilateral groups led by Japan; and third, to deepen the international community’s understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings.

As for the content of the statement, Japan intends to underscore the need for the united efforts of the international community toward maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime, precisely because we now face a severe situation surrounding disarmament and non-proliferation.

Kyodo News, ONDA: The amendment of the Passport Act was passed at the plenary session of the House of Councillors today. Please explain how the Government intends to promote passport ownership and overseas travel among younger generations, including initiatives to raise awareness.

Foreign Minister MOTEGI: The bill to partially amend the Passport Act was approved and passed at the plenary session of the House of Councillors today. Going forward, the relevant Cabinet Order will be amended to lower passport fees, and the new fees will apply to passport applications filed on or after July 1.

We are raising awareness of the reduction in passport fees, through channels such as prefectural passport offices and the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, we will work to further reach Japanese citizens, including younger generations, in coordination with the travel industry and other partners.

We expect that the reduction in passport fees will make it easier to obtain passports and will also contribute to promoting international exchanges through overseas travel by Japanese citizens, including younger generations.