Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have an announcement.

This year is a milestone year marking the 70th anniversary of the start of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA). As is articulated in the Development Cooperation Charter that was revised last June, the international community is facing compound crises, and development cooperation has an increasingly vital role to play to overcome these crises.

Against this backdrop, the importance of private finance for developing countries is growing. In particular, it can be said that sustainable finance aimed at solving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues is more essential than ever before.

We decided to establish the Advisory Panel on New Financing for Development to deliberate such policies for new financing for development and to strengthen collaboration with various actors from both the public and private sectors.

The Advisory Panel will hold discussions, including on the role that ODA can play as a catalyst in mobilizing new financing for development. Ultimately, it will put together recommendations on how ODA ought to be.

That is all from me.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I have a question on your opening remarks. You have consistently emphasized the importance of diplomacy that is understood by the people. What explanations and information dissemination do you think are necessary to gain a broad public understanding of ODA?

Minister Kamikawa: As a responsible major power, Japan considers that it must maintain and strengthen its advocacy of the free and open international order based on the rule of law so that all people can enjoy peace, and that it must pursue diplomacy to realize a safe and secure world where human dignity is protected.

To this end, Japan will make more strategic and effective use of ODA, one of the important tools of diplomacy, and aim to solve the issues facing developing countries. At the same time, we will strive to contribute to the realization of Japan’s national interests by co-creating social values through dialogue and cooperation with developing countries. The Advisory Panel on New Financing for Development to be launched today is one of the new attempts to utilize ODA in strategic and effective manners.

ODA is funded by public funding, and it goes without saying that it is supported by the understanding and cooperation of the Japanese people. I will take the lead in explaining carefully that ODA contributes to securing peace and stability for the people, maintaining their livelihoods, and achieving Japan’s growth, and that we will continually strive to improve Japan’s ODA.

Mainichi Shimbun, Murao: I have a question about the situation in the Middle East. In Ramallah, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuji stated to some media during his visit to the Middle East that Japan is preparing and holding meetings to provide assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as soon as the allegations are clarified. What arrangements is Japan making for resuming Japan’s funding to UNRWA? Please tell us your thoughts on its necessity. Is it still Japan’s stance to await the investigation results of the United Nations (UN)?

Minister Kamikawa: Japan is extremely concerned about the allegations surrounding UNRWA staff members. UNRWA plays a vital role in providing services such as health and medical care, education, and welfare to Palestine refugees. Japan has been strongly urging UNRWA to take appropriate measures, including strengthening governance, so that it can regain trust and firmly fulfill the role it should play.

I cannot answer based on speculation about the outlook for resuming Japan’s funding to UNRWA. First, we will actively cooperate with the UN’s investigation and a third party’s verification while closely communicating with the UN, UNRWA, and relevant countries.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about the situation in the Middle East. As the Israeli military continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip, the local Ministry of Health announced that 112 people who were awaiting food and other relief supplies were killed in an attack by the Israeli military. Over 30,000 people have been reportedly killed so far in the Gaza Strip. What are your thoughts regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis?

Minister Kamikawa: I would like to refrain from speculating about the facts at this point in time. I am deeply saddened that many civilians have been killed or wounded, and I would like to extend my deepest condolences.

Amid the prolonged fighting in the Gaza Strip, a large number of people including children, women, and the elderly have been killed or wounded daily. I understand that the humanitarian situation is facing critical circumstances and cannot be overlooked.

Japan strongly hopes that a humanitarian ceasefire will be swiftly achieved, which would secure an environment in which humanitarian assistance activities can be carried out and would also lead to the release of the hostages, and that a sustainable ceasefire will be achieved. With this in mind, we have been calling on the parties, including Israel, to act immediately from a humanitarian perspective.

Japan will spare no effort, including continuing to make persistent and proactive diplomatic efforts toward the immediate release of the hostages, improvement of the humanitarian situation, and calming down of the situation as soon as possible.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: My question is also about Gaza situation. In principle Israel has not been listening to any demands or any requests from the international society and also the United States is supporting the Israeli operation by making a veto in the United Nations. And also Japan doesn’t seem to condemn Israel for all of this destruction to the point that it's almost accused by the International Court of Justice of doing genocide in Gaza. And also Israel is invading another country, which is Gaza, or Palestine and also trying to change the status quo by force, which is the principle that is objected by the Japanese government. So do you think that Israel needs to solidly be condemned for these policies and these operations, and also they have a large scale of destruction in Gaza and they have not been treated in a fair way in the international community.

Minister Kamikawa: It is as I have stated before. Japan views that Israel has a right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law in response to the attacks by Hamas. At the same time, all acts must be conducted in accordance with international law. We believe that the fundamental norms of international humanitarian law must be upheld in any situation.

Meanwhile, as it is difficult to fully grasp the facts, Japan deems it unsuitable to make any definitive legal assessment of the actions of the Israeli military and has refrained from making a legal assessment. Under these circumstances, the number of civilian casualties is on the rise, and indeed, the parties are urged to provide further explanations on whether the military actions as a whole can be justified under international law.

In any case, Japan will strongly urge Israel to act in good faith based on the UNSC resolutions, towards the release of the hostages, improving the humanitarian situation on the ground as soon as possible, and securing an environment in which humanitarian assistance activities can be carried out. In addition, Japan strongly hopes that a humanitarian ceasefire will be swiftly achieved, which would secure an environment in which humanitarian assistance activities can be carried out and would also lead to the release of the hostages, and that a sustainable ceasefire will be achieved. We have been calling on the parties, including Israel, to act immediately from a humanitarian perspective.

Chugoku Shimbun, Higuchi: The day before yesterday, during your keynote speech in Tokyo, you announced that Japan, as President of the UNSC, will hold a ministerial meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on March 18. I would like to ask again about its significance. In particular, as the so-called five nuclear powers—the U.S., China, Russia, the UK, and France—are permanent members of the UNSC, the meeting offers a great opportunity to advocate for nuclear disarmament from the perspective of Japan, which has expressed its aspiration to change the course of nuclear-weapon States. Could you share your opinion?

Minister Kamikawa: First, there was a question on the significance of Japan hosting the meeting.

Now, when the situation surrounding nuclear disarmament is becoming increasingly severe, we believe it is necessary to steadily advance realistic and practical efforts toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons with the cooperation of nuclear-weapon States.

In this context, in an interim year of the NPT Review Conference and in this month when Japan is the UNSC President, we consider it meaningful to hold discussions toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons at the UNSC, with nuclear-weapon States participation.

Building on results, including the “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament” issued at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May last year, we will aim to accelerate substantive discussions between nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States.

Next, there was a question on the format of the meeting. The meeting will be held in open briefing style. We are arranging to hold a meeting among the 15 members of the UNSC.

The UNSC, whose members include nuclear-weapon States, has the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Continued efforts will be made by taking advantage of such characteristics of the UNSC, to considerthe best format for holding substantive and intensive discussions, based on discussions with other UNSC members and past precedent.

Chugoku Shimbun, Higuchi: I would like to ask a follow-up question. Countries that are not UNSC members are also expressing increasing interest in Japan hosting this meeting. Will the meeting be open to non-UNSC members? In addition, does Japan hope to adopt an outcome document? I would appreciate if you can answer these two questions.

Minister Kamikawa: The format is now being arranged. Basically, we are arranging to hold a meeting among the 15 members of the UNSC in open briefing style.

Nothing has been decided at this time regarding the details, including adoption of an outcome document.

Building on results, including the “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament” issued at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May last year, we will steadfastly aim to accelerate substantive discussions between nuclear-weapon and non-nuclear-weapon States.

Radio France, Nishimura: I would like to ask about Japan’s death penalty system. EU members criticize and raise problems with Japan’s death penalty system for various reasons. When you visited EU countries, has this ever been pointed out to you? Please tell us your response to overseas criticisms of the death penalty system.

Minister Kamikawa: On the question about the death penalty system, the system itself is not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nonetheless, I am aware that there are various debates about the system.

On the death penalty system, it concerns the foundation of Japan’s criminal justice system, and I consider that the issue is ought to be carefully considered from a variety of perspectives, including the realization of justice in society, while taking sufficient account of public opinion.

I have explained Japan’s stance as necessary during meetings with my counterparts. However, as they are diplomatic communications, I would like to refrain from answering about the details.

Mainichi Shimbun, Murao: The Deliberative Council on Political Ethics has been convened since yesterday to discuss the issue of politics and money, and a sitting Prime Minister attended for the first time. Some praise the Prime Minister for attending at his initiative, but on the other hand, some express dissatisfaction with the actual explanations that were provided. As one of the key cabinet ministers, what is your opinion on whether they have helped shed light on the facts, fulfil the government’s accountability, and deepen the public’s understanding?

Minister Kamikawa: I take very seriously the need to restore public trust over the political funds issue.

I believe Prime Minister Kishida attended yesterday’s meeting of the Deliberative Council on Political Ethics of the House of Representatives, and in view of the public scrutiny and suspicions surrounding political funds, Prime Minister Kishida sought to provide thorough explanations as President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

I recognize that it is difficult to separate domestic affairs and diplomacy. Since assuming the office of Foreign Minister, I have expressed that I intend to conduct diplomacy that is understood and supported by the people. I remain fully committed to the pursuit of such diplomacy.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I would like to ask about the additional sanctions against Russia that have just been announced. They include asset freeze on an additional 12 individuals and 8 entities and prohibition on indirect imports of diamonds of Russian origin. Please explain the objective of these latest sanctions if any.

Minister Kamikawa: It has been two years since Russia launched its aggression against Ukraine. A G7 Leaders’ Video Conference was held on February 24. The G7 reaffirmed that it will strongly promote sanctions against Russia. During the conference, Prime Minister Kishida also announced that Japan will impose additional sanction measures.

Today, March 1, Japan obtained the necessary cabinet understanding for these additional measures.

The measures are threefold. The first is asset freeze and designation of additional Russian individuals and entities to which exports will be prohibited. The second is prohibition on exports to Russia of items which could contribute to the enhancement of Russian industrial capacities. The third is prohibition on indirect imports of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin.

Japan will continue to make efforts to improve the situation in cooperation with the international community, including the G7.