Press Conferences

Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs: At today’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet approved the holding of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025, and the awards ceremony for the Fifth Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize on that occasion.

In addition, the TICAD Ministerial Meeting will be held from August 24 to 25, 2024 in Tokyo and I will chair the meeting.

As the Global South countries take on a significant presence in the world, I believe that enhancing collaboration through TICAD with African countries, which are part of the Global South, will not only serve Japan’s national interests, including economic and security aspects, and but also lead the international community from division and confrontation to cooperation.

Japan has engaged in the TICAD process these past 30 years with a spirit of emphasizing African ownership and international partnership in support of development led by Africa itself.

At this year’s TICAD Ministerial Meeting and next year’s TICAD 9, Japan will seek to further strengthen its cooperation with Africa.

That is all from me.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about the situation in the Middle East. Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has kept his stance on conducting a ground operation in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip where nearly 1.5 million people live, including displaced people, raising strong concerns from the international community. Amidst this situation, the European Union (EU) agreed that it will urge Israel to forgo a ground operation. Please tell us your thoughts on how Japan will approach Israel.

Minister Kamikawa: Japan is deeply concerned about the developments of an Israeli military operation in Rafah. I reiterated this Japanese position at the recent G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. It was also clearly conveyed to Israel by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuji when he visited Israel at the end of February.

If a military operation continues in Rafah, a densely populated area, without taking adequate measures for the evacuation and protection of civilians, it will clearly result in a catastrophe with even more casualties and make humanitarian assistance activities ever more challenging.

The release of hostages and the pause in fighting are still in a negotiation process intermediated by the countries concerned. To realize these ends, Japan is urging the parties bilaterally in close coordination with the countries concerned. We are also making diplomatic efforts as a member of the United Nations Security Council and the G7 to create a conducive environment. Japan will continue to make persistent and active diplomatic efforts.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I would like to ask a follow-up question on the Middle East situation, about UNRWA Commissioner General Lazzarini’s visit to Japan scheduled for next week. Japan has suspended funding to UNRWA due to the alleged involvement of some of its staff members in the attack on Israel by Hamas. What kind of explanations do you expect during your meeting with Mr. Lazzarini for Japan to consider resuming its funding? In addition, what measures does Japan intend to urge UNRWA to take, including strengthening governance?

Minister Kamikawa: On the issue of UNRWA, Japan has been communicating with the United Nations (UN), UNRWA, and relevant countries through various channels. Even today, we continue to communicate with them. We have also been following the progress of the UN investigation and the independent review, and UNRWA’s own efforts, and actively cooperating with the process.

I myself have held dialogues with Chair Colonna of the Independent Review Group and UN Secretary-General Guterres.

It is widely recognized in the international community that UNRWA plays a vital role in assisting Palestine refugees. Japan has stressed that UNRWA needs to advance initiatives that will enable it to regain trust and fulfill its role as soon as possible.

On the occasion of Commissioner General Lazzarini’s visit to Japan, we hope to receive a detailed explanation of UNRWA’s efforts to strengthen its governance in response to the allegations, and the direction of its measures, among other matters.

Japan will then consider in a timely manner its response to the Independent Review Group’s interim report and UNRWA’s measures including efforts for strengthening governance.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: My question is about the Indonesian presidential election. Mr. Prabowo Subianto won the recent presidential election in Indonesia. On the one hand, he is expected to continue President Joko’s omnidirectional diplomacy. On the other hand, some say that his security policy is Western leaning. Please share with us what kind of diplomatic relationship you would like to build with Indonesia.

Minister Kamikawa: I extend my congratulations to candidate Prabowo Subianto, current Minister of Defense, on his victory in the Indonesian presidential election. Yesterday, Prime Minister Kishida held a telephone talk with President-elect Prabowo and extended his congratulations directly to the President-elect.

Japan and Indonesia are Comprehensive and Strategic Partners which share fundamental principles and values and have enjoyed historical ties in a wide range of areas such as politics, economy and culture.

Japan would like to advance the cooperation with Indonesia with the new President in such fields as infrastructure development, environment and energy, human resource development, and defense and security while further strengthening the close coordination on regional and global issues.

Hokkaido Shimbun, Imai: I would like to ask about the effectiveness of the recent Russian presidential election that was also held in the Northern Territories. The Government of Japan indicated its position that the recent holding of the presidential election in regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia is unacceptable as it infringes upon Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The presidential election was also conducted in the Northern Territories. The Government of Japan maintains the position that the Northern Territories are illegally occupied by Russia, similar to the annexed regions of Ukraine. What is your view on the legitimacy of the presidential election held in the Northern Territories?

Minister Kamikawa: The Northern Territories are islands over which Japan has sovereignty, and are an inherent part of the territory of Japan. However, they continue to be illegally occupied by Russia.

Activities carried out under the presumption that Russia has “jurisdiction” in the Northern Territories, including the Russian presidential election you just noted, are inconsistent with Japan’s position on the Northern Territories issue and are unacceptable.

The Northern Territories issue itself must be resolved to fundamentally resolve the issues arising from Russia’s continued illegal occupation of the Northern Territories.

Japan-Russia relations are facing difficult circumstances due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and regrettably, I have nothing specific to report right now regarding the peace treaty negotiations. That said, the Government will firmly maintain its policy of concluding a peace treaty through the resolution of the Northern Territories issue.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I would like to ask about the Japan National Football Team’s World Cup Preliminary Qualification match that was scheduled to be played in North Korea on March 26. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that personnel from the Consular Affairs Bureau and others would be dispatched to support Japanese citizens. Is it correct to understand that the dispatch has been cancelled now that the match in North Korea has been called off?

Minister Kamikawa: We are aware that the Japan Football Association made such an announcement.

The government officials’ dispatch to Pyongyang was for the purpose of supporting those Japanese citizens affiliated with the Japan versus North Korea football match. Therefore, if the match is not played in North Korea, we do not plan to dispatch the officials.