Press Conferences

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

First, at the Cabinet meeting today, I made a statement regarding the release of the White Paper on Development Cooperation 2023.

Every year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issues its White Paper on Development Cooperation, summarizing achievements in development cooperation, as well as thematic policies and regional policies. This year’s white paper presents Japan’s achievements in development cooperation and its thematic policies and regional policies, while also addressing the revision of the Development Cooperation Charter and the discussions and achievements related to the development field at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

ODA is one of the important tools of diplomacy. As it is funded by public funding, we believe that it is only possible to carry out ODA with the understanding and cooperation of the Japanese people. We hope that this white paper will aid the public in better understanding Japan’s efforts in ODA.

In addition, this year marks the 70th anniversary of Japan’s International Cooperation. Japan has contributed to the development of many developing countries through ODA, leading to increased trust in and growth of Japan.

Going forward, we will tirelessly continue to pursue the appropriate ways for ODA to contribute to solving the problems of developing countries and global issues, while at the same time ensuring the peace and security of Japan and its people, and achieving further prosperity for Japan.

Minister Kamikawa: The second announcement concerns participation in the Cyprus Maritime Humanitarian Corridor.

At present, the improvement of the critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is a top priority, and Japan has been implementing humanitarian assistance in various forms, including providing the newly decided Emergency Grant Aid amounting to USD 32 million through international organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Under the current circumstances, ensuring the stable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is a major challenge. As one of the solutions to this issue, Cyprus, the U.S., the UAE, and other nations play central roles in moving forward an initiative to transport humanitarian aid by sea.

Japan welcomes and supports this initiative as it will contribute to the expansion of the volumes of humanitarian assistance delivered to the Gaza Strip.

In addition, Japan has informed the countries concerned that it intends to proactively consider specific ways of cooperation with them to contribute to this initiative. We will continue to work closely with the countries concerned to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

That is all from me.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask you about the election of the President of the ICC. Yesterday, Judge AKANE Tomoko became the first Japanese person to be elected President of the ICC. In January this year, you visited the ICC and met with Judge Akane, so please share with us your candid reactions. In addition, please also tell us about your expectations for her as a female Japanese president from the perspective of Women, Peace and Security (WPS), which you are promoting.

Minister Kamikawa: On March 11, the election of the President of the ICC was held at the ICC in The Hague, the Netherlands, and the Government of Japan welcomes the election of ICC Judge AKANE Tomoko of Japan as the first Japanese President of the Court.

The election of Judge Akane as the President is a sign of the high regard in which she is held for her experience, and it is highly significant. Japan looks forward to her further success as the President in the future.

I myself visited the ICC in January, where I expressed and conveyed Japan’s support for the role ICC and others play for the sake of the “rule of law” and “human dignity.” We will continue to support the role of the ICC under President Akane’s leadership.

In addition, as part of our support for the ICC, Japan has been supporting the victims of conflict-related sexual violence in true conflict situations by contributing to the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) established by the ICC. Regarding support for victims of sexual violence, as you are referring to, I believe it is one of the important agenda items of WPS, which I am promoting.

I recognize that the election of Judge Akane, a Japanese woman, as President of the ICC is extremely significant, and I will continue to work closely with the ICC, while making use of WPS perspectives.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I have a question on the funding to the UNRWA. Canada and Sweden announced resumption of funding. Please share with us the Japanese government’s stance about considering the resumption of funding. What factors will be taken into consideration in determining whether to resume funding?

Minister Kamikawa: Japan is extremely concerned about the recent allegations surrounding UNRWA staff members. However, it is a fact that the UNRWA plays a vital role in providing assistance for Palestinian refugees in not only Gaza, but also the West Bank, and in assisting neighboring countries including Jordan.

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, but the UN’s investigation and a third party’s verification are currently underway. Japan will be considering how to respond taking into account these factors and UNRWA’s own efforts to strengthen its governance. From this perspective, we are in close communication with the UN, UNRWA itself, and relevant countries, and will respond appropriately.

We believe that the most pressing issue at the moment is the delivery of urgently needed food and medicine to each and every person in Gaza, and that it is essential to deliver these necessities for daily life, especially to women, as soon as possible. Japan has decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid through various international organizations without waiting for the results of the investigation, and is now taking measures to ensure that it is actually extended. As I have previously stated, I would like to reiterate that we will robustly provide the Emergency Grant Aid amounting to USD 32 million through WFP, WHO, UNICEF, and other organizations.

We understand that the implementation of humanitarian assistance to reach as many women and children as possible is extremely important, and we will make persistent and proactive diplomatic efforts to ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities.

Pan Orient News, Azhari: Several European countries - Germany, Spain and Belgium for example, are now planning, or even started, to ban entry of extremist Israeli settlers. Will Japan follow suit and ban entry of those extremists from Israel to enter Japan?

Minister Kamikawa: As you mentioned, we are aware that several European and North American countries have announced travel and other restrictions against some Israeli settlers. Japan, too, is seriously concerned about the violence by settlers in the West Bank.

As we have stated on various occasions, Japan’s position is that Israeli settlement activities are in violation of international law and undermine the viability of a two-state solution. Based on this position, Japan has been strongly urging the Israeli authorities to fully freeze its settlement activities. Most recently, on March 8, we issued a Statement by the Press Secretary expressing deep regret over the announcement by the Government of Israel regarding settlements. Going forward, we will continue to urge as necessary.

Violence by extremist Israeli settlers is never acceptable. We will continue to consider what kind of measures we can take to clearly express such positions of Japan. We will also consider and take various measures, including urging the Government of Israel.

Anadolu Agency, Mercan: My question is about the situation in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Biden said that “More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Most of whom are not Hamas,” and that Rafah is a red line. The U.S. president’s statement is seen as an admission. Japan has not demanded or called on Israel to implement a ceasefire, whether directly or indirectly so far. Will the Government of Japan change its stance on calling for a ceasefire?

Minister Kamikawa: Since the incident began, Japan has consistently taken the position that it is crucial to release the hostages, improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, and ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities.

Based on this, Japan hopes that a humanitarian ceasefire would be swiftly achieved, which would ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities and would also lead to the release of hostages, and that a sustainable ceasefire would be achieved. With this in mind, we have been calling on the parties, including Israel, to act immediately from a humanitarian perspective.

Japan will continue 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.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: I would like to ask about the situation surrounding Israel and Palestine. Ramadan has begun, but the bombing of the Gaza Strip has intensified. Yesterday, it was reported that the number of deaths from starvation reached 25. There is some criticism calling this a “man-made famine” or “genocide by starvation.” Will the Government of Japan make its stance clear that it will not support genocide? Is Japan also considering resuming its funding to UNRWA, recalling its ambassador in Israel, and levying sanctions such as freezing the Japan-Israel Investment Agreement?

Minister Kamikawa: Japan has always maintained that all the parties must act in accordance with international law including the international humanitarian law, and has called for compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law.

It is difficult to fully grasp the facts in this situation, so we refrain from making any legal assessment of the actions of the Israeli military, including legal assessments. That being said, we are aware that the number of civilian casualties is continually rising, and that the humanitarian situation on the ground is extremely severe.

Under these circumstances, indeed, the parties concerned are urged to provide further explanations.

Japan hopes that a “humanitarian ceasefire” will be swiftly achieved, which would ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities and would also lead to the release of hostages, and that a sustainable ceasefire will be achieved. Furthermore, we will continue to call on the parties to act immediately from a humanitarian perspective.