Press Conferences

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

Last month, in March, Japan held the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the second time during its term as a member of the UNSC.

Amid a severe situation with the UNSC divided even more than last year, Japan made its utmost effort to serve as a bridge between the member states and ensure that the UNSC can fulfill its original responsibilities.

During Japan’s presidency, the UNSC held a total of 32 official meetings to address urgent regional affairs, including peacebuilding and conflict prevention, North Korea, the Middle East and Africa, and Ukraine.

I visited New York and chaired the Ministerial Meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on March 18, which originated from Prime Minister Kishida’s speech at the General Debate of the 78th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly last year. In the meeting, I sparked up discussions toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons.

Notably, on the situation in Gaza, as a co-penholder and president, Japan exerted maximum efforts toward the discussion and coordination. As a result of extremely tough negotiations, the UNSC adopted a total of five resolutions, including one demanding a ceasefire for the month of Ramadan.

Japan also worked to advance the discussion on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). At the UNSC meeting on March 13, we issued a joint press stakeout reiterating the utility of ensuring women’s empowerment and participation in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

In addition, during my visit to New York, we held the fourth meeting on “WPS + Innovation” with UN members and others. I also held a dialogue on WPS with Japanese staff members who play active roles in UN organizations.

The UNSC must firmly fulfill its original role as the international situation grows ever more severe. Japan, as a responsible member of the UNSC, will cooperate with other member states and continue to actively contribute to international peace and security.

That is all from me.

NHK, Igarashi: I would like to ask about the situation in the Middle East. The Embassy of Iran in Syria in the Middle East was attacked, killing senior officers of an elite military force.

Iran has condemned the attack, blaming it on Israel. On this matter, the UN has decided to convene an emergency meeting of the UNSC early morning tomorrow, April 3, Japan time.

What is the view of the Government of Japan and how will it be responding to this matter?

Minister Kamikawa: We are aware of the reports that a related facility of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, was destroyed by a missile attack on April 1, and that senior Iranian military officials and others have been killed.

In response to this incident, arrangements are being made to hold an emergency meeting of the UNSC on April 2, New York time.

I will refrain from making a definitive assessment as the facts surrounding this incident cannot be fully ascertained at this time. We are closely following the situation on the ground with grave concern and alarm.

Chugoku Shimbun, Miyano: The number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima City in FY2023 exceeded 1.98 million, setting a record high. It is considered that the G7 Hiroshima Summit is one of the reasons for this. In the “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament” and the “Hiroshima Action Plan,” the Government urges leaders and citizens of various countries to visit the atomic-bombed sites. Could you share your thoughts about the new record and its significance for realizing a world without nuclear weapons?

Furthermore, if you have been to the Peace Memorial Museum, please share with us your impressions from that visit.

Minister Kamikawa: We are aware that, as you pointed out, the number of visitors to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in FY2023 was a record high, according to Hiroshima City. We believe that the increase in visitors to this museum has tremendous significance for deepening the understanding of the realities of atomic bombing, and furthermore, for realizing a world without nuclear weapons.

On my impressions of the museum, when I visited the Peace Memorial Museum in the past, I renewed my determination never to repeat the devastation caused by nuclear weapons.

I myself came away from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum convinced that it plays a major role in drawing visits from younger generations and from all over Japan and overseas.

We believe that it is important to convey the realities of atomic bombing to the world as the starting point of all efforts toward nuclear disarmament. It is from this view that the Government, in the “Hiroshima Action Plan” and the “G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament,” urges leaders, youth, and others from around the world to visit the atomic-bombed sites and encourages visits to the sites through various initiatives.

Specifically, we hosted the G7 Summit and the meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons in Hiroshima. Furthermore, we have extended invitations to visit the atomic-bombed sites to participants of the UN Fellowships on Disarmament, a UN training program for young diplomats, national defense personnel, and others from various countries.

Additionally, “the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons” learning programme, to which Japan contributed funds and which the UN established, was launched last year. This year, participants from various countries are scheduled to visit the atomic-bombed sites and deepen their understanding of the realities of atomic bombing.

Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, will continue to promote efforts towards the correct understanding of the realities of atomic bombing across generations and national borders, including visits to the atomic-bombed sites.

Sankei Shimbun, Harakawa: I would like to ask about the Advisory Panel of Experts on Climate Change established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 2018 when Mr. KONO Taro was Minister for Foreign Affairs. The panel had three members from the Renewable Energy Institute, including Director OHBAYASHI Mika. At one time, three of the total nine members of the panel were from this institute. Ms. Ohbayashi submitted a document with a watermark of the logo of a Chinese state-owned enterprise for a meeting of a Cabinet Office task force on renewable energy, raising suspicions of Chinese influence on Japanese policies. Could you share with us again the Government’s reaction to this event? I say “again” because questions were asked at the time in the Diet about whether having three out of nine members from this institute was not lopsided. I would like to ask again how the members for the Advisory Panel were selected at the time. Did Minister Kono say, “Include this person, this person, and this person,” and the selection was made accordingly, or did it follow a different process? Could you first tell us how the members were decided?

Minister Kamikawa: The Advisory Panel of Experts you mentioned was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018, with a view to identify a new policy direction in relation to climate change issues, taking into account new global trends and inputs from NGOs, researchers, and companies taking active measures against climate change.

An array of experts was selected from various fields, including international organizations, the business community such as companies and financial institutions, NGOs, research institutes, and universities.

MOFA believes that the climate change issue needs to be discussed from a wide range of perspectives, taking into account various insights from different fields. I am aware that, based on this view, MOFA made appropriate decisions in establishing this panel and selecting its members in consultation with then Minister Kono.

Sankei Shimbun, Harakawa: I would like to ask a follow-up question. I believe this Advisory Panel has submitted recommendations to Minister Kono about two times. In June 2022, MOFA announced the suspension of ODA loan assistance for a coal-fired power project that was under way in Bangladesh. For example, was this policy decision to suspend assistance an outcome of the Advisory Panel’s recommendations? Could you explain whether this policy decision was based on the recommendations?

Minister Kamikawa: On the project in Bangladesh you are referring to, the “Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project (II),” taking into consideration the trend of international discussions on coal-fired power and after consultation with Bangladesh, Japan decided not to proceed further as an ODA loan project in June 2022.

I understand that experts in the field of climate change prepared the Advisory Panel’s recommendations upon discussing the international trends in this field, and that the recommendations are a compilation of the experts’ opinions.

My understanding is that the Advisory Panel’s recommendations in February 2018 have no direct relation to the announcement of the suspension in June 2022.

Kyodo News, Katsurada: I would like to ask about Japan’s UNRWA funding. Today, you announced that Japan will resume its funding. How do you intend to ensure the transparency of UNRWA operations? Please tell us what the aim was in establishing a monitoring mechanism unique to Japan and details on how it will be operated. Could you also tell us around when Japan’s contributions will resume?

Minister Kamikawa: In connection with resuming Japan’s funding to UNRWA, the organization agreed on the establishment of the Japan-UNRWA Project Management and Monitoring Mechanism. This is one of the additional measures that UNRWA promised Japan after my meeting with Commissioner General Lazzarini during his visit to Japan last week. It is a new framework to ensure the propriety and transparency of projects funded by Japan.

Specifically, a monitoring working group will be established at each field office, and each working group, with the involvement of UNRWA Japanese staff, will monitor the progress of projects, the flow of funds, and other aspects.

A program council comprised of members from the Government of Japan, UNRWA, and outside experts will meet at least twice a year. It will be briefed about the management and monitoring of projects and assess their propriety. That is the outline of this scheme.

About the actual timing of the resumption, as the number of days required for UNRWA’s procedures also need to be considered, we cannot give a definite date at this time. We aim to make the contribution as swiftly as possible in view of the current situation.

Anadolu Agency, Mercan: I was wondering if you can provide answers to two questions, either in writing or verbally. What are your views on the unjust housing construction in Palestine by Israel and unjust state-owned lands? What is your opinion on the Israeli military’s destruction of Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip? Could you update us on the efforts of the Government of Japan? Thank you.

Minister Kamikawa: I would like to explain with regard to the “unjust housing construction” and “unjust land grabbing” that was just asked about.

The Government of Israel continues its settlement activities, including approving plans for the construction of around 3,500 housing units in settlements in the West Bank in March.

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. Going forward, we will continue to urge as necessary.

In addition, 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. At the same time, we will also respond appropriately to the situation, including urging the Government of Israel.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kudo: On March 29, citing Ambassador to China Ri Ryong-nam of North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency reported that an official from the Embassy of Japan in Beijing proposed to have contact with a North Korean embassy personnel on the 28th. Is this true? Please also explain the intention of the Japanese side. In addition, please share with us what you think about North Korea disclosing the status of diplomatic contacts to outside parties. Thank you.

Minister Kamikawa: Firstly, I am aware of the reports you mentioned, but I would like to refrain from commenting on individual announcements made by North Korea.

Prime Minister Kishida has stated that he would like to hold high-level talks under his direct supervision to realize a summit meeting, with a view to resolve the outstanding issues with North Korea. Japan has constantly called for talks through a range of channels, but I would like to refrain from disclosing more details.