Press Conferences

Mr. KITAMURA Toshihiro, Press Secretary: At the outset, I have no new announcement. As Foreign Minister Kamikawa announced at her press conference yesterday, there will be a series of diplomatic events beginning tomorrow, including the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and other ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, the Japan-U.S. “2+2,” and the Japan-Australia-India-U.S. (Quad) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will appropriately disseminate information at the sites of these meetings and in Japan.

That is all from me.

Kyodo News, Hayashi: In relation to the “2+2” you mentioned, in response to the sexual related crimes by U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa, yesterday, Minister Kamikawa said that Japan will urge the U.S. to prevent a recurrence, taking the opportunity of the “2+2” as well. How will the Government of Japan approach the U.S. side on this? In addition, the U.S. Forces Japan announced it will establish a forum that involves Okinawa Prefecture. How will Japan organize the roles of the existing Cooperation Working Team (CWT) and the new forum? Please tell us about your current views on these matters.

Press Secretary Kitamura: Regarding your first question, as the Government has repeatedly stated, it is truly regrettable that the sexual related crimes by U.S. military personnel occurred in succession. MOFA has repeatedly urged the U.S. to strengthen discipline within U.S. Forces Japan and take concrete and meaningful measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

The U.S. side announced new measures, and as Minister Kamikawa said yesterday, it is important to ensure the implementation of the measures and that they lead to prevented recurrence.

In that sense, we intend to approach the U.S. to steadily implement the measures, taking the opportunity of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (SCC), known as the “2+2,” which will be held this weekend. That addresses your first question.

On your second question about the forum, the U.S. made its announcement on July 22. We are aware that the U.S. will establish this new forum for the sake of cooperation between U.S. Forces Japan, the Government of Japan, the Okinawa Prefectural Government, and local residents.

At this time, further details on the forum’s specific members or agenda have not been decided. The Government intends to coordinate with the U.S. and will fully cooperate to hold constructive discussions with local residents in order to achieve the common goals of Japan and the U.S., including the prevention of incidents and accidents involving U.S. military personnel or others.