Press Conferences

Deputy Press Secretary Ms. Naoko Saiki: Good afternoon. Let me begin by touching upon several issues before I take questions.

Ms. Saiki: First, on the awarding of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize. Yesterday on March 13 the Government of Japan announced its decision to award the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize as follows. A laureate for the Medical Research category is Dr. Peter Piot of Belgium, who is director and professor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and a laureate for the Medical Services category is Dr. Alex Godwin Coutinho of Uganda, who is executive director of the Infectious Disease Institute at Makerere University. I am afraid some of you in this room may not be quite familiar with the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, so let me briefly explain about this prize and its philosophy. Back in May 2006, during his visit to Ghana, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi mentioned the concept of the prize. Mindful of the ominous human suffering persisting in Africa, in July 2006 the Government of Japan officially inaugurated the prize. By the way, Dr. Noguchi was a bacteriologist, who devoted his life to fighting infectious diseases and eventually passed away in Ghana in 1928 while researching yellow fever. The prize aims to honor individuals or organizations with outstanding achievement in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa, thus contributing to the health and welfare of the African people and of all humankind. The awarding ceremony of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize will be organized on June 1, the first day of the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), to be held in Yokohama from June 1 to 3 this year with African leaders’ participation. This is the first item I wanted to touch upon.

Ms. Saiki: Second, on the election of the Holy Father. The Government of Japan offers its heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Francis. We hope that the good relationship between Japan and the Holy See will be further strengthened under the leadership of the newly elected Holy Father.

Ms. Saiki: Third, on Japan’s financial contribution to Canada. Today, on March 14 Japan time, or March 13 local time in Vancouver, Canada, Japan and Canada jointly announced that the Government of Japan will extend to the Government of Canada an ex gratia grant in the sum of approximately one million Canadian dollars in order to aid in the cleanup of tsunami debris on Canada’s west coast. This grant represents a token of gratitude to the Canadian Government and the Canadian people in recognition of the tremendous support provided to Japan in the wake of the March 11 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. It is also a demonstration of goodwill by the Japanese people and the Government with respect to communities on the west coast of Canada which have been or will be affected by tsunami debris. This ex gratia grant will be provided on the basis of the statement of intention made by then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda during his conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the occasion of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting held last September.

Ms. Saiki: Fourth, on the Ninth Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the Ninth Asian Senior-level Talks on Non-Proliferation, the so-called ASTOP-IX, today on March 14 in Tokyo. A number of senior government officials in charge of non-proliferation policies from ASEAN member states, the Republic of Korea, and countries with a common interest in the security of the region, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, are participating. Various issues related to the strengthening of the non-proliferation apparatus in Asia will have been discussed during the talks to deepen the level of understanding among countries of their desired non-proliferation implementation measures, the obstacles they would face and solutions to such obstacles. Attendants of ASTOP-IX, benefiting from the discussions of the eight previous meetings, are expected to exchange views on the maintaining and strengthening of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, counter-proliferation measures and recent development and other issues of mutual interest throughout today.

Ms. Saiki: Fifth, on the 21st Japan-EU Summit Meeting. The 21st Japan-European Union Summit will be held in Tokyo on March 25. The meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and others. At this annual meeting, both leaders of advanced democracies, who share basic values, will exchange opinions on wide-ranging issues including regional affairs, from the perspective of further deepening mutual cooperation for common issues the international community is facing, towards the strengthening of Japan-EU political and economic partnership.

Ms. Saiki: Sixth, on a visit to Japan by the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. From March 21 to 23, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill will make a working visit to Japan. During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister O’Neill is scheduled to have a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to exchange views on bilateral relations, the regional and international situation and other issues. The visit of Prime Minister O’Neill is expected to further enhance the bilateral relationship between Japan and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

Ms. Saiki: Seventh, on a visit to Japan by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Negotiating Panel. Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Negotiating Panel, including Chairman Mohagher Iqbal, will visit Japan from March 17 to 23 as guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The panel has been engaged in peace negotiations with the Philippine government. The conflict between the Philippine government and Islamic rebel groups in Mindanao, located in the southern part of the Philippines, has continued for more than 40 years. The peace talks have recently made substantial progress toward the realization of a final peace agreement. In October 2012, the Philippine government and the MILF signed the Framework Agreement on the Mindanao Peace Process and agreed on the creation of a new political entity called Bangsamoro in 2016. Japan has actively contributed to the Mindanao peace process. Since 2006, Japan has dispatched development experts to the International Monitoring Team and intensively implemented economic cooperation projects in conflict-affected areas that can directly benefit the grassroots communities. Japan has been an observer in the peace talks since participating in the International Contact Group in 2009. In August 2011, Japan hosted an informal meeting on the outskirts of Tokyo between President Benigno Aquino III and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim. It is expected that the visit of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel members can help finalize the Mindanao peace process.

With these initial announcements, I would be happy to take questions. No questions? Then I will conclude today’s press conference. Thank you.