Press Releases
Telephone Talk between Foreign Minister Taro Kono and U.S. Ambassador Hagerty
On January 9, commencing at 1:15 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with Mr. William Hagerty, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who is currently on mission abroad, concerning a series of U.S. aircraft accidents such as the emergency landing of a UH-1Y in Uruma city, Okinawa, on January 6 and the precautionary landing of an AH-1Z in Yomitan village, Okinawa, on January 8. The overview is as follows.
1. Foreign Minister Kono expressed regret over the series of accidents and requested strengthened discipline and recurrence-prevention, stating that frequent accidents amplify the local people’s anxiety and that the Government of Japan has a serious concern on that tendency. He also requested Ambassador Hagerty to take fundamental measures for preventing incidents/ accidents.
2. In response, Ambassador Hagerty stated that the U.S. side considers the safety of the local people in Japan, including Okinawa, the top priority and that information concerned is to be provided at an early date. He also expressed his intention, in response to the Minister Kono’s request, to strengthen actions for the recurrence-prevention of incidents/accidents in cooperation with the U.S. forces, Japan.
3. Based on the above mentioned conversation, the both sides shared the view to keep close communication.