Joint Press Conference on the Occasion
of the Japan-Northern Europe Summit in Bergen

Speakers

June 26, 1997
Bergen, Norway

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1. Statement by Prime Minister of Norway
2. Statement by Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto
3. Japan-Nordic cooperation on aging and social welfare
4. Japan-Nordic cooperation in preparation for the Third Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto
5. Nordic positions on reform of the United Nations Security Council
6. Japanese, Nordic and European positions on how to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions

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I. Statement by Prime Minister of Norway

Prime Minister of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. It has been a pleasure for me, on behalf of the five Nordic countries, to welcome Prime Minister Hashimoto to Bergen, at this joint Nordic-Japanese meeting and historic meeting. On the Nordic side, we all have Japan as our most important political and trading partner in Asia. We welcome the more active role of Japan on the international scene, and we appreciate the opportunity to engage in regular dialogue between the Nordic countries and Japan.

We have addressed many issues, one of them relations between our countries and Japan, and we have decided to increase cooperation in general. Then the more concrete one: the regional development in Northern Europe and Asia, including our joint interest in expanding cooperation with Russia.

Then we have discussed United Nations-related issues, including the U.N. reform, the need for combating poverty, the need for transferring technology to the poorest countries, and the need for reaching an ambitious and legally binding climate agreement in Kyoto.

Finally, Prime Minister Hashimoto has presented to us all his initiative in the G-7 framework for a "Caring World." We have agreed on a joint study on the consequences of an aging population, welfare policies and labor policies. We will then raise these issues when we, hopefully, meet again next year. Please, Prime Minister Hashimoto.

II. Statement by Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto

Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto: Thank you very much, indeed. What I first would like to state is that I am most grateful to the five leaders of the Nordic countries, who took the trouble of gathering here in Bergen to hold the first-ever summit meeting of Japan and the Nordic countries. I believe this meeting was most fruitful.

In addition to international situations, we also exchanged views on United Nations reform, the environment, social welfare and numerous other issues. I sincerely hope to continue this sort of meeting.

With regard to international situations, the Nordic colleagues explained to me that cooperation in Northern Europe with Russia and the Baltic states is progressing in a manner conducive to the region's stability. I, in return, covered the recent situation in Asia, explaining the situations in China -- including Hong Kong -- the Korean Peninsula, as well as Myanmar. Especially on China, I pointed out the importance of cementing China's position in the world community as a constructive partner.

On U.N. reform, I first commented on the need to actively engage in reform to realize a reform of the Security Council at an early date, and the importance of achieving U.N. reform in a well, balanced manner, as a whole. We saw eye to eye on these points. The Nordic countries voiced their high appreciation, not only for Japan's financial contributions, but also for its contributions in peacekeeping and in other areas, and expressed their hope that Japan would continue with such active contributions.

On the environment, the Nordic prime ministers shared their views with me, and I explained that the leaders at the Denver Summit had agreed on their intent to commit to meaningful, realistic and equitable targets that would result in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, and that in the area of the environment, we shall continue with our active cooperation.

Now, in the area of social welfare, I explained the "Initiative for a Caring World" which I proposed to the Lyon Summit last year, and also reported on what has emerged in the process of the summit since. Especially when we think about aging, the Nordic countries have experienced aging over an extended period of time, whereas we are proceeding towards an aging society at a very fast pace. So we have stark differences in the situation related to the aging of society; yet I believe exchanging our experiences and knowledge with regard to aging should be beneficial for both of us. So we shall move ahead with the exchange of relevant information and data.

So, through today's discussion, I recognized that there is a high level of interest in the Nordic countries concerning global issues, and that the Nordic countries are already acting and producing results. I also felt the importance of Japan and the Nordic countries cooperating with each other as partners, sharing knowledge and vision. I should like to keep up the momentum of cooperation between Japan and the Nordic countries generated by our meeting today, through numerous channels. The Nordic leaders also responded with a show of welcome to my suggestion that we continue the Japan-Nordic summit meetings in the future. Thank you.

III. Japan-Nordic cooperation on aging and social welfare

Q: This is a question for Prime Minister Hashimoto. As you have discussed with the five Nordic countries, which are advanced countries in terms of welfare, how do you intend to reflect the information you have received today to Japanese society? Also, you have referred to the exchange of data, but in relation to social welfare for Japan in the future, what kind of cooperation do you intend to have from the Nordic countries?

Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto: First on data, we hosted the East Asian Meeting of Social Security Ministers in Japan, and we provided very detailed data with regard to social welfare administration. We already have English documents produced for that conference. So we shall send these documents to the Nordic countries at an early date, and I hope that, in response, we shall be able to have suggestions from the Nordic countries. One other point which I heard which was very useful for me today: the Nordic countries have proceeded in the process of aging as a gradual process. We received very good advice with regard to the aging society. I said that the elderly should not be treated as hopeless, powerless people totally dependent upon society, but that we must try to confirm the direction which will prove the usefulness of the elderly with their self-consciousness and choice, and in this direction, I believe there will be a lot that we can study. In Japan, there is a high level of intergenerational cohabitation, and that level is low in the Nordic countries. I am sure there are differences in policy between the Nordic countries and Japan in that respect. At the OECD, there is already an effort to put together country reports in this area, and also, research is being conducted on aging. We should like to cooperate with the Nordic countries in that framework, as well, and I am sure that new themes for further cooperation will emerge through that process.

IV. Japan-Nordic cooperation in preparation for the Third Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto

Q: To Mr. Jagland, have you discussed any joint strategies between the Nordic countries and Japan on the Kyoto conference?

Prime Minister of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland: No, we have not discussed joint strategies, but we have discussed this issue, and as I said, we agree on the need for a binding climate agreement in Kyoto. We may have different views and strategies, but it is our aim to get an ambitious climate agreement in Kyoto.

V. Nordic positions on reform of the United Nations Security Council

Q: A question to the Norwegian Prime Minister: in your discussion today regarding U.N. reform, especially regarding the reform of the Security Council's permanent members, was there an agreement? Also, Japan is wishing to become a permanent member, but I would like to know the five Nordic countries' views on that.

Prime Minister of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland: It is the position of the Norwegian Government that Japan should become a new permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations. This is our firm position, and I have told the Prime Minister this today.

Prime Minister of Iceland David Oddsson: I would say that the Iceland people agree with what the Norwegian Prime Minister said. We do think that the Security Council should not be made too large, but we think that it is time for major, important countries like Japan, Germany, to become permanent members of the Security Council. We think it is not only fair, but we think it is a necessity for the United Nations if it should still function in the future.

VI. Japanese, Nordic and European positions on how to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions

Q: My question is a further follow-up on the environment. For Japan, the COP III meeting to be held in Kyoto is important, and I wonder in what way there could be an agreement achieved regarding the reduction of CO2. That is a very critical issue. The Norwegian Prime Minister has stated about the Norwegian position, but regarding the EU's plan to reduce 15 percent compared to 1990, the Japanese position is different. How the gap should be narrowed is one of the most serious problems that Japan has in relation to the environment. Now, the question. For the non-EU members of the Nordic countries, Norway and Iceland, I would like to hear from the two prime ministers regarding how you view this question of CO2 reduction. Another question goes to the Prime Minister of Sweden: as a representative of a member country of the EU, how do you regard this question of CO2 reduction?

Prime Minister of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland: First, on the EU proposal, I stated in the United Nations two days ago that Norway supports the position of the European Union, that one should reduce climate gases by 15 percent within 2010. But you are not talking only about the emissions of CO2; we are talking about all the climate gases. Then we stressed the need for differentiation and a cost-effective agreement. I told the Prime Minister today at lunch that if Europe started to use Russian gas instead of Norwegian gas, then Europe would increase CO2 emissions seven-fold, because of the pipelines which are leaking on the Russian side. So this means that it is more cost-effective to invest in the pipelines on the Russian side than to spend a huge amount of money to decrease, to lower the emissions of CO2 on our side by so little. So this is cost- effectiveness, which is very, very important in order to make a good climate agreement, and then differentiation, which has also been introduced by the European Union. But we support the position which they have taken, and I stated this in the United Nations two days ago.

Prime Minister of Sweden Goran Persson: And, of course, we inside the European Union are happy for the support from Norway in trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. A 15 percent reduction must be seen as a first step; it is a rather modest step, but it is a first step. For Sweden, we want to be a forerunner; we want to be very active in trying to push for further actions and further steps. This is the first step, and we were able to unite on about 15 percent as a reduction, and I think there will also be a possibility in Kyoto to have a support for that goal, for that target, also from other countries.

Prime Minister of Iceland David Oddsson: Iceland was not a member of the EU proposal. I think it can make a difference from what standpoint you are cutting, where your country was when you made that decision of cutting 15 percent. If you have a man who is 150 kilograms and another who is 75 kilograms and you decide that both of them should go down 50 kilograms, one will live happily ever after and the other will die. So it can make a difference, how you were before such a decision was taken. I would like to say, too, that in some way, people are now talking about taxation and lots of things to take care of the warming of the climate. It is very important, but they should not forget to use the money on environmental issues that you can tackle. I think many of the politicians like to tackle things that are very far in the distance, like the ocean question or the warm climate. You should take action where you can in cleaning the air, cleaning the rivers, and such things, not only talking about things that are very difficult to put your hand on.

Prime Minister of Denmark Poul Nyrup Rasmussen: To put it directly, after Rio, we know what is right and what is wrong. We have passed the phase of discussion about our knowledge as far as greenhouse gases are concerned, and their effects on our climate. Now it is time for action; now we have to reverse the trend. Therefore, I am convinced that we have to make decisions in Kyoto. And let me be frank, saying that, having all the partners in the world agree, I don't see that the highest difficulties in obtaining an agreement are between the European Union and Japan. On the contrary, I could foresee other partners with whom we have to negotiate further. But why not take it as a leading position? Let us assume that the Nordic countries and the European Union, together with Japan, could form a good partnership to obtain a good result in Kyoto. As an addition to that, I would take the opportunity to express my gratitude to Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto, for his intervention in the United Nations General Assembly on Environment, because my opinion is that what we have to do in relation to the poor countries is to export our green technology, and to try to help education and training in "green knowledge." May I just remind you that what we know today about renewable energy, not least wind-power-based energy and solar energy, is at a fairly high level now. In all humility, my own country does export about 60 percent of all the wind-power based energy in the world. So you see, we can do much more today than we could just 10 years ago, and we have to do more.

Prime Minister of Japan Ryutaro Hashimoto: Let me have an opportunity to respond to some extent. My other colleagues referred to the Kyoto conference, and I believe it is absolutely necessary to bring that conference to a successful conclusion. I highly appreciate the show of determination by the EU member countries as well as the non-EU member countries. We have to, at whatever cost, come up with a Kyoto Protocol. We do have significant differences of position amongst the various countries. That is today's reality. But we have to produce an effective and equitable protocol at the end of the day, and we would very much like to ask for your cooperation. I think that whether we have the cooperation of the mass media or not may also affect the outcome of the conference. It is a very important conference, and I very much seek your cooperation. Thank you.

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