Telephone Conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone and H.E. Mr. Micheal Martin, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland

May 21, 2009

On Thursday (May 21), Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone held a telephone conversation with H.E. Mr. Micheal Martin, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland today for about 30 minutes from 6:05 p.m. (JST). The summary of the conversation is as follows:

At the outset, Minister Nakasone expressed his pleasure that bilateral relations between the two countries have been strengthened not least through the visit to Japan by Prime Minister Brian Cowen in January this year. In response, Minister Martin stated that Japan and Ireland enjoy extremely friendly relations as exemplified by the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2007.

The two ministers agreed that Japan and Ireland value human security and that the two countries will work together through such channels as Friends of Human Security and the Ministerial Meeting of the Human Security Network to be held in Ireland.

The two ministers also confirmed that Japan-Ireland cooperation is progressing in a range of sectors, including efforts towards the conclusion of a social security agreement, cooperation in information and telecommunications technology (ICT), and development assistance in Uganda.

Minister Martin stated that he would like to seek continued efforts towards the lifting of the ban on the import of beef produced in Ireland. Minister Nakasone replied that he will continue to instruct the government offices concerned to see what Japan can do about it.

Minister Nakasone stated that he had proposed 11 benchmarks for global nuclear disarmament in April and that he will make efforts towards an early conclusion of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Minister Martin stated that he highly values Japan's efforts in the area of disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation.

Asked by Minister Martin about the recent situation in Sri Lanka, Minister Nakasone replied that although the civil war in Sri Lanka had ended, the country needs humanitarian assistance. He added that important actions to be taken now include assistance to and resettlement of a large number of internally displaced persons, and swift progress in political processes for national reconciliation. Minister Nakasone explained that the Government of Japan on May 1 decided to extend emergency aid of up to 4 million US dollars and on May 15 announced assistance in kind worth 47 million yen as additional aid. Minister Martin stated that he shares Japan's views and highly values these efforts by the Government of Japan.