Remarks by Mr. Yutaka Banno,
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan
at the OSCE Summit

2 December, 2010

Japanese

Chairperson of the OSCE,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I express my deepest respect for President Nazarbayev's leadership in presiding over this OSCE Summit held for the first time in 11 years. Due to time constraint, let me focus on two points.

First, Asia and the trans-Atlantic region, located on opposite ends of the vast Eurasian continent with Astana at its centre, are inseparably linked in terms of security. North Korea's development of missiles and nuclear weapons poses a direct threat to the security of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, and proliferation of these weapons will also endanger Europe and the entire international community. The humanitarian issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea is still unresolved. The act of shelling by North Korea against the South Korean Island of Yeonpyeong is an intolerable act of provocation which undermines the peace and security of not only the ROK but the entirety of Northeast Asia. Japan, in cooperation with the international community, strongly condemns the DPRK and firmly supports the position of the Government of the ROK. Japan demands that North Korea take concrete actions in accordance with the series of UN Security Council resolutions and the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks to solve these outstanding issues. While Japan endeavours to promote the Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests with China, we are concerned with the transparency of China's military expansion and its recent maritime activities in the areas stretching from the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and East China Sea. In order to appropriately address these issues and ensure security for our own country and the international community, Japan will further deepen and enhance the Japan-US alliance centring on the Japan-US Security Arrangement while developing its own defence capability, and thereby contribute to the stability and prosperity of not only Japan and the U.S. but also the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.

Next, in addressing security challenges, the OSCE has placed importance on adopting various perspectives inclusive of economy, environment and human rights rather than focusing only on political and military aspects. This approach coincides with the concept of Human Security that Japan is advocating.

To conclude, Japan welcomes, among others, the enhancement of OSCE's involvement in Afghan reconstruction. Also I would like to reiterate Japan's commitment to contribute to the peace and stability of the international community, acting as a bridge between the OSCE region and the Asia Pacific and in cooperation with Australia as a new Asian partner.

Thank you for your attention.