Japan-United States Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New York
(Summary)
On 13 September, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi held talks with Secretary of State Colin Powell of the United States of America during her visit to New York. The following is a summary of the meeting.
1. Return to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by the United States
Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that she thought the speech delivered on the previous day by President George W. Bush at the United Nations was a very good one. She heartily welcomed as well, the fact that President Bush expressed his intention for the United States to return to UNESCO. Furthermore, she stated her intention to strengthen cooperation between Japan and the United States within UNESCO, as both countries did on the occasion of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). Secretary of State Powell also expressed his agreement in that regard.
2. Security Council Reform
Regarding the matter of United Nations Security Council reform, after expressing gratitude for the continued support by the United States for Japan's inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi firmly stated her intention to cooperate even further with the United States in light of the fact that the cooperation of the United States is imperative for further progress to be achieved in discussions on Security Council reform that had already continued for nine years. Secretary of State Powell also expressed his agreement in that regard.
3. The issue of Iraq
1) Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that she highly regarded the speech delivered at the United Nations by President Bush. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi also highly commended the fact that the President expressed his intention to work with the UN Security Council to meet the common challenge and to undertake further diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that Japan would work together with the United States in pursuing these diplomatic efforts. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi said that she would be meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iraq on 14 September and would take that opportunity to urge the Iraqi Foreign Minister to cooperate. She also said that she had spoken with the Foreign Minister of Iran and that the Iranian Foreign Minister had also expressed his intention to do the same.
2) In response, Secretary of State Powell stated that indeed the United States hoped efforts be made in the United Nations, and that given the fact that the mere adoption of resolutions would not change the situation, he intended to work toward drafting a new resolution calling on all nations to cooperate and to take concrete actions that would result in sincere implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions by Iraq.
4. North Korea
Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Secretary of State Powell exchanged opinions about the recent situation in North Korea in view of the upcoming visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to North Korea. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi restated that during Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to North Korea, the Government of Japan would take a comprehensive approach covering issues such as the issues of abduction and security from the perspective of ensuring peace and stability in the region and throughout the world.
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