[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe jointly held the 17th meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council and the 42nd meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, the approach on the handling of the zones where the return of residents would be difficult was determined.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Today, the Government and ruling parties worked as one, considered the opinions of disaster-affected municipalities, and compiled our approach on the handling of the zones where the return of residents would be difficult.

Based on this basic policy, we will initiate the reconstruction of the zones where the return of residents would be difficult at the earliest possible date. I request that relevant ministers deliberate concrete plans by the end of the year that take into account the opinions of the residents of these zones, and that you begin efforts for submitting the relevant legislation to the next ordinary session of the Diet and for preparing measures for the formulation of the budget needed in the next fiscal year.

Regarding areas other than zones where the return of residents would be difficult as well, please continue your efforts to establish an environment for being able to lift the standing evacuation order by March next year.

Once again, I would like every minister to share the mindset that we are all Ministers for Reconstruction, eliminate vertical segmentation, and pay the utmost attention to the frontlines, while making the maximum effort for the reconstruction of the affected areas. Thank you.”