[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Last week, cases of avian influenza were confirmed in Aomori Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture. Cases are occurring, including among wild birds, at an earlier time and over a wide area this year compared to previous years. Based on that, a few days ago, I issued comprehensive instructions, including on the issuance of requests for serious vigilance and the implementation of advice related to preventative measures to those in the poultry industry, in order to make more effective and agile responses possible. I want to continue to exert every effort on this issue based on the mindset of doing everything that can be done.

Regarding the extraordinary Diet session, at the end of last month it was decided that the session will be extended to December 14, which is next week. Currently, deliberations are underway on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the pension reform bill, and other matters. I want to continue to work hard to carefully offer explanations to the public toward the establishment of these bills. I ask for your continued cooperation on this.

Activities by the Self-Defense Forces Engineering Unit, which has received new duties, began on December 12th in South Sudan. Important activities will continue, including the approach to the date of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) on December 15. The Government will continue to pay attention to the local situation, developments in the United Nations Security Council, and other matters, with a sense of urgency, and we will exert every effort to ensure the safety of personnel.

In Yamaguchi Prefecture in the latter half of next week, I will at last welcome H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation. Within the quiet surroundings there, as the leaders of our countries, I want us to have frank and candid discussions and thereby advance negotiations on the peace treaty. This is not a simple issue that can be resolved during a single meeting, but taking the feelings of the aging former islanders firmly to heart, I hope that we can make steady steps forward based on the relationship of trust I have with President Putin.

The World Assembly for Women in Tokyo (WAW!) will be held on December 13 in Tokyo. This event will gather together female leaders active in various fields from all over the world under one roof. Within the active discussions that people will have there on what sort of actions can be done to encourage active participation by women, including the work style reform efforts underway here in Japan, we will communicate to the world about Japan’s resolve to absolutely produce results on these issues as well as our initiatives.

We are making progress on work to formulate the budget for the next fiscal year toward the end of the year. We are also approaching the end of work on taxation system reform. Without discussions and deliberations in the ruling parties, we could not finish work on the budget or the taxation system. I request the extensive cooperation of everyone in the ruling parties as we work to complete work on these issues.

I want to continue to manage the administration with a sense of urgency through the efforts of the Government and ruling parties working together. I feel there is a need to have an extensive sense of urgency particularly as we move toward the end of the Diet session. I would like to work together with everyone and exert every effort through the end of this year in order to meet the responsibilities and expectations placed on us by the public.”