Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all I would like to report on the Cabinet meeting that was held today. The meeting approved two general and other measures, and also approved the promulgation of legislation, the formulation of draft bills, the issuance of Cabinet orders and personnel decisions. In ministerial discussions, Minister of Finance Noda made a statement concerning the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting.

Q&As

REPORTER: Yesterday, the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA) admitted that nuclear fuel rods had melted, something which it has denied until now. However, NISA is still denying that meltdown has occurred. What is the basis for denying that meltdown has occurred and what is the Government's view?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is part of the technical analytical process and something that you should confirm with NISA. However, NISA has said before that there is a high possibility that the fuel has been partially damaged. They have judged from the monitoring and sampling in the vicinity that it was unlikely that the fuel rods had totally melted, or that a large hole had opened in the reactor, for example. NISA and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) have been engaged in expert analysis to determine the degree to which the fuel rods have been damaged and to what extent they have melted. I think that the report by NISA is an extension of such analysis.

REPORTER: Can we take it that in terms of crisis management there is no longer a possibility of meltdown?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There was a time previously when operations were focused on responding to the situation to ensure that a meltdown did not occur. However, as the situation has now stabilized in comparative terms, with the injection of water and cooling functions being stabilized to a certain degree, my understanding is that if the cooling functions can be maintained, there is now no danger of a meltdown occurring.

REPORTER: It has been decided that Mr. Ishida, the former director-general of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy will step down within this month from his position at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) where he was reemployed. What is your view of this decision and do you expect other former bureaucrats who have been reemployed at other power utility companies to make a similar response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have heard via the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) that Mr. Ishida informed TEPCO this morning that "for personal reasons" he would like to step down at the end of this month. As I mentioned in my press conference yesterday there are ways in which administrative power can be exercised based on law and ways in which, rather than exercising administrative power, the only means available is to ask for cooperation through self-restraint, and these two methods must be clearly delineated. Therefore, I do not think it is for me to make a direct evaluation of Mr. Ishida's decision to step down. Also, with regard to persons at other power companies, as I said yesterday, the Government's position on this issue is clear and I think the people in question will each make a judgment in view of the public perception of the issue.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning fiscal revenues for reconstruction. There is talk of a proposal to issue government bonds for reconstruction and regeneration and for the consumption tax to be raised in order to redeem these bonds. What is the current status of considerations? Is there a possibility that consumption tax may be raised?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have received reports on a number of possibilities that are currently being considered within the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), including the one that you have just mentioned. However, we have not yet reached the stage where the Government is considering specific methods for raising fiscal revenues.

REPORTER: There are those who consider that consumption tax revenue should be allocated for social security purposes. What are your thoughts on this, from the perspective of raising fiscal revenues for disaster reconstruction and social security?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The first supplementary budget is in the process of being formulated, including expenditure for disaster recovery. With regard to fiscal revenues for reconstruction, at the current stage the Government is not considering specified methods for raising revenues.

REPORTER: It has emerged that in the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, people arriving from the vicinity of the accident at the nuclear power station are being asked to provide a certificate to prove that they have received a check for radiation. This is a measure that could lead to discrimination against residents of Fukushima Prefecture. What are your views on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am aware of the reports that you mention. Today, in ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting Minister Gemba gave a report about discriminatory actions towards people from Fukushima Prefecture. He noted that although it is difficult for the Government to engage in direct measures to ensure that such discriminatory practices do not occur, the government ministries and agencies involved are being requested to make efforts and give consideration to this matter. I hope that people treat the various sources of information that are being provided with calmness and reason. It is an objective fact that radiation is not something that can be transmitted to another person like an infectious disease. In addition, in the areas in Fukushima that are close to the power station where there is a high possibility that large amounts of radioactive materials have been emitted, evacuation advisories were issued at an early stage and the people in those areas duly evacuated. Furthermore, measures have also been taken to ensure that the people working in those areas all wear protective clothing to prevent radioactive materials from coming into contact with their bodies or regular clothing. Two days ago, I visited the area within a 20km radius of the power station. Although the concentrations of radiation are already likely to be at a low level, as I was entering the 20km area, I wore protective clothing, the primary purpose of which is to ensure that radioactive materials are not carried outside the 20km area. It is a regrettable fact that radioactive materials have been released from the nuclear power station, but the measures I have just mentioned are being taken as a means of managing the situation and ensuring that radioactive materials do not come into contact with the bodies or clothing of the residents in the area, who have been evacuated, and the workers engaged in operations on site. Accordingly, when you view the situation objectively, it becomes apparent that the reports you mentioned are clearly an excessive response, and cause only further damage and hardship to the evacuated residents due to various baseless rumors. While the primary responsibility for dealing with the accident lies with TEPCO and the Government, at the same time, we request other people and organizations to understand the scientific basis on which actions are being taken and provide friendly and calm treatment to the evacuees who have already suffered great hardship, and also treat other matters with calmness and reason, including with regard produce from Fukushima Prefecture that has been confirmed to be safe.