Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

Q&As

REPORTER: Can you tell us about the progress status of preparations for the temporary entry in the no-entry zone around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I would like to restrict my comments at the moment to saying that the Government is proceeding with consultations with individual municipalities in a cross-cutting manner. Circumstances differ according to each municipality, and if I were to make an incomplete statement or report about the status of coordination for the visits, it would only serve to exacerbate confusion among the residents. What I will say is that overall preparations are proceeding with a view to implementing visits during the holiday period, but a final decision will be made based on the local circumstances in each municipality.

REPORTER: It appears that there is a plan for officials from the local municipal governments and central government to make experimental visits into the no-entry zone as a means of confirming the various processes involved. Is this actually the case?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We are currently coordinating temporary entry operations, including the activities that you have mentioned. There are questions relating to the extent to which such operations must be implemented and in some cases the local Legal Affairs Bureaus and other governmental bodies are planning temporary entry operations in the public interest. These public-interest temporary entry operations are to be implemented in advance of temporary entry for general residents and once they have been implemented, it will be possible to allow the residents to make temporary entries. Preparations, including for the visits by local governmental organizations, are therefore ongoing.

REPORTER: When do you think the temporary entry visits will be accomplished?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I have said, based on cooperation with the various local communities, and once a structure for operations for temporary entry has been decided, including the involvement of the police service and Self-Defense Forces, these visits will be implemented. This is not something that is months away, rather it will be concluded in the next few days, not weeks, and when something specific is decided, I will be able to make a report to you.

REPORTER: In the recent committee meeting, the Prime Minister mentioned the possibility of making the Tohoku Expressway free of charge. Is this a realistic plan that the Government is considering or just something that the Prime Minister mentioned off the top of his head?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is a matter that has been considered by the Government, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), from a very early stage following the disaster. There are a number of questions with regard to this proposal, including the actual feasibility of implementation such as technical aspects and also the fact that the general policy for making expressways free of charge has been subject to considerable criticism in the past and therefore in political terms, we must gain the understanding and cooperation of the opposition parties before proceeding. If such understanding can be gained, the Government seeks to advance in a positive manner the plan to make the Tohoku Expressway free of charge.

REPORTER: Is it likely that a draft bill pertaining to this plan will be submitted to the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Consideration is also being given to whether additional legislation will be required.

REPORTER: In a press interview yesterday the president of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) indicated his understanding that exemption from liability under the Act on Compensation for Nuclear Damages could be possible. To date the Government has continually stressed that there will be no exemption from liability. Could you expand on the reason for why there could be this exemption from liability? Given the tremendous size of the earthquake and the tsunami, the Government has up to now used the expression that it was a disaster "beyond expectations." Is the Government therefore considering that exemption from liability is possible as this was a natural disaster on a tremendous scale, or is it also considering exemption from liability as there is a possibility that this was a man-made disaster? What is the reasoning behind the Government's thinking?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that there are two interpretations of the phrase "beyond expectations." The first is that "it was expected but no preparations were made," and the second as that "it was entirely unexpected." The only interpretation of the phrase that I have used is the former of these two. Of course the tsunami and earthquake in this disaster were of an immense scale, but in the past it has been pointed out in the Diet that there is a possibility that a nuclear power station could be hit by a large tsunami. If it had been the case that such points had not been raised in the past, then the damage arising from this disaster could be said to be "unexpected." However, as it was the case that the possibility had been pointed out in the Diet but no preparations had been made, I find it hard to consider that there could be exemption from liability.

REPORTER: So, given the nuance that "no preparations were made," can it be considered that this was a man-made disaster?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: To be precise, in the final instance it will be for a court of law to determine the issue of legal liability. However, as it is the case that despite the possible danger of an accident caused by a large tsunami having already been pointed out in the Diet, no measures were taken to respond to this danger, therefore, at the very least, it is clear to me that this is a case in which exemption from liability does not apply.

REPORTER: The other day Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Goshi Hosono mentioned the possibility that the membership of the third-party body to investigate the causes of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station could include overseas experts. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This accident has caused international concern and as there are very few examples globally of nuclear accidents on this scale it will of course be necessary to engage in investigations that include the cooperation of persons with expert knowledge and expertise from around the world. However, if the investigative body is positioned as one with administrative or sovereign power, it is possible that the cooperation and assistance of overseas experts will be in an indirect form. I believe that legal consideration on this point will be required.

REPORTER: The deliberations on the first supplementary budget are currently underway. However, there are reports that the submission of the second supplementary budget will not be made during the current session of the Diet. What are the Government's views on this point, including the term of the current session of the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think it is a given that a second supplementary budget will be required, however, no specific considerations are currently being made. As Minister Noda, I believe responded in the Diet today, the items that are thought to be necessary in the immediate recovery period have been incorporated into the first supplementary budget. As we move towards reconstruction, the vision that will be drawn up will have an impact on what budgetary measures are required for reconstruction. The first step in a concrete vision for reconstruction is targeted for June, when the Reconstruction Design Council will present its proposal. As the discussions in the Reconstruction Design Council are ongoing, with various experts continuing to provide their opinions, we have not yet reached the stage where it is possible to establish an outlook based on the discussions in the Council. We would like to continue with deliberations as expeditiously as possible.

REPORTER: As the proposal from the Reconstruction Design Council is scheduled for June and the current session of the Diet only runs until the end of June, is it not therefore reasonable to expect that it will be impossible for a second supplementary budget to be submitted in the current session?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am aware that within the Reconstruction Design Council itself, although the plan is to provide a report and proposal in June, some members of the Council have stated that prior to that target the items that can be decided and on which discussions have been concluded should be submitted in advance. As the Government asks for advisory, it is at the discretion of the Council to make such arrangements, but whatever arrangements or processes are involved, the Government will examine the opinions provided by the Council and these will be linked through to measures to be included in the second supplementary budget.

REPORTER: With regard to the Basic Act on Reconstruction, there are some reports that this will include a supplementary provision for the establishment of an "Agency for Reconstruction." If this is the case there are those who are saying that this could result in overlapping administration. What are your views on this point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Various coordination and efforts are underway concerning the submission of a draft bill based on discussions within the Government to date, aiming to create a responsive and dynamic structure that will not result in overlapping administration. At the same time, I am aware that consultations among the various political parties are also being advanced, including consultations by Mr. Kamei. The Government will be closely watching the direction of these consultations, but in case an all-party conclusion looks unlikely to be reached, the Government is in the process of finalizing its own proposals, including matters to which you referred.