Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have one item to report to you, concerning the lifting of restrictions on shipment. Today, in accordance with Article 20, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, it was decided to lift the restrictions on shipment of spinach that has been produced in the cities of Kita-Ibaraki and Takahagi in Ibaraki Prefecture, and also on non-bulbous leafy vegetables, including spinach, that have been produced in the central regions of Fukushima Prefecture. Instructions to this effect have been communicated to the governors of Ibaraki and Fukushima Prefectures. For further details, please direct your questions to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Q&As

REPORTER: The debate between leaders has just taken place in the Diet. Do you have any views or thoughts on this debate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The debate between leaders is a matter for the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, and I am not directly involved. The Prime Minister is engaged in this debate as the representative of the Government. As a person who is not really involved, I do not think that it is my position to make comments as a third party.

REPORTER: In the course of the debate between leaders, criticisms have been leveled at the Kan Cabinet to the effect that there is no trust in the Cabinet's response to the disaster and the nuclear power station accident and also that it has not been based on law. As a serving member of the Cabinet, do you have anything to say that would rebut such criticisms?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As the debate in the Diet did not include any specific references or examples, I could not understand what the criticisms were pertaining to. At the very least it is my recognition that the Government has not taken any actions that have been in contravention of laws and ordinances. However, with regard to the response to the nuclear power station accident for example, there is a manual, or similarly named document - I cannot quite remember the official title at the moment - and this document does not envisage an accident of a scale where such widespread evacuation areas must be established. From the night of March 11 to the morning of March 12 following the accident, the entire power grid was down and the whole region experienced a blackout, and although it is not part of legislation, this manual and the actions that were taken based on it only accounted for a smaller scale accident. Given this reality, the Government responded flexibly to the situation, based on the appropriate legislation.

REPORTER: In the debate between leaders, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Tanigaki stated that "with Prime Minister Kan in charge, recovery and reconstruction from the disaster is impossible." What are your views on these comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is another statement that I do not understand the basis for. The question of whether the ruling and opposition parties can cooperate and whether they can basically agree on policy and find common ground is something that should be prioritized above all else, particularly in view of the situation facing the people affected by the disaster. I think that the question of whether the party leaders like each other or not is a very minor matter compared to the overarching importance of cooperating together.

REPORTER: In the recent debate, the Prime Minister stated that the Diet session could be extended to last all year. What is the Government's view and idea for the length of the extension?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: My response is the same one that I gave this morning, namely that based on the instructions of the Prime Minister we will engage in consultations with the parties in the Diet. Ultimately this will be decided by the Diet and we must also take into consideration the opinions of the opposition parties. I believe that given the various measures and responses to the disaster that the Diet must implement, it is likely that the Diet session will continue, and in my personal opinion it would be appreciated if the opposition parties would give their understanding to an extension of the Diet session that is as long as possible, but that is not the official Government view. These are my views and we are in consultation with the various parties at the current point.

REPORTER: On a related note, if the Diet session were to last all year, this could be viewed as a measure to halt the moves to bring down Prime Minister Kan. What are your views on this perspective?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: People are making various statements based on equally varied assumptions and these assumptions are sometimes nothing more than premised facts. As I have said on previous occasions, neither the Government nor the Prime Minister has issued any policy concerning the extension of the Diet session or the timing of the second supplementary budget and yet, despite this, even now, Mr. Tanigaki has referred to them in debate between leaders in the Diet, even though such talk is only based on rumors and premises. The first time I received any instructions at all from the Prime Minister concerning the Diet session extension and the second supplementary budget was when he returned recently from his overseas visit. Accordingly, while the current debate is all premised on assumptions and rumors, given the opinions of various people on the necessity for individual policies and budgetary allocation following the first supplementary budget, and also the opinions about the various considerations currently underway in the ministries and agencies, as well as discussions about the way the Diet should proceed, I think that there a number of people who believe that a Diet session that runs the entire year is the best option and I would be grateful if the members of the opposition parties would agree to as long a Diet session as possible.

REPORTER: After a meeting with the Prime Minister, the governor of Fukushima Prefecture stated to members of the press that rather than submitting a no-confidence motion, he wanted the Diet and the Government to respond robustly to the current situation. From the perspective of the disaster-affected people the current political situation is one that disregards their needs. Do you think it will be necessary for the Prime Minister to issue a message to the public immediately following the no-confidence motion in the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There are various reports about the current situation and about the various statements being made by Diet members. However, the Government's responsibility, which it is making every effort to fulfill, is to ensure that assistance is provided to disaster victims, that the situation at the power station is brought under control and the people affected by the accident are provided with due compensation and assistance. As is always the case in politics, I receive reports that the various parties are responding in various ways to these measures, but for its part, the Government will continue to make every effort based on the perspective of the lives and welfare of the people, without being influenced by the various flows of dialogue within Nagatacho. With regard to your comment about the Prime Minister making a message to the public, this is an important opinion and I will duly take note of it and engage in consultations.

REPORTER: Returning to the topic of the year-round Diet, are you considering extending the present session of the Diet through to around Obon in mid-August, and furthermore, beginning the extraordinary session during the early part of the fall, after Obon?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I have said a number of times already, we are not currently discussing the specific scope of extension in a strict sense. Based on instructions from the Prime Minister, I have asked the party members - the Secretary General, the Diet Affairs Committee Chairman, and others - to consider the matter, and have entered into the arrangements for this. Therefore, the specific details are yet to be ironed out. I think the Government would be grateful if the Diet were convened as long as it is legally allowed, as we would be able to request consultation in the Diet whenever necessary, in light of factors including the various opinions obtained recently and the responses to the earthquake and nuclear power station incident. Ultimately, though, I feel that this is something which the Diet will decide.

REPORTER: Some reports are saying that it has been decided that aracha (unrefined tea) will be placed under shipping restrictions. What is the situation at present regarding Government discussions on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think it is natural to assume that the establishment of a course of action by MAFF and MHLW should be based on the opinion of the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC). However, the purpose of the NSC is consultation rather than coordination. Deliberation and coordination are now being conducted by the two ministries. I have received no reports that suggest a final conclusion has been reached.

REPORTER: A summary of IAEA investigation reports has been published, and in general, it says that the tsunami countermeasures were insufficient and that the locus of responsibility was vague. These evaluations are more or less in line with the common understanding within Japan. What do you think about the implication of such an assessment being made by an internationally authorized organization?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe it is necessary to obtain a variety of viewpoints in examining the incident. In particular, we are at the stage where we must have examinations carried out on the actual Government response, and, naturally, the Government has also established an independent committee for this. However, I believe much weight lies in the opinion of an internationally authorized, specialist group such as the IAEA which has a firm third-party status in relation to the Japanese Government. I know that the IAEA has given a certain assessment of the Government's response and the local response to the nuclear power station incident, but on the other hand, I am aware that some very severe issues have been highlighted, particularly with regard to disaster preparedness and regulations for nuclear reactors. Further detailed work is being done in this research group, and if more specific points are made, then, I think we must act upon them.

REPORTER: What about the thing to be reported to the IAEA on June 20, that Special Advisor Goshi Hosono is currently in charge of...

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Yes, you mean the report he is compiling.

REPORTER: When will that be published?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not yet heard anything on this. I think that I will, of course, hear about it once it comes at the final stage. After this, we are planning to publish the report domestically before reporting to the IAEA.

REPORTER: Last night, former Prime Minister Hatoyama and Prime Minister Kan held a discussion at the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister has repeatedly maintained his desire to meet with former leaders of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Is an interview with Mr. Ichiro Ozawa likely? What is your current opinion on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I was informed by the Prime Minister regarding his meeting with former Prime Minister Hatoyama. The contents have been communicated to me to some extent, but I feel that they do not necessarily match what has been reported in the news. Since this is something discussed between the two of them, the former and current Prime Ministers, I believe no other persons, even if they have been informed about it, should describe its contents or related matters.