Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Q&As

REPORTER: Minister Kaieda decided to restart the nuclear power stations and gave a press conference. Was it an appropriate decision to restart the nuclear power stations when we still fully don't know the cause of the incident? Please share your thoughts.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The investigation into the causes of the incident requires a verification of the incident from the perspective of various, how should I say, sectors. Therefore, the Investigation and Verification Committee is carrying out the verifications right now. On the other hand, with regards to the necessary emergency safety measures from the standpoint of technological safety, I understand, from the report which was submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that on the basis of the interim verifications it was determined that sufficient safety measures are being taken. Of course, I believe we need to offer a detailed and careful explanation of the situation to the people in the respective regions where nuclear power stations exist, or to the leaders of those regions, and obtain their understanding. I understand Minister Kaieda also indicated the same approach.

REPORTER: I believe there are indeed concerns and backlash in the communities. The Prime Minister said that Minister Kaieda will also be giving an explanation. Do you intend to establish any opportunities for the Prime Minister to make a direct explanation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe with Minister Kaieda as the focal person, the Government is examining specific processes about this. In any case, I believe what is important most of all is to offer a careful explanation in terms of the content.

REPORTER: I have a question on the issue of the term of the Diet session. I understand that last night there was a meeting between the senior members of the Government and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). As of now, how long of an extension do you believe is necessary to accomplish what exactly?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We agreed that an extension of a certain length is needed to seamlessly and appropriately move forward with the measures in response to the earthquake disaster. Beyond that, regarding the specific details, we still need to consult with each party, and therefore, I cannot make a conclusive statement at this point in time.

REPORTER: Are there any specific items, such as the second supplementary budget or specific legislation, which have to be taken up by the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I understand that the DPJ Secretary General will be consulting these and other items with the opposition parties this afternoon.

REPORTER: The opposition parties are urging for the clarification of the timing of Prime Minister Kan's resignation. What is the relationship between the issue of the Diet session term and the timing of the Prime Minister's resignation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe I have been saying from before that there is no correlation between those two items.

REPORTER: In that case, will the timing of the Prime Minister's resignation be announced irrespective of the issue of the Diet session term?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Prime Minister has clearly indicated with regards to tackling the earthquake disaster that he would like to "pass on various responsibilities to the younger generation once a certain degree of progress has been made."

REPORTER: At yesterday evening's meeting between the Government and the DPJ, what sort of wishes and intentions were expressed by the Prime Minister?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The discussions were based on the assumption that various matters will be consulted with the opposition parties regarding the term of the Diet session. Therefore, I believe these consultations between the DPJ Secretary General and the Diet Affairs Chief with the opposition parties, bearing in mind yesterday's discussions, need to be conducted first.

REPORTER: I have a related question. At the briefing, it was said that a definitive decision was not made on the extension of the Diet session at yesterday's meeting. With no definitive decision made on the length of the extension, how do you intend to seek the understanding of the opposition parties?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I have said in my response a moment ago, we agree that an extension of a certain length is needed to seamlessly move forward with the measures in response to the earthquake disaster. I believe each party will be consulted bearing this in mind.

REPORTER: On a related subject, I believe by the meeting of the secretary generals of the ruling and opposition parties this afternoon, the Government and the ruling party need to compile its opinions to a certain extent on how long the Diet session should be extended ideally. How will this be decided today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe the DPJ Secretary General will make an appropriate decision.

REPORTER: Concerning the reasons to extend the Diet session - things you want to do during the extended Diet session - will the DPJ be consulting with the opposition parties with the assumption that the bill related to utilizing natural energy, which the Prime Minister has been talking about recently, need also be passed, although this does not seem directly related to the earthquake disaster?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, in any case, the Government is requesting [the opposition parties] to pass all the bills that are scheduled to be deliberated during the current Diet session. In particular, the bill [you mentioned] is the one that will be replacing the current scheme to support the promotion of natural energy. As this is not a bill to create a new scheme from scratch, if it did not pass, it would bring negative impacts rather than bring no impact. I strongly request that they pass the bills of that nature.

REPORTER: Concerning this bill, I think it is valid reasoning for the opposition parties to argue that it was a Cabinet decision before the nuclear incident and that the situation has changed since then. They say that they cannot deliberate on it without a new explanation on the position of natural energy within the revised energy policies. How are you seeking their understanding in this regard?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In any case, there has been a trend to accelerate the use of natural energy since before the nuclear accident, indeed since the previous administration. Against this background, following the nuclear incident, there is now a need to discuss the matter with a blank slate in order to accelerate it further, but this does not directly link to not passing the bill to extend the current scheme. The bill will be a foothold for implementing further initiatives, and I think its necessity has undoubtedly increased even more following the nuclear indent.

REPORTER: I'm sorry for repeated questions, but did the Prime Minister mention the said energy bill at the meeting last evening?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I said already, as we will be consulting with other parties based on this, I think I should refrain from revealing what has been discussed at the meeting last evening prior to this consultation.

REPORTER: The trade balance of May was announced today, and the balance was in deficit for two consecutive months. How do you perceive this state of affairs?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think it was expected that such a state would be observed temporarily given the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. I think we need to move out of this state as early as possible. For this, the recovery of manufacturing operations is progressing quicker than initially expected thanks to the efforts of individual companies, and I am confident that the condition will turn for the better before long.

REPORTER: I heard the final decision on the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems will be made within today. What is the situation with regard to the adjustments for this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Arrangements are being made under Mr. Yoshito Sengoku, the chair of the study group [within the DPJ for the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems], within the party and Mr. Kaoru Yosano, Minister [for Total Reform of Social Security and Tax Minister of State Affairs] to form a consensus as a whole between the Cabinet and the party.

REPORTER: I heard there is a strong opposition within the ruling parties as well. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe the adjustments are being made in consideration of that by Mr. Sengoku.

REPORTER: While some decisions have been formally made regarding the policies for disposing of rubble contaminated with radioactive materials, the issue regarding highly contaminated incinerated ash is being pushed back. Please give us your thoughts regarding such a slow response by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The ultimate location for the disposal of highly contaminated incinerated ash is not an issue that the Government can unilaterally make decisions on. In other words, the Government cannot hammer out a policy without ensuring that we have a community that agrees to take the material, and the understanding of the local residents, as well as making sure of the safety of the entire process. Therefore, I believe a certain amount of time must be spent on this matter. As for steps that need to be taken regarding other matters, we presented a sound policy - although we had those of relevant municipalities wait for a while - and in the same manner, we must present a policy from the viewpoint that includes the safety of the local residents and take steps based on this.

REPORTER: So you are saying that regarding such matters as the rubble disposal that have been decided, it could not be helped that a certain amount of time was taken.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Of course I believe it would have been more desirable for the process to move forward faster, but because this is a matter that affects the safety of the people, we cannot have an established policy whose safety is not ensured. Taking into consideration such viewpoints, I believe a certain level of care is needed in developing it.

REPORTER: According to an announcement made by the French government on June 17, an amount of radioactive cesium that is twice the set limit has been detected from tea leaves from Shizuoka Prefecture. Please offer your explanation, if the Japanese Government has taken any form of measures regarding this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am aware that France's Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry made an announcement on June 17 as seen on news reports. We are currently in the process of verifying the specific location in which the product imported to France was produced. I understand that the main authorities will deliberate on what steps need be taken while carefully investigating the facts.

REPORTER: This is with regard to the third supplementary budget aimed at full-fledged reconstruction. Do you have the intention of passing this supplementary budget during the current Diet session by extending it?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: More than passing what legislative or budget bill by when, I believe it is important to seamlessly respond to the needs of post-disaster responses. I believe it is also important to avoid a situation in which prepared bills cannot be deliberated on just because the Diet is not in session.

REPORTER: Do you think the third supplementary bill will be prepared under the leadership of Prime Minister Kan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Prime Minister has said, "I would like to fulfill my responsibilities until the disaster reconstruction efforts reach a certain point, and once we reach that point, I intend to pass on the responsibility to a younger generation," and therefore, I believe he will make a decision based on this.

REPORTER: When do you intend to make a decision regarding the Reconstruction Minister based on the Basic Act on Reconstruction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I understand that after the bill is passed in the Diet, steps of issuance and enforcement will be necessary. Also, it is not written that, legally speaking, it must be set up as a legal responsibility right away. Although we are in agreement that such a position should be appointed as soon as possible, since the bill has not yet been passed, it is my understanding that final adjustments are to be made once the bill is passed.

REPORTER: You made comments at a Diet Committee meeting the other day to the effect of "immediately after passage [of the bill]." Why has your tone changed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I do not have a clear memory of how I expressed myself at the meeting, but I believe I have been saying in my previous press conferences that "there is a possibility that at least a few days will be necessary between the passage of the bill and the issuance and enforcement," or something to that effect. That said, we are carrying forth the matter with the recognition that sooner is better.

REPORTER: With regard to extending the Diet session, I believe that opposition parties are of the position that they "will refuse to extend the session unless the Prime Minister agrees to step down." The Prime Minister has been showing his eagerness for many initiatives, but is he planning on stepping down?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Prime Minister has said, "I will pass on the responsibilities to the younger generation once the disaster reconstruction issue has reached as certain point. Until then, I am going to steadfastly fulfill my responsibilities."

REPORTER: Is that unrelated to the formulation of the second supplementary budget reaching a certain point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is exactly as the Prime Minister has said.