Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Lastly, I would like to report about disaster volunteers. After the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, over 600,000 people have registered and volunteered with the disaster volunteer centers of the three Tohoku prefectures which were affected by the disaster. Many people have also volunteered on their own through NPOs and private organizations and fulfilled a large role in assisting the affected areas. The Government would like to once again thank all of the volunteers. In addition, we would like to encourage even more people to participate in volunteer activities by taking advantage of their summer vacation. The affected areas are still in need of many volunteers for tasks such as removing the dirt from and cleaning the homes and ditches, as well as cleaning up the seashores and creeks. If people are not confident about their physical strength, they can help by cleaning up photos, enhancing the living environment of temporary housing, among other activities. There are many things people can do. If people are interested, I ask that they contact the volunteer centers in the respective areas, or entities organizing volunteer tours, including NPOs, universities, and travel agencies. I suggest that people take a look at the Prime Minister's Office website, where they will find a banner entitled, "For people who are thinking about volunteering" (available in Japanese only). Precautions to prevent heat stroke and other information are also posted on the website. Moving forward, assistance for community-building activities at temporary housing locations as well as activities to prevent isolation and solitary death will become important. These activities require sustained efforts, including community-based network-building and volunteer activities. The national government, too, primarily through the Cabinet Secretariat's Volunteers Coordination Office will continue to provide financial assistance and knowhow, among other means. Now, regarding the measure to make the highway toll-free for the vehicles of volunteers, it has been pointed out that the procedures involved were cumbersome. I would like to take this opportunity to report that starting on August 4, the procedures which until now were different for each affected prefecture will be uniform and simpler.

Q&As

REPORTER: Discussions are continuing within the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to finalize the Basic Policy on Reconstruction. I asked about this yesterday as well, but it appears that there is still deep-seated opposition to the inclusion of a tax increase. How do you anticipate adjustments to be made in order to bridge this gap?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Secretary General, Chairman of the Policy Research Council, and others are working very hard, so I expect that matters will be sorted out in the not-so-distant future.

REPORTER: If possible are you expecting that a conclusion will be reached within the day?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Prime Minister has consistently said that he aims to finalize the Basic Policy around the end of the month, so it would be good if a conclusion were reached today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or by the following day.

REPORTER: During the DPJ's discussions, a proposal was made to consider extending the reimbursement period of reconstruction bonds as a realistic compromise. How do you personally view this proposal?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have yet to receive a concrete report on the discussions taking place within the DPJ, and the Government has already presented its view. I believe that the DPJ is carrying out discussions and working on forming a conclusion based on that view.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Yesterday, in talks with Minister Kaieda, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano voiced that he would like the opportunity to review the stress tests. Please tell us your thoughts about this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In his meeting with me as well, he commented about safety measures and stress tests of all countries, not only Japan, saying that although the IAEA may not be able to conduct exhaustive checks of everything, they want to carry out a role in ensuring international safety and reassurance by involving themselves to a certain degree. That type of effort would also be desirable for Japan, and it is something the IAEA is expected to do.

REPORTER: On the same topic, I would like to inquire about the meaning of the word "review." What degree of commitment does this word insinuate? In other words, should we interpret this to mean an ex-post assessment, or - please clarify this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is an issue of the IAEA wanting to take initiative in playing a role - or because they can play such a role as the IAEA - so I believe that the IAEA will clarify such issues for related countries including Japan once they have laid out a policy.

REPORTER: Yesterday, Prime Minister Kan called and apologized to the Saga Prefecture Governor and Genkai Town Mayor for the confusion caused related to the stress tests. It appears that in their discussions he conveyed that he has been unable to coordinate his schedule so that he could not visit in person. I think that having expressed an intention to make a visit and then immediately retracting that statement during an apology call will only fuel further distrust. What are your thoughts on this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am not aware of the details of their communications, but when asked about this in the Diet, the Prime Minister voiced that he would like to pay a visit on the occasion of the anniversary of the atomic bomb dropping in Nagasaki City, especially since it is the neighboring prefecture. Considering that this, in particular, had been taken up locally by the media to a great deal - and after looking into various schedules it was unfortunately found impossible schedule-wise to make a day trip due to various Diet engagements before and after - it is my understanding that he called to apologize for this as well. So, it is my understanding that during his phone conversation he did not talk about making or not making a visit, but that in consideration of the recent press coverage he apologized that schedule-wise it would not be possible to make a visit on the sideline of Nagasaki's anniversary of the atomic bomb dropping.

(Abridged)