Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: According to certain news outlets, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that Prime Minister Kan has expressed strong interest in participating in a summit-level meeting on nuclear power safety standards at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 22. This means that they are already in communication about this. Please comment on the authenticity of these news reports.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, Prime Minister Kan has received an invitation from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to participate in a high-level meeting at the United Nations Headquarters on September 22. The Government of Japan believes that it should actively participate and contribute to this meeting, and we are now considering participating from the perspective that it would be best to send the highest ranking representative possible from the Japanese Government. However, we have yet to decide specifically who will attend.

REPORTER: On that note, is it conceivable that the Prime Minister Kan will go?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: At this point in time we believe it would be best to send the highest ranking official possible, but we have yet to decide on a specific person.

REPORTER: You said that an invitation was received, but by when are you supposed to reply?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not heard about there being an absolute deadline. I am sure that every effort will be made to make a decision as necessary in as appropriate of a timeframe as possible.

REPORTER: Related to that, I believe that the Prime Minister will meet with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today. Does the Prime Minister plan to tell the Secretary-General that he will personally attend the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: That is not likely.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On a slightly unrelated note, yesterday you observed volunteer and other activities underway in the disaster areas. If there are any future challenges pertaining to volunteering, would you please share those with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In response to the disaster there have been a very large number of volunteers in the disaster areas and these volunteers are carrying out activities across a diverse range of fields. I am sure that these efforts are tremendously reassuring for the people living in the disaster areas and have been producing a high degree of results. But one thing as we go forward is that volunteer needs as conceived by municipalities and people in the disaster areas are changing with the situations in these areas. In the beginning, shoveling mud was the core of volunteer activities. Now, however, assistance will be needed particularly in providing various psychological and mental support, for those in temporary housing as well as for those not in temporary housing. In the future a stronger weight will be put on the need for a more tailored response to these issues. So, one challenge is how to address this shift. Volunteers and volunteer groups outside of the disaster areas have been working very hard, and their partnerships with local volunteers and volunteer groups in light of the unique circumstances of each area are going to be even more important in the future. That is one point. Another point is that there is a strong possibility that volunteer numbers will inevitably decrease as time passes. In regards to this point, I believe that the Government can provide a powerful support function in communicating the situation of the disaster areas and the expectations of the people in these areas for volunteers.

REPORTER: The Act on Special Provisions concerning Issuance of Government Bonds has yet to be passed. Regarding the restriction of the execution of the budget, please tell us specifically from around what month you are considering restrictions and on what items.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is my understanding that financial authorities are carrying out various considerations regarding the concrete details. It is likely that these considerations must be carried out in view of the political agenda and the agenda of the Diet etc. From my perspective, more than anything I am hoping that the Act is passed as quickly as possible during the current Diet session. If that is not possible, then unfortunately we will have no choice but to take such action in the not so distant future.

REPORTER: In that event, for instance - you did not give any examples of specific items in your answer - as a criterion are you going to consider targets for reducing expenditures such as items that do not directly impact the lives of citizens? On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has brought up the idea of restricting subsidies for political parties. Are you considering this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It will naturally be necessary to pay caution to the level of impact on the lives of national citizens, and decide our priorities based on that.