Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I would like to report on the extraordinary Cabinet meeting. In the meeting, Cabinet approval was made for one general issue, the promulgation of laws, and the issuance of Cabinet orders. In terms of comments made by ministers, Minister Hosono commented on the prompt implementation of the Basic Policy on Emergency Implementation of Decontamination, while the Minister of Finance commented on passing the bill on special provisions concerning issuance of government bonds.

I would like to report that, of these two, in the extraordinary Cabinet meeting the decision was made to promptly implement the Basic Policy on Emergency Implementation of Decontamination. Cabinet approval was made to have the Government collaborate with local governments and residents in taking responsibility to promote swift and steady decontamination efforts, and for the Government to make a concerted effort to address decontamination projects and other undertakings that should be urgently implemented based on the Basic Policy decided by the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters today. The immediate necessary cost of these projects is about \220 billion, and we will pull together this funding using the Great East Japan Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction Reserve Fund after promptly carrying out a thorough check of the numbers. For more details please forward your questions to the Cabinet Office's Team in Charge of Assisting the Lives of Victims around the Nuclear Power Plant.

(Abridged)