Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Restarting of operations at nuclear power stations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the ministerial meeting of the four ministers concerned with the restarting of operations at nuclear power stations, there has been word that the meeting could be convened this evening. What are the facts of this matter and if it is the case that a meeting will be convened what will be on the agenda for discussion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The meeting of the four ministers concerned is scheduled to take place around 7:00pm today. I believe that the press will have access to this meeting for coverage of opening statements. This is the first such meeting and it will not be held to come to any decisions, but rather, as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Edano has also stated, it will firstly be a meeting to receive scientific and technical reports about the discussions that have taken place in various bodies, including the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC). I expect, therefore, that today' s first meeting of the four ministers concerned will be a kick-off meeting to initiate discussions.

(Abridged)