 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||
|
|||
| Top >
What's up around the Prime Minister > January, 2005 |
|||
|
|||
 |
|||
|
New Year's Press Conference
Prime Minister Koizumi opened the press conference by saying, "An unprecedented level of damage has been caused by the tsunami that followed the earthquake off the coast of Indonesia at the end of last year. As a member of the Asian community, Japan intends to provide the greatest level of assistance possible for reconstruction activities in the countries that have been afflicted by the damages. During the ordinary Diet session, I wish to pass the supplementary budget concerning activities as measures against disasters and reconstruction for damages incurred from earthquakes and typhoons that occurred during the year 2004 at the earliest date possible together with aiming for the main budget to also be passed by the end of this fiscal year to formulate a foundation which makes possible steady and sustainable economic growth led by the private sector." Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi noted on the privatization of postal services that, "On the domestic front, the most critical issue is the privatization of the three postal services, to which all political parties have shown opposition thus far. I intend for the government as a whole to work for the realization of this reform. We will formulate a bill in line with the Basic Policy on the Privatization of the Postal Services, which was decided upon by the Cabinet in September 2004, and I ask for the understanding of the ruling parties of this policy. I will put forth my best effort to enact it during this year's ordinary Diet session." Moreover, as for Japan's diplomatic policy, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I intend to deal with diplomatic issues such as the reconstruction of Iraq and negotiation with North Korea among others, while taking full note of the importance of the Japan-US Alliance as well as international coordination," while with regard to the issues of North Korea, he said, "Negotiations must be advanced through both aspects of dialogue and pressure. There is no change in the policy of normalizing relations when the two countries act in good faith to ensure that provisions of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration are put into practice."
|
