Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > July, 2005

Japan-Ukraine Summit Meeting Thursday, July 21, 2005 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Viktor Yushchenko, the President of Ukraine, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. After their meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi and President Yushchenko signed the "Joint Statement on a New Partnership in the 21st Century between Japan and Ukraine." Following the signing of this document, President Yushchenko returned the Japanese national flag which had belonged to an Imperial Japanese Army soldier, who was detained during the Soviet era, to Prime Minister Koizumi. The Government of Japan has been requesting the Government of Ukraine for its return and it had been decided that the flag would be handed to Prime Minister Koizumi on the occasion of the visit to Japan by President Yushchenko. The flag will be returned to its original owner who now lives in Oita Prefecture. The two leaders then held a joint press conference. Prime Minister Koizumi first expressed his gratitude for the return of the property of the ex-detainee and then stated, "Taking the opportunity of the visit by President Yushchenko, we have agreed to establish the Japan-Ukraine Cooperation Committee at the Ministerial Level in order to further develop the cooperative relationship between Japan and Ukraine. The Government of Japan cordially welcomes the visit to Japan by President Yushchenko. I believe we were able to hold a meaningful meeting wherein I expressed Japan's intent to provide assistance for further democratization and establishment of a market economy in Ukraine. Japan is confident that through our enhanced cooperative relationship our two countries are capable of working together in various fields in the international community as well as in our bilateral relations." To this, President Yushchenko responded that, "After meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi, I am certain that Ukraine should develop its cooperative relationship with Japan. Ukraine is ready to be a good partner of Japan." View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)