Opening Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
at the Press Conference on the Occasion of the Closing of
the 156th Session of the Diet

The ordinary session of the Diet which began on January 20 of this year came to a close yesterday. Although the session proved to be a long one, we compiled the budget in time for the new fiscal year and managed to endorse a number of legislative bills in this Diet session with the cooperation of many members of both the ruling and opposition parties. In particular, in diplomatic relations Japan has consistently placed importance on the Japan-US alliance and international coordination, and while keeping them in balance and their importance in mind, Japan will continue to work to ensure its own peace, safety and prosperity. In this regard, we passed a number of bills that enable a response to various changes in the diplomatic situation.

With regard to the passage of emergency bills, which has long been a pending issue, it has been said time and again that forewarned is forearmed. This is the very essence of politics. On the other hand, there is also a persistent counter-argument that preparedness brings about action; it is dangerous to merely think about how to deal with moments of peril. In such circumstances, consideration was given to what legislation should be developed to maintain the independence and safety of the nation against such an hour of peril. It was against this backdrop that the emergency bills were passed in this Diet session with the agreement and cooperation of not only the ruling parties, but also the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party; the opposition parties. I think it is a ground-breaking event that we have passed these bills on which many people have cooperated, regarding security as a fundamental issue of the nation and as the most important element in promoting every policy.

In addition, in this Diet session we passed the bill for assistance to Iraq, which allows Japan to cooperate to the greatest extent possible in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Iraq, while mindful of the need to simultaneously maintain the Japan-US alliance and international coordination, with its desire to "occupy an honored place in an international society" as stated in the preamble to the Constitution of Japan and also in conformity with Article 9 of the Constitution.

Domestically, measures continue towards economic revitalization. In this regard, we passed bills relating to financial reform and industrial revival in this Diet session. In realizing economic revitalization, a number of regulatory reforms have already been implemented and innovative plans have been proposed in each region. We must further promote regulatory reform and find a way out of the current stringent economic circumstances. I believe that this Diet session has steadily achieved results in reform and also seen robust achievements in the goals set since the inauguration of the Koizumi Cabinet to return the economy to a sustainable development track with the initiative of the private sector and respecting local characteristics under the principle of my Cabinet that states "areas that can be achieved by the private sector should be privatized and decisions that can be made at the local level should be made by local governments", and by advancing regulatory, financial, tax system and expenditure reforms.

Although it is probably the case that the stringent circumstances will continue, I believe that the task which faces the Koizumi Cabinet is how to achieve steadily the goals that were laid out at its inauguration. Through achieving those goals, Japan will be able to revitalize its economy and make a contribution to the international community appropriate to its strength as a nation. Always bearing in mind the role that Japan should play in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution that does not disregard other countries and prevent Japan from paying exclusive attention to its own interests, Japan must act as a responsible member of the international community. To this end, I think the greatest task facing the Koizumi Cabinet is how to revitalize the economy.

Even in a stringent environment, I am dedicated to go on pursuing reform. With your support, I am determined to steadily implement this track to reform. I believe that the basis for such action was firmly established during the course of this Diet session.

I appeal for the continued support and cooperation of the people of Japan.