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| Top Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister |
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(Provisional Translation)
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Joint Press Conference Following the Japan- Germany Summit Meeting |
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August 18, 2003
[Opening Statement by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder]
I welcome the visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. During our talks, we covered various issues on the current international situations as well as our bilateral relations. Moreover, Prime Minister Koizumi is a great fan of Richard Wagner and I am looking forward to listening to the music of Wagner with him in Bayreuth after our meeting today. Through our consultations today, I believe that everyone can understand that we also have mutual respect for each other's cultures as well as our economic relations. German people have great passion for Japanese culture and, I am sure, vice versa. We agreed that Japan-German economic relations are good, and that we would strive to further strengthen our relations. In addition, we agreed to enhance exchanges among young academics and to deepen academic exchanges among intellectuals, as well as exchanges in the economic sector. Regarding the current international situations, on the issue of North Korea, I expressed Germany's understanding and support for the position of the Japanese Government, which has been making efforts to solve the issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens. Germany fully understands that it is difficult to solve the abduction issue. I think that, through the six-party talks, efforts will be made toward solving the nuclear issue. I conveyed to Prime Minister Koizumi my praise for Japan's efforts not to isolate North Korea from the international community. As for the issue of Iraq, although Germany took a different position from Japan in the period leading up to the war, I believe that it is important to make efforts to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance rather than focusing on the past, and therefore, Germany intends to contribute to the security and democratization of Iraq. It is important to ensure the security of Iraq and the neighboring countries in the region. Regarding Afghanistan, Prime Minister Koizumi appreciated the material and military assistance provided by Germany for the reconstruction and stabilization of Afghanistan. I explained that Germany was undertaking major efforts in the Balkan Peninsula and Afghanistan, and can no longer afford to expand our assistance beyond that.
Today I met with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for the third time this year, following our most recent meeting in April. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Chancellor Schroeder for his invitation. Germany plays a key role as the core of the enlarged European Union (EU), in which ten new members' affiliation is scheduled next year. Japan-German relations are good, and I intend to develop the relationship furthermore, through deepening the bilateral cooperation in the international arena and thus enhancing the Japan-EU relationship. Moreover, I believe that it is extremely important to activate exchanges among the young generations between Japan and Germany. In the year 2005, the "Germany Year in Japan" will be held and His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince will serve as Honorary Patron of the event together with President Johannes Rau. I am willing to ensure that the "Germany Year in Japan" will be effectively utilized as an occasion for the people of Japan to have a good understanding of the culture, arts and other aspects of Germany. Furthermore, it is important to advance exchanges of academic research between the two countries and I will focus on the younger generations as we promote such exchanges. Regarding the current international situations, Chancellor Schroeder and I discussed the issues of North Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. Japan and Germany are facing different conditions. And Germany is fulfilling an important role in Afghanistan. We confirmed that there was a lot of things to do as responsible members of the international community in the field of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq, though differences in our past positions. As for the issue of North Korea, Japan seeks for a peaceful and diplomatic solution with North Korea. With the six-party talks around the corner, I would like to express my gratitude to Chancellor Schroeder for expressing full understanding of and support for the views of the Government of Japan regarding the abduction and the nuclear issues. Last year, Chancellor Schroeder was my guest on the Japanese governmental plane on my return trip to Japan following the G8 Kananaskis Summit, in order to attend the 2002 FIFA World Cup final match between Germany and Brazil. Looking back on our conversation during that flight, I would like to say that, it greatly helped deepen our mutual trust and friendship. During our flight from Canada to Japan, we have had long conversation on the current international situations, sports, music, history and other various matters. That conversation led us to today's Summit Meeting and brought me an opportunity to visit Bayreuth for the first time and enjoy the live music of Wagner. I would like to further develop and intensify Japan-Germany relations as well as the Japan-EU relationship through the firm and warm mutual trust between Chancellor Schroeder and me. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Chancellor Schroeder for his gracious invitation.
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