Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 14 general and other measures, and also the promulgation of cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning the Basic Policy based on the Act on Special Measures Concerning Handling of Radioactive Pollution emitted following the nuclear power station accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. The Minister of Justice made a statement concerning the White Paper on Crime 2011. Minister Renho made a statement concerning "Family Day and Family Week" 2011. Prime Minister Noda made a statement concerning temporary acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are on an overseas visit.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Renho made a statement concerning the implementation of actions to eliminate violence against women. The Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning a request for cooperation for efforts to enhance structures for decontamination operations and handling of contaminated waste materials.

I would like to provide a brief explanation of the Cabinet decision on the Basic Policy based on the Act on Special Measures Concerning Handling of Radioactive Pollution. In today's Cabinet meeting the Basic Policy based on the Act on Special Measures Concerning Handling of Radioactive Pollution was approved. This marks a first step towards the implementation of decontamination operations and the disposal of contaminated waste materials based on the law. In order to expedite the steady implementation of large-scale decontamination operations and the disposal of contaminated waste materials based on this Basic Policy, the Government must engage in concerted efforts, with the Ministry of the Environment leading cross-cutting governmental cooperation. In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister gave instructions for a meeting of ministers concerned to be established, headed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, and for maximum cooperation to be implemented in order to prepare a local structure and organization for decontamination in Fukushima Prefecture, including the dispatch of personnel from the various ministries concerned. Based on these instructions the Government will duly engage in concerted efforts to prepare a structure and organization for decontamination operations.

My next report concerns the attendance of Prime Minister Noda at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The Prime Minister is scheduled to take part in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Honolulu, United States, from tomorrow, Saturday, November 12, to Monday, November 14. At APEC this year, hosted by the United States, issues relating to regional economic integration, green growth and regulatory cooperation have been discussed and it is expected that the APEC leaders will engage in vigorous discussions on these agenda items. In order to make further progress towards the realization of the "Yokohama Vision" that sets out a future concept for the Asia-Pacific region, Prime Minister Noda is resolved to make an active contribution to discussions. Given the opportunity provided by the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Prime Minister Noda is also expected to engage in bilateral summit meetings with President Obama of the United States, President Hu Jintao of China and President Medvedev of Russia. The schedule for these meetings is currently being coordinated.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER:Given that discussions within the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have crystallized, in today's ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting were there any views expressed concerning the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, such as that it would be a good idea to engage in further discussion among Cabinet ministers?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:Minister Jimi stated the opinion of his own party, the People's New Party. However, he also stated that the decision on whether or not to participate in the TPP negotiations is for the Prime Minister to make, and that he would naturally follow the decision made by the Prime Minister. Other than that, there were no other comments concerning the TPP.

REPORTER:Could you tell us more about the ministerial meeting for decontamination efforts that was brought up in the ministerial discussions, including what kind of meeting it will be, its purpose and when it will be convened?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:As you are all aware that the decontamination operations will be a tremendously large scale project, and in today's discussions the Prime Minister stated that although the Minister of the Environment had spoken about creating a structure for advancing decontamination operations, these operations are in fact the first step to the revival of Fukushima Prefecture and indeed the nation as a whole, and therefore the Government must work together on the creation of a robust and durable structure for the operations. In this way he stressed the need for a strong, durable structure. The current concept for the ministerial meeting to tackle this issue is that it will be attended by the Ministers of Environment; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Economy, Trade and Industry; Health, Labour and Welfare; Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; and Defense. Arrangements and coordination efforts are underway towards the convening of the first meeting, although a date has yet to be fixed. However, it is important that this meeting should be launched as soon as possible.

(Abridged)

REPORTER:With regard to the World Cup football qualifying round that is scheduled to be held in North Korea, I believe that the families of the abduction victims have issued a request to the Government that the official tour for supporters be changed, as it currently incorporates a sightseeing option. What will be the Government's response to this request?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:This morning I indicated to Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Nakagawa that the basic policy of Japan is to request Japanese citizens to refrain from travel to North Korea. However, an exception has been made for the purpose of this football match, and that for all other matters except the football match the request to refrain from travel and other matters remains in place. That is the basic posture of the Government on this issue.

REPORTER:You have just mentioned that Minister Jimi stated the opinion of the People's New Party concerning the TPP. Could you give us further details about what he actually said?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:His comments in discussions today were based on talks in the party leaders' meeting the other day, in which leader of the People's New Party, Mr. Shizuka Kamei, made a request to Prime Minister Noda, in his capacity as leader of the DPJ, to be cautious about announcing at the APEC meeting that Japan would participate in the TPP negotiations, and noting the opposition of the People's New Party to such an announcement.

(Abridged)