Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > January 2012 > Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (PM)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (PM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
(Abridged)
Q&As
(Abridged)
REPORTER: Late this morning English Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visited the Prime Minister. There was a press release a little while ago that indicated that the Chancellor commented about sanctions on Iran. Would you please provide some more detail about Chancellor Osborne's comments?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I do not believe that it is my place to announce the content of that meeting with Chancellor Osborne, but you are asking about exchanges on the sanctions on Iran. I have been told that this issue was discussed in the meeting with Chancellor Osborne. However, I do not think that I should comment on the content of those discussions point by point. I did not participate in the meeting. Nevertheless, with regard to Japan's response to imports of Iranian crude oil - and I have said this several times in the past - Japan shares the same serious concern with the United States and the rest of the international community. That is one point. Also, while applying pressure to Iran, Japan will work in concert with the international community in exerting efforts towards finding a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the problem. Furthermore - this is actually something that Minister of Finance Jun Azumi commented on recently - Minister Azumi answered that over the past five years Japan has sequentially reduced its imports of crude oil from Iran by about 40%, and that Japan will continue to reduce this amount moving forward. I believe that this is the case when it comes to Iran. As I understand, it is what Minister of Finance Azumi and Chancellor Osborne discussed in their press conference.
REPORTER: And with regard to the Prime Minister -
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Yes, as I understand, the Prime Minister also made similar comments.
(Abridged)
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Several moments ago, when I was reading from my notes, the phrase "concerning the recent nuclear problem in Iran" was missing. I mean to say that the serious concern shared with the United States and the rest of the international community is ultimately about the Iranian nuclear problem. I had left that part out, so I would like to add that to my comments now.
(Abridged)
