Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding the review of the evacuation zones that were established due to the nuclear accident, it seems that a final decision will be made as early as by the end of this month. Can you once again give a sense of the timetable? Also, will the review be done on the basis of the annual radiation dose? Or will the review be conducted on the basis of the unit of municipality and the wishes of the towns as a whole as is often requested from the areas? Is the latter a fully conceivable option?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: First, regarding the sense of the timetable, according to the decision of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters of December 26, 2011, the goal is to dissolve the Restricted Area by as early as this April. Discussions will be held with relevant stakeholders, including the prefecture and municipalities, toward the implementation of the dissolution after a certain period without any significant delays. With regard to the other zone, the evacuation order areas, discussions with relevant stakeholders, including the prefecture and municipalities, will commence swiftly. As of last year, it was decided that new evacuation order areas will be established by the end of March 2012 as one of the targets. At present, the Government is conveying the status of its considerations to the municipalities, and in this process, is seeking to hear the wishes of the municipalities. Moving forward, the Government will continue to strive to establish new zones while carrying out detailed discussions and coordination with relevant stakeholders, including the prefecture and municipalities. If I may cite the response that the Prime Minister gave to, I believe it was the Committee, he said that while generally speaking there is no other alternative but to demarcate the zones according to the radiation dosage, this will not be done rigidly, without flexibility, and that the wishes of all the residents will also be taken into consideration.

Actually, this comment by the Prime Minister was not made to the Committee but was made when the Mayor of Iitate Village, Village Assembly Chairman, and others from Iitate Village visited the Prime Minister on February 13.