Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 30 general and other measures and also personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning the Plan for the Promotion of School Safety. The Minister of the Environment made a statement concerning the Basic Environment Plan. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a statement concerning the FY2011 Annual Report on Forest and Forestry in Japan. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made a statement concerning Trends among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in FY2011 and SME Policies in FY2012. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the results of the labor force survey, the consumer price index, and the results of the household budget survey. The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning the national ratio of jobs to applicants for March 2012.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Jin Matsubara made a statement concerning the FY2012 Consumer Month, and the Minister for Reconstruction made a statement concerning the number of deaths related to the Great East Japan Earthquake (quick estimate), respectively.

Following today's Cabinet meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, and I held a discussion. As Minister of Defense Naoki Tanaka noted in his press conference following the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 24, relevant ministers held discussions on the survey team of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) for the peacekeeping operation (PKO) in South Sudan and approved the deployment of the team. The Government believes that as of right now it is unlikely that the situation near the border of South and North Sudan will have direct impact on Juba, where the Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) unit that has been dispatched is carrying out its operations. However, based on the proposal made by the Minister of Defense, as a precautionary measure the Government has decided to dispatch MOD staff in early May to gauge the details of the circumstances of the unit's operations and the local situation, among other information. For details, please forward your questions to MOD.

Q&As

• Situation in Sudan in relation to the currently deployed Japanese SDF personnel to South Sudan
• The realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan (2+2 Joint Statement)

REPORTER: Regarding the PKO in South Sudan that you mentioned a moment ago, I have a question on the deployment of the survey team. What kind of information relating to safety have the people in Sudan conveyed to the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: With regard to the local situation, at this time although we are concerned about the recent increasing military tensions near the border of South and North Sudan, we understand that the area near the border of South and North Sudan is far away from Juba, where Japanese personnel are carrying out its operations, and that as of now it is highly unlikely that the series of incidents will have direct impact on Juba. And regarding the security situation of Sudan and the neighboring countries, including the results of the study of the survey team, the Government will continue to monitor the local situation by deploying relevant staff as appropriate, closely follow the situation, and take every measure to ensure the safety of the SDF personnel.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: At the meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense, and Prime Minister following the Cabinet meeting, was the realignment of the United States (U.S.) forces in Japan discussed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: With regard to the so-called 2+2 Joint Statement, following the Cabinet meeting the Foreign and Defense Ministers reported to the Prime Minister that through the Japan-U.S. consultations held since February for the coordination of the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan, the two governments have been able to reach an agreement, and that the Japan-U.S. 2+2 Joint Statement will be released momentarily. I believe the two ministers will be giving a press conference, respectively, from 11am today, which will include discussion on the contents of the Joint Statement.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Have any large changes been made to the 2+2 framework - for example, any revisions to the expression or concept regarding Henoko as the transfer location?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Concerning the 2+2 between Japan and the U.S., no significant changes have been made to the contents. Additions were made regarding the budget and so on in relation to the U.S. Government and Congress. I believe this will be explained in detail.

REPORTER: So you are saying that from the standpoint of the Japanese Government, the revisions are not of a nature which can be called changes?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: That's right. The Japanese Government's understanding is that the contents are the same as the initial contents.

(Abridged)