Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > May 2012 > Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (AM)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (AM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
REPORTER: The United States (U.S.) Senate Committee on Appropriations has decided to remove the full amount of the funding to cover the costs of the relocation of the Marine Corps in Okinawa to Guam. Although I believe the full Senate is yet to approve this and there is also the Armed Services Committee, first of all, can you discuss your thoughts on this?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As you just noted, it is reported that the Guam-related budget is not included in the subcommittee bill of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and that is also my understanding. As you mentioned a moment ago, as this is a matter on which the deliberations are ongoing, now is not the stage for the Government of Japan to make any kind of comment. At any event, both the Governments of Japan and the U.S. have committed to the steady implementation of the realignment plan, which has been coordinated according to the recent Japan-U.S. agreement.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: Coalition negotiations in Greece have collapsed, and it has been decided that a reelection will be held next month. In conjunction with this, there are growing concerns about Greece withdrawing away from the eurozone and about the turmoil or further turmoil which will result from this. What are your thoughts on this?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The coalition talks among the parties, which I understand were mediated by the President, ended unsuccessfully. Although the President strived to establish a coalition government based on a constitutional provision through further talks with the parties since May 13, the talks were ultimately renounced on May 15 and it was decided that a reelection will be held in June. I believe that was the conclusion. This, however, concerns political developments of another country, and so, I would like to refrain from commenting on this matter. Nonetheless, it is necessary for Japan to continue to closely monitor future developments, and Japan expects the steady implementation of the program which was agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund and the eurozone.
(Abridged)
