Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The issue of Takeshima

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Tomorrow, on August 21, we will hold a ministerial meeting of the concerned ministers in relation to the issues of Takeshima, with the attendance of Prime Minister Noda and Deputy Prime Minister Okada, prior to the Cabinet Meeting. In addition to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the ministers expected to be in attendance include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, myself (the Chief Cabinet Secretary), and other cabinet members concerned, who are yet to be confirmed. At this meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will report the current situation of the Takeshima issue. We will then discuss, from wide-ranging points of view, how we should as a government address the Takeshima issue.

(Abridged)