Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Cabinet Secretariat personnel decisions approved at the Cabinet Meeting
• The Prime Minister's schedule

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Firstly I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet Meeting. The meeting approved 33 general measures, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Hirano made a statement concerning the report on the progress of reconstruction in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Minister Nakatsuka made a statement concerning the national week to remember victims of crime, the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning emergency grant aid for flood damage in Pakistan and the Prime Minister also made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

Next I would like to speak on the Cabinet Secretariat personnel decisions approved at the Cabinet Meeting. As of today Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Masato Kitera will leave his post, and it has been decided that his successor will be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Switzerland Kazuyoshi Umemoto. It has only been around two and a half months since Mr. Kitera took the position in September but in that short time he has accompanied Prime Minister Noda on overseas trips to attend the General Assembly of the United Nations and the ASEAN-related summit meetings, providing the Prime Minister with appropriate support at these international conferences and bilateral meetings. He has also worked diligently to enhance Government initiatives for the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship Cooperation. Mr. Umemoto, who will be taking on the role, has previously held the positions of Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Switzerland. We expect that he will perform well in this position, fully utilizing his vast prior experience.

I have one more topic I wish to raise. I would like to speak on the Prime Minister's schedule. Tomorrow, Friday the 23rd, Prime Minister Noda will visit a renewable energy power generation facility in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and on Saturday the 24th he will visit a nursing home for people suffering from dementia in Tama City, Tokyo. The objective of the visit on Friday the 23rd is to identify obstacles to the broad introduction of renewable energy, which holds the key to realizing reduced dependency on nuclear power, by (1) inspecting a wind-power plant that utilizes advanced Japanese technology; and (2) inspecting the largest solar power plant operating in Japan. On Saturday the 24th, Prime Minister Noda will (1) visit a place that combats the onset of dementia, a pressing issue for our aging population; visit a group home; and accompany care givers visiting elderly citizens. The Prime Minister is also planning to (2) exchange opinions with workers at the facilities.

Q&As

• The new Ambassador's schedule of taking the post
• Recent incidents and accidents involving U.S. servicemen in Okinawa
• Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations
• The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip
• Former Prime Minister Hatoyama's decision not to run in the election
• The TPP

REPORTER: When will the new Ambassador to China, Mr. Kitera, be transferred to China? It has been reported that it may take place after the House of Representatives election. What kind of timeframe are we looking at?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: It won't be immediate. Generally speaking, transfers usually take place around one month after appointment and a decision has yet to be made on the exact timing.

REPORTER: It was revealed during a cabinet member's press conference that during today's ministerial meeting, discussions were held in relation to forming a working team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the incident involving U.S. servicemen. Could you share the details with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Do you mean during today's ministerial meeting? There weren't any discussions specifically about that during today's ministerial meeting. Nobody raised the topic during the ministerial meeting. However, the topic was indeed raised in a ministerial meeting the other day; the Minister for Foreign Affairs also did discuss the matter, although nothing specific was discussed.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. After the ministerial meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Okada and Minister Gemba met the Prime Minister for discussions. What did they discuss?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The meeting was one of our regular meetings where the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense and the Minister for Foreign Affairs met to report on security issues and exchange opinions. Of course they also discussed how to address the issue of the recent misconduct of U.S. military servicemen. Nothing specific has been decided so I believe you would receive the same answer if you were to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

REPORTER: Yesterday, former Minister of Defense Toshimi Kitazawa visited the Prime Minister to request the submission of the revised environmental impact assessment of Henoko and application for landfill approval immediately after the completion of administrative procedures. After the meeting, former Minister Kitazawa agreed to a doorstepping interview where he said that the Government intends to hold a meeting involving the relevant ministers in relation to the issue sometime today. Is the meeting that Mr. Kitazawa was talking about the meeting that took place today after the ministerial meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I said earlier, the issue of the recent misconduct of U.S. military servicemen was addressed during the meeting, but I must refrain from revealing any further details.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations. Yesterday I believe that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) that the upcoming election on December 16 will not affect North Korea in relation to this matter. North Korea is basically showing a positive attitude and it has been reported that consultations could recommence before the end of the month. Could you please inform us of the state of progress?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: We are talking about consultations involving Director-General level representatives, therefore the House of Representatives election has no bearing on these talks, and in fact, negotiations between the two Governments through Director-General level representatives took place the other day. At this meeting, both parties agreed that they would attempt to schedule the next consultation as soon as possible, therefore we are currently making working-level arrangements. These arrangements are made through the embassies in Beijing and no details have yet been determined.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. North Korea is showing a positive attitude toward the consultations, as was the case with the previous consultations that took place in Mongolia, so does that mean that the decision with regard to the next consultation is in Japan's hands?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Who has control is a matter of perception but I understand that it was agreed that the next consultation is to be held as early as possible and arrangements are currently being made through the embassies in Beijing.

In relation to the questions asked earlier about preventing incidents and accidents in Okinawa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will make an official announcement today. However, the minister is currently making arrangements so as to facilitate the formation of a working team in order to hold a special meeting. The possibility of introducing a mentor system and patrols of U.S. servicemen by the U.S. Army is being discussed and the Minister for Foreign Affairs is planning to make an announcement during today's press conference.

REPORTER: How do you view the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe that a press release on this topic has been issued in the form of a statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but I view this as a result of efforts by Egypt, the U.S., and other countries to mediate the situation and I believe it should be regarded as a success. I believe that a press release has been issued in the form of a statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

REPORTER: On the same topic, I believe that previous ceasefire agreements　were soon broken and this has happened over and over time, Japan has been deeply involved in peacebuilding in the Middle East, so how is the Japanese Government planning to be involved in the efforts to achieve permanent peace?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I am only referencing what is written in the press release, however the Japanese Government is determined to continue to support the efforts made by the international community toward the stabilization of the Gaza Strip and progress of the Middle East Peace Process and is committed to cooperating with these efforts as much as possible.

REPORTER: You weren't able to answer this question during yesterday's press conference as the matter had not been confirmed, but former Prime Minister Hatoyama met with the Prime Minister yesterday to inform him that he would not run in the House of Representatives election. Mr. Hatoyama also held a press conference to announce this decision. How do you feel about this decision?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe that the Prime Minister also made comments, but former Prime Minister Hatoyama was the first Prime Minister to take office after the historic change of government, and therefore, in this sense, he has played a significant role, and I accept his decision knowing that it was taken seriously.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in relation to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). During the press conference following the ministerial meeting today, Minister Maehara stated that he does not expect the Japan-U.S. consultations concerning the TPP to be concluded during the lead up to the election, nor does he believe that such an announcement will be made so as to avoid being taken advantage of by the U.S. Am I right to believe that this schedule is an understanding commonly shared among the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Noda held a meeting the other day in which the Prime Minister expressed his intention to accelerate TPP talks. Anything beyond that is as per what Minister Maehara stated.