Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The launch of the Secretariat of the National Council on Social Security System Reform and related personnel decisions
• The Energy and Environment Council
• The Ministerial Committee on the Global Warning Issue
• The Reconstruction Promotion Council
• Japan-North Korea director-general-level intergovernmental consultations

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved five general measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning the addition of lists for the measures to freeze the assets of President Bashar Al-Assad and his related individuals and entities in Syria. Deputy Prime Minister Okada made a statement concerning the launch of the National Council on Social Security System Reform. Prime Minister Noda made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Noda and Deputy Prime Minister Okada made statements, respectively, on reflecting the outcomes of the assessments made in the new review of government programs and other elements in the budget formulation.

Next, I would like to speak about the personnel decisions which were made at the Cabinet meeting. It was decided that effective today, Mr. Shuichi Nakamura, Director General of the Social Security Reform Office of the Cabinet Secretariat, will serve as the Secretary General of the National Council on Social Security System Reform. The members of the Secretariat were also appointed. The Secretariat of the National Council will be launched, effective today. The list of members of the National Council was announced today by Deputy Prime Minister Okada.

Next is about a meeting of the Energy and Environment Council. The meeting of the Energy and Environment Council on October 19 decided on a concrete way forward with regard to the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment that aims to realize a society not dependent on nuclear power in the earliest possible future. The 17th meeting of the Energy and Environment Council was held prior to today's Cabinet meeting. Discussions took place on the progress of the ongoing work, with focus given to: the Framework for Green Development Policy to be compiled by the end of this year; measures for the maintenance and reinforcement of nuclear power personnel and technology; and the review of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission. In addition, a decision was made that, starting today, the outline of the Framework for Green Development Policy presented today will be made available on the website of the National Policy Unit in order to solicit the opinions of a wide range of people to enhance the content. It is important that the Government steadily carries out administrative work in a seamless manner, and the Government will continue to make concerted efforts to implement the strategy.

Next, I would like to speak about a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the Global Warming Issue, which was convened ahead of the Cabinet meeting. During the talks, the ministers gave their assent to how Japan will address the 18th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is being held in Doha, Qatar since yesterday, November 26. Specifically, it was confirmed, among other items, that Japan will take part wholeheartedly in the negotiations, with the aim of sending out a clear message that "the groundwork has been laid" for the international negotiations to agree on a new legal framework for 2020 and beyond at COP18. Also, with regard to Japan's pledge in December 2009 to provide, over a roughly three-year period up to the end of 2012, a total of US$15 billion, including public and private financing, to support developing countries that implement climate change countermeasures, it was reported that by October of this year, US$17.4 billion has been already extended and the pledge has been achieved. Regarding the details, please listen to the explanation which will be given by Minister of the Environment Nagahama, who, as the Japanese Government representative, will be participating in the ministerial meeting which will be held from next week.

Furthermore, the fourth meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council was held after the Cabinet meeting. At the meeting, discussion took place on the basic concept concerning future reconstruction-related budgets. The Council has decided on the Government's conceptualization of future reconstruction-related budget allocations as well as the Government's suspension of the enforcement of reconstruction budgets, including items in this fiscal year's budget. In this connection, it was confirmed that the procedure for carrying forward a budget due to unforeseeable reasons, etc., will be simplified to further extend the carry-forward period from two fiscal years to three fiscal years. Prime Minister Noda stated, "In accordance with the basic concept concerning future reconstruction-related budgets, the Government will enforce this fiscal year's reconstruction-related budgets and formulate next fiscal year's budget," and "The ministers concerned with the simplification of the procedure for carrying forward the budget due to unforeseeable reasons, etc., will take necessary measures for the smooth execution of programs in the disaster area." For more information about the meeting, I ask that you please direct your questions to the Reconstruction Agency.

Next is about the second Japan-North Korea director-general-level intergovernmental consultations. Following the consultations held on November 15 and 16 in Ulan Bator, the two sides have been coordinating through the embassy channel in Beijing. As a result, it has been decided that the second Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations will be held on December 5 and 6 in Beijing. Both delegations will comprise the same members as the previous consultations. The Japanese side will be represented by Mr. (Shinsuke) Sugiyama, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. The North Korean side will be represented by Mr. Song Il Ho, Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others. At the upcoming consultations, it is expected that further discussions will take place on matters of mutual concern, taking into account the previous consultations.

Q&As

• Economic measures
• Japan-North Korea director-general-level intergovernmental consultations
• Outcomes of the Noda Cabinet

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I believe that the second round of economic measures is to be finalized by the end of this month and, partly due to the election, the budget for the next fiscal year is highly unlikely to be finalized before the end of the year. In light of this, how is the Government planning to address any potential impact this may have on the economy or the daily lives of citizens while effectively implementing the economic measures?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The first round of economic measures was implemented at the end of October. The second round of economic measures is to be finalized by the end of November with the possibility of a third round of measures being a supplementary budget. The Government views these measures as one package to implement seamless economic measures and has been working steadily on this matter with the understanding that these are issues to be addressed immediately.

REPORTER: You just mentioned a third round of measures that may involve a supplementary budget but next year's budget may not be finalized before the end of the year. How do you reconcile this? How is the Government planning to deal with this matter knowing that the main budget may be delayed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Budget delays are unavoidable due to the dissolution and general election. However, the Government is committed to taking responsibility in ensuring that economic measures are implemented in a seamless manner, with the second round of measures to be finalized before the end of November and the following measures likely to be raised at the opening of the next ordinary Diet session in the event that it involves a supplementary budget. The Government is determined to implement economic measures in a seamless manner through the implementation of an economic stimulus package that includes those two measures. As for next year's budget, it will only take effect from April next year and between now and then we would like to ensure that economic measures are implemented seamlessly.

REPORTER: Earlier you announced the dates of the second Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations involving Director-General level representatives. Do you expect the abduction issue to see some productive progress even though it has not been long since the first consultations were held?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: At the recent consultations it was agreed that matters concerning both parties will be broadly discussed. Naturally, both parties agreed that consultations on the matter are to be continued, after discussing the background and the understanding of both parties on the abduction issue at the recent consultations, in order to discuss the matter further. Therefore I understand that the next consultations, which are to take place next week, will be conducted with this understanding.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question on a related topic. With the December 16 House of Representatives election approaching, it is highly likely that the next Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations will be the last. Do you view this as the current Government's last chance to produce some results?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I don't believe that this is something as simple as that. These consultations came to a halt approximately four years ago and only restarted in August this year, beginning with preliminary consultations at the director level. Diplomatic negotiations and consultations should be carried out with patience and perseverance, therefore they should not be regarded as part of politics as you suggest but should be advanced steadily with patience.

REPORTER: Members of the Headquarters on the Abduction Issue participated in the previous consultations and considering that the issue of the remains of the victims is on the discussion agenda, will staff from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare participate in the coming Japan-North Korea intergovernmental consultations, which are Director-General level consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Members have yet to be chosen but representatives will be, as I said earlier, ambassador or director-general level representatives, as was the case at the previous consultations.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has been 453 days since the Noda Cabinet took office, the longest term for the Democratic Party of Japan. How do you view this and what are your thoughts on the fact that this is the longest term? Also, are there any achievements that you would particularly like to share with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: You just mentioned the number of days and I believe that you raised this to make a comparison between the cabinets that have been inaugurated since the change of government, namely the 266 days of the Hatoyama Cabinet, the 452 days of the Kan Cabinet and 453 days of the Noda Cabinet as of today. I believe that the Prime Minister made some statements reflecting on his time in office during the recent press conference to announce the dissolution of the House of Representatives. He said that "Together with others of the same persuasion, I have single-mindedly faced the various issues that can be called national crises head-on, without wavering or evasion." Although it was a divided Diet, as he said, Prime Minister Noda has dedicated himself completely to getting motionless politics moving again. He made a point of mentioning the achievements of comprehensive reform of the social security and taxation systems but also as he said, "we have devised and promoted policies to address each of these issues in a realistic manner." Without being biased, I believe that this persistent addressing of pressing issues is something that deserves some degree of recognition. However, we fully acknowledge that issues such as recovery and reconstruction from the earthquake disaster, the fight against the nuclear accident, and of course the revitalization of the Japanese economy and breaking out from deflation, have not yet been resolved and we understand that these are critical issues that need to be addressed and require persistent Government attention.