Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A meeting of the Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative Issues
• The current situation and the tasks ahead regarding the recovery and reconstruction from the great earthquake and nuclear disaster response
• The withdrawal of Japanese personnel from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights
• The passing of the Honorable Daniel K. Inoue, United States Senator

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved one general measure and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, and I, respectively, made statements concerning the termination of the transportation and other activities in the Golan Heights.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Hirano, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and I, respectively, made statements concerning the current situation and initiatives regarding the recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and regarding the nuclear disaster response.

Next, a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative Issues was held following the Cabinet meeting. With regard to the assessment of the current state of the Japanese economy, the Monthly Economic Report for December made the same assessment as the previous month's, stating that, "The Japanese economy shows weakness recently due to deceleration of the world economy." Concerning short-term prospects, the Monthly Economic Report states that weakness would remain for the time being but the recovery is expected to resume with the improvement of the overseas economy while reconstruction demand props up the domestic economy. However, the report states that attention should be paid to the fact that a degree of uncertainty about the overseas economies remains high, implying downside risks of the Japanese economy. For details, please direct your questions to the Cabinet Office (Economic and Fiscal Analysis).

Next, in today's ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister for Reconstruction Hirano and I distributed materials and spoke about the current situation and the tasks ahead regarding the recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and regarding the nuclear disaster response - the challenges which the Noda Cabinet has been working on as its top priorities. From my end, I made a statement concerning the nuclear disaster response. I believe the material has been distributed to you. The Government has implemented measures on a wide range of areas, including disaster reconstruction, radioactive contamination countermeasures such as decontamination and health management studies, measures to cope with the economic damages, and the decommissioning of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). These are interrelated challenges, and it is essential that the relevant ministries continue to work together to resolve the challenges in a unified manner. As the recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the responses to the nuclear disaster are both priorities which do not allow even a moment to pass by, I have also asked the relevant ministers to take appropriate measures to ensure that the work is passed on to their successors without leaving anything behind. For details, I ask that you please inquire with the responsible ministry that is listed at the bottom of the material which has been distributed to you.

Next, since last year, the ongoing deteriorating situation in Syria has had grave consequences also to the Golan Heights region and is interfering with the operations of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). And after holistically examining such factors as the situation in Syria, including in the Golan Heights, the mechanisms in place for ensuring the safety of Japanese personnel, and the content of the activities which Japan can carry out under the current situation, the Government has come to realize that it is difficult to carry out meaningful activities while ensuring the safety of Japanese personnel. Therefore, the Government has decided to swiftly withdraw Japanese personnel from UNDOF. Specifically, effective today, Japanese personnel will terminate transportation and other activities and shift to tasks in preparation for withdrawal. Today, upon the deliberations held at the meeting of the Security Council, I made a statement at the Cabinet meeting concerning the termination of the transportation and other activities in the Golan Heights. I would like to thank the Japanese personnel who undertook their assignments in a harsh environment and express appreciation to the United Nations (UN) and relevant countries that extended cooperation to Japan's activities. While it is regrettable that such meaningful activities that have been earning high praise over many years must be ended in this way, Japan, even after withdrawing from the Golan Heights, will continue to make active efforts for the peace and stability of the world, including peace in the Middle East.

Next, with regard to the passing of United States (U.S.) Senator Daniel Inouye, in order to once again express the deep condolences of the Prime Minister and the country as a whole, it has been decided that former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will be dispatched as a special envoy of Prime Minister Noda to the memorial service, which will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Sunday, December 23, local time. Also, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Sasae will attend the memorial service, which will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, on Friday, December 21, local time, or in Japan, Friday, today, and is expected to express Japan's sympathies.

Q&As

• The withdrawal of Japanese personnel from UNDOF in the Golan Heights
• The passing of the Honorable Daniel K. Inoue, United States Senator

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in regard to the peacekeeping operations (PKO) in the Golan Heights. There is no doubt that it is a top priority to ensure the safety of Japanese personnel. However, in making this decision, what did the Government deem as the impact that withdrawing ahead of other countries will have on the international community?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Government's recognition which I read out to you a short while ago was made based on the principle of giving utmost priority to ensuring the safety of Japanese personnel. Japan held consultations with the UN on a number of occasions with regard to fully ensuring the safety of personnel. However, after consistently monitoring the local situation, the Government also deemed that ultimately Japan would not be able to carry out its UNDOF activities. And regarding the UN, the UN has highly praised Japan for its contributions to UNDOF to date and has also expressed its expectation toward Japan's participation in future UN PKO. I believe Japan has not lost the UN's trust or praise in terms of the skills of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). In any case, Japan attaches importance to international peace cooperation operations and will continue to actively cooperate with UN PKO.

REPORTER: Regarding the dispatch of Mr. Fukuda to Senator Inouye's memorial service, what is the reason that the Government is dispatching Mr. Fukuda? Why did the Government choose Mr. Fukuda?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As you are already aware, for over five decades, Senator Daniel Inouye devoted many efforts to enhancing Japan-U.S. relations as a U.S. Congressman well-versed in Japanese affairs. Bearing in mind these achievements, the Government considered that the dispatch of a former prime minister or someone of a similar rank is suitable for attending the memorial service on behalf of Japan. The Government has decided to dispatch former Prime Minister Fukuda, who has long been engaged in Japan-U.S. relations, has served as the Vice Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, and has the rank of former Prime Minister. These were the reasons.

(Abridged)