Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• Former Prime Minister Mori's plan to visit Russia as a special envoy of the Prime Minister

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is scheduled to visit Moscow from February 20 to 22. Former Prime Minister Mori will convey a personal message from Prime Minister Abe to President Putin and will visit Russia as a de facto special envoy of the Prime Minister. While in Moscow he is scheduled to meet with President Putin on February 21. In addition, he is also scheduled to meet with Chairman Naryshkin of the State Duma and give a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Q&As

• Former Prime Minister Mori's plan to visit Russia
• The posts of governor and deputy governors of the Bank of Japan

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the purpose of the visit to Russia, I believe that former Prime Minister Mori is someone who had relations with President Putin in the past. As such, is there a particular reason why the Government has selected him as the special envoy of the Prime Minister on this occasion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As you have just mentioned, the former Prime Minister has a history of extremely warm relations with President Putin. During the Japan-Russia telephone talks that took place on December 28 last year, it was agreed that the two sides would engage in coordination with a view to Prime Minister Abe visiting Russia at some point during the course of this year. Given former Prime Minister Mori's acquaintance with President Putin it is expected that he will smooth the way for a visit to Russia by Prime Minister Abe and that he will engage in an exchange of opinions on overall Japan-Russia relations with the Russian leader.

REPORTER: You have just mentioned that the visit is for the purpose of smoothing the way for a visit by Prime Minister Abe. With regard to the issue of the Northern Territories, for example, in an interview with my newspaper, President Putin spoke of the issue in terms of a draw between the two countries. Will this visit result in any advance in the Northern Territories issue and what are the expectations of the visit as a means of smoothing the way for a visit by Prime Minister Abe?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As former Prime Minister Mori will be meeting President Putin I would expect that the issue of the Northern Territories will be touched upon, but in the form of an exchange of opinions rather than negotiations.

REPORTER: In the past former Prime Minister Mori has spoken on television about different options, such as the return of three of the four islands, initially. Is it expected that he will raise such options during his visit and in his capacity as a special envoy of the Prime Minister?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I don't think that will happen. The position of the Government is clear and based on the fact that attribution applies to all four islands. As a special envoy of the Prime Minister I do not think it likely that former Prime Minister Mori will deviate from the official Government position.

REPORTER: This visit is being positioned as smoothing the way for a visit by the Prime Minister, but in specific terms, when is the schedule for such a visit expected to be decided?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that the schedule will be decided as a result of this path-smoothing visit.

REPORTER: Is there a possibility that in discussions between former Prime Minister Mori and President Putin the joint development of the Northern Territories will be raised as a topic?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not know. The main point of the visit is to prepare for a visit by Prime Minister Abe.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has been reported that in the Government and ruling parties consultative meeting today, you said with regard to the appointment of the governor and two deputy governors of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) that the Government seeks to submit the names of proposed candidates by the end of this month. Could you confirm your intentions with regard to the timing of the submission to the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The governor of the BOJ has previously announced that he will step down from his post on March 19, which coincides with the expiry of the term of office of the two deputy governors. It is therefore necessary to prepare a new leadership structure by March 19, and it is in view of this fact that I stated that a proposal would need to be submitted to the Diet at an appropriate time. As you are all aware there are currently various movements in the Diet seeking to find consensus candidates for the BOJ positions, and the final submission will be made while taking into account these various movements.

(Abridged)