Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > March 2013 > Monday, March 4, 2013 (PM)
Monday, March 4, 2013 (PM)
Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
- Japan-U.S. relations
- The TPP
(Abridged)
REPORTER: Mr. John Kerry has been appointed as the new United States Secretary of State. On his recent visit to the United States, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida met with Secretary Kerry, so in terms of scheduling of visits, the next visit would be expected to be by Secretary Kerry to Japan. Has a schedule for such a visit been decided?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided with regard to such a visit.
REPORTER: Also, with regard to the discussions that took place at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, is it a fact that Prime Minister Abe conveyed his intention to President Obama that an application for land reclamation would be submitted before the end of March, relating to the relocation of Futenma Air Station?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have heard press reports about this matter, but I do not believe that the Prime Minister referred to this matter in the summit meeting. The press reports include a number of points that I have heard nothing about, including a visit to Japan by Secretary of State Kerry.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: In relation to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, today in the Liaison Meeting of the Government and Ruling Parties the New Komeito made a request for preliminary calculations to be released, to which the Prime Minister made a positive response. What is the Government's intention with regard to this matter?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Diligent efforts are currently being made on this issue and in his responses to Diet questions the Prime Minister noted that he would like to use the results of these calculations as one source of reference. Therefore, I believe that they will be used as one source for consideration when the Prime Minister makes a final decision.
REPORTER: Will such calculations be released at the time when a decision is announced on whether Japan will participate or not in the TPP negotiations or are we to understand that such calculations will be released to the public before that?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister has stated that these calculations will form one source of reference and therefore I would assume that he is also naturally considering releasing the relevant information at the stage when a decision is made.
(Abridged)
