Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The first Meeting amongst Main Ministers on the TPP
• Human rights situations in North Korea
• The commemorative stamps of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved seven general measures as well as draft bills, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made statements concerning the situation of local finances, the allocation of fiscal 2012 special tax grants and special tax grants for reconstruction for March, and the findings of the administrative evaluation and monitoring of the prevalence and safety of medicinal products.

In ministerial discussions, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the dispatch of fire fighters throughout Japan to the Futaba Fire Department of Fukushima Prefecture.

Today, there was the first Meeting amongst Main Ministers on the TPP.  Participants included myself; Prime Minister Abe; Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Amari; Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida; Minister of Finance Aso; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi; and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi, among others. At the beginning of the meeting the Prime Minister called for the building of a strong structure that allows the Government to work in unity as we enter negotiations. In keeping with these instructions, we held discussions and decided on the following, in order to accelerate the development of a structure for negotiations: the establishment of the Governmental Headquarters for the TPP under the Meeting amongst Main Ministers on the TPP, headed by Minister Amari; and the appointments of the Chief Domestic Coordinator, who is responsible for domestic coordination, and the Chief Negotiator, who will lead negotiations. These two positions will report to the head of the Headquarters. Additionally, we also shared information on the current status of the TPP negotiations, which included an overview of the 16th negotiation meeting in Singapore.

In light of ongoing North Korean human rights issues, including the abduction issue, which show no signs of improvement, Japan has, for some time now, recognized the necessity of establishing an investigative commission on North Korean human rights violations within the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and has therefore held a number of talks with relevant nations, including EU member countries. As a result, early today in Geneva, the UNHRC, by consensus and without contest, adopted a resolution on the North Korean human rights situation, which includes the establishment of a commission of inquiry (COI). This decision was very much welcomed by the Japanese Government. Japan earnestly seeks the early establishment of the COI and the investigation of North Korean human rights issues so that human rights situations in North Korea will be improved and the abduction issue promptly resolved.

We recently announced the recipients of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, and I would now like to make a further announcement. Today, March 22, Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. will announce the designs of the commemorative stamps of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize. The designs are as you can see here. The stamps are scheduled to go on sale from May 31 at post offices and other retailers throughout Japan. The stamp designs include an image of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi as well as images of his hometown, Fukushima, and designs that are associated with Africa. The commemorative stamps of the Second Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, which is associated with Fukushima born Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, will be issued as part of support for Fukushima residents who have been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Please contact Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. for further details.

Q&As

• The TPP

(Abridged)

REPORTER: (Abridged) Could you tell us how many people will be involved in the TPP negotiations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are thinking that we will end up forming a team of approximately 70 people under the Chief Negotiator. Additionally, we are anticipating that an additional group of approximately 30 people will be assigned to various fields under the Chief Domestic Coordinator. Either way, we will start with around 50 people and increase those numbers as we go along.

(Abridged)