Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• Mrs. Akie Abe's joining of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Lancet Commission

I would like to speak on Mrs. Akie Abe's joining of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Lancet Commission. UNAIDS and the Lancet, a UK general medical journal, have jointly launched the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission, consisting of political leaders and experts, in order to strengthen the international fight against AIDS. Upon the request of Mr. Michel Sidib?, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mrs. Akie Abe will become a member of the Commission. Mrs. Akie Abe has been involved in raising awareness for the issue of AIDS and at the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) held in June this year, she hosted an AIDS symposium. Combating AIDS is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Japan has been proactively providing support through contributions to international institutions and bilateral assistance. We welcome Mrs. Abe's joining of the Commission and I anticipate that efforts and debate for the resolution of the AIDS issues will be further strengthened.

Q&As

• The First Lady Akie Abe's joining of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission
• House of Councillors member Antonio Inoki's unauthorized visit to North Korea
• The issue related to Japan-China-Republic of Korea relations
• The issue of the utilization of Prime Minister's Official Residence in terms of risk management

REPORTER: In relation to Mrs. Abe's joining of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission, what sort of things are expected of her role? Will Mrs. Abe, for instance, be expected to make overseas visits?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, political leaders and experts from across the world are members of the UNAIDS and Lancet Commission. The Commission is expected to hear the thoughts of each member on the fight against AIDS at meetings scheduled to be held in the UK in February next year. I understand that Mrs. Abe will look at the schedule of the meeting and determine if she will be able to attend.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: This morning a motion was moved to reprimand House of Councillors member Antonio Inoki for his unauthorized visit to North Korea. If the motion is carried at next week's plenary session, it would be a very rare occurrence, in fact, the first of its kind since 1952. Could you share with us your thoughts on Mr. Antonio Inoki's visit to North Korea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, the Government has urged Japanese nationals, including Diet members, to refrain from traveling to North Korea. We have consistently communicated the Government's appeals to Mr. Inoki. The Government is not in a position to comment on the activities of Diet members, but the Government has been urging the public and all Diet members to refrain from visiting North Korea. Therefore, it would have been best if he had heeded these calls.

REPORTER: In relation to his recent visit to North Korea, Mr. Inoki has stated that the objective of the visit was to encourage exchange through sport, while also emphasizing that the visit was made possible through his own personal connections. Could you share with us any thoughts you may have on his non-governmental diplomatic efforts, or diplomacy through sport?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think that diplomacy through sport should be very much encouraged, however, in the case of North Korea, we still have the unresolved issues of the abduction of Japanese nationals and North Korea's nuclear development. For these reasons, Japan has imposed sanctions on North Korea and also discourages Japanese citizens from traveling to North Korea.It is my opinion that these things are completely separate from diplomacy through sport.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Yesterday, a Japan-China-Republic of Korea meeting involving the respective Vice-Ministers for Foreign Affairs was held for the first time in 20 months. Still, we are yet to hear any media reports that suggest prospects for a summit meeting. Do you believe that there has been progress toward a summit meeting, even if only a little, or do you think that less progress has been made than hoped, or even that progress has halted?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I think it was a positive step that a meeting involving administrative leaders from the three countries was held for the first time in 20 months, as you just said.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I understand that the Prime Minister has recently been staying at the Prime Minister's Official Residence more frequently. Former Prime Minister Noda has commented that Prime Minister Abe should move into the official residence in the interest of risk management. How do you consider the official residence should be utilized from the perspective of risk management?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said this during a committee meeting the other day,  I believe that the most important thing is not where the Prime Minister lives, but it is whether he is always prepared and ready to respond to any situation. The Prime Minister's private residence is only 15 minutes away by car. Looking at leaders past and present throughout the world, it seems to me that where a leader lives does not adversely affect risk management.