Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

I would like to talk about the visit to Palau by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. On the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress visited various locations in Japan to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the war and to pray for peace. On the 60th anniversary they visited the island of Saipan with the same mission. For this coming year, the 70th anniversary after the end of World War II, I have directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Imperial Household Agency to make the necessary arrangements for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to visit the Republic of Palau to pay their respects to the war dead sometime soon after the beginning of the new fiscal year.   

Prime Minister Abe will visit the affected areas of Fukushima Prefecture tomorrow to observe the current progress of the reconstruction effort. Specifically, the Prime Minister will visit a daycare and provisional housing, a provisional storage site for contaminated soil, and a candidate site for interim storage facilities in Kawauchi Village, as well as rice fields and the planned site for a combined junior high and high school in Hirono Town. The Prime Minister also plans to exchange opinions at each site .

Q&As

• The Prime Minister’s attendance at the General Assembly of the U.N.
• The National Security Council meeting on the topic of the situation in Ukraine

(Abridged)

REPORTER: My question relates to the Prime Minister's attendance at the General Assembly of the United Nations (U.N.). Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the U.N. How will the Government work toward reforming the U.N., including reforms to the U.N. Security Council, and what is the Government’s position on the upcoming General Assembly meeting?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, the Prime Minister's basic stance is for Proactive Contribution to Peace based on the principle of international cooperation, and the Government would like to firmly reemphasize this point. With regard to U.N. reforms, including Japan’s inclusion in the U.N. Security Council as a permanent member, next year marks the 70th anniversary of the U.N. Therefore, the Government would like to strengthen its leadership position by cooperating with many countries, and focus not only on G4 nations as core countries but also on African nations and those calling for reform. At the upcoming General Assembly meeting, I believe Prime Minister Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida will proactively make appeals for the importance of reforming the U.N. Security Council from many angles. 

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If possible, could you tell us more about the details of the NSC meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office a little earlier today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The National Security Council, or NSC, meeting was held on the topic of the situation in Ukraine. I would like to refrain from providing further details about the discussions that took place. 

REPORTER: I have a related question. As the United States and Europe move ahead with additional sanctions against Russia, has the Japanese Government discussed additional sanctions as well?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the recent meeting, the NSC discussed comprehensively all factors and issues of the current situation, justly, there are relations with countries around the world that of course include G7 member countries.