Home > News > Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary > December 2014 > Thursday, December 18, 2014 (AM)
Thursday, December 18, 2014 (AM)
Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)
[Provisional Translation]
Q&As
- The relations between the United States and Republic of Cuba
- The verification experiments on STAP cells
REPORTER: The United States and Cuba have announced that they are to open negotiations towards the normalization of relations. Could I ask for the view of the Government concerning this development, including what it will mean for future Japan-Cuba relations?
DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: At noon on December 17, local time, it was announced that both President Castro of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba and President Obama of the United States had agreed to open discussions towards the rebuilding of diplomatic relations between their countries. Japan welcomes this development as one that will contribute to further increasing regional stability, through the improvement of relations between the United States and one of its neighboring countries. The Government also recognizes that this decision represents a major policy shift and will continue to monitor developments going forward.
REPORTER: Do you think this announcement will have an impact on Japan-Cuba relations?
DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: This is a matter concerning relations between the United States and Cuba and is not therefore something that will immediately affect Japan’s relations with Cuba. The Government will continue to monitor developments and respond appropriately.
(Abridged)
REPORTER: There have been press reports that RIKEN will soon be announcing the results of verification experiments it conducted relating to stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP) cells, in which it was not possible to create STAP cells. This incident could lead to confidence being shaken in Japan’s science and technology prowess. Could I ask for the views of the Government on this matter?
DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: Firstly, in terms of the facts behind the press reports, I hear that the verification experiments conducted by Ms. Obokata concluded in line with the original schedule on November 30. I also hear that these results are being examined by RIKEN, and RIKEN will be announcing them once they have been compiled. The Government would therefore like to wait for the formal announcement by RIKEN.
