Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved four general measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Prime Minister Abe and I made statements, respectively, concerning the holding of the Ceremony to Commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits, among other matters.

I have an announcement regarding the visit to Palau by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. The Government has decided to ask Their Majesties to visit Palau to mourn and pay tribute to those who died in the war and to pray for peace in the 70th year after the war, as well as in view of the friendly and amicable relations between Japan and Palau. The Government of Palau has long extended its invitation for Their Majesties to visit the country. While the itinerary will be decided upon consultations with the Government of Palau, it is expected that Their Majesties will depart Tokyo on April 8 and return to Japan on the following day, April 9. The aforementioned details were adopted as a Cabinet decision today.

During today’s Cabinet meeting, it was decided that the Government will host the Ceremony to Commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11 at the National Theatre, in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. The ceremony will be attended by representatives of all sectors of society. During the Cabinet meeting, I made a statement concerning this matter. Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed that the logistics for holding the ceremony be handled under the leadership of Minister Yamatani. It has been decided that effective today, the Preparation Office for the Ceremony to Commemorate the Fourth Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake will be set up within the Minister's Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. For more information regarding the ceremony, please contact the Preparation Office.

(Abridged)

Today, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the demise of King Abdullah. The Government of Japan would like to express its condolences to all the members of the Saudi royal family and to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The late king played an extremely important role over many years by contributing to peace and stability not only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but also in the broader Islamic world and in the rest of the world. In terms of relations with Japan, the late King Abdullah paid a visit to Japan as the Crown Prince in 1998, and further solidified the friendly relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. Japan is committed to further deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries built upon the foundation created by the late King Abdullah. I extend my sincerest prayer for the repose of the soul of the late King Abdullah.

 

Q&As

• The issue regarding the hostage in Syria
• The Japan-ROK relations

REPORTER: I have a question in regard to the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL). The 72-hour deadline that ISIL set is considered to be this afternoon. Are you taking any concrete steps right now which would achieve a breakthrough in the situation?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is working as one as we continue to collect information and make our strongest efforts to realize the swift release of the two Japanese nationals. Yesterday evening, a telephone talk between the Japanese and U.K. Prime Ministers was held. In such ways, we are collecting information and asking for the cooperation of relevant countries at a variety of levels. While the situation is extremely severe, the Government will continue to make maximum efforts to realize the swift release of the hostages. Japan will not give in to terrorism, and our position of contributing to the counter-terrorism efforts by the international community remains completely unchanged. In any case, we are doing everything we can to realize the swift release of the two Japanese nationals by pursuing every possible channel.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Is it still the case that you have not confirmed the safety of the two Japanese nationals?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: While various information has come to the attention of the Government, all information pertaining to this is still unconfirmed. The situation has not changed from before.

REPORTER: I have a related question. According to some media reports, ISIL sent out a message saying that it would release a statement momentarily. Is this true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A variety of information has come to our attention. However, the Government would like to refrain from commenting on the veracity of each and every individual report.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Did the Prime Minister make any comments regarding this incident, either before or after the Cabinet meeting or the ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: During the ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister explained the current situation and instructed that the Cabinet work collectively and make every effort to realize the swift release of the two Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: Have you established communication channels with ISIL? Have you had any communication with them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are making every effort to ensure that Japan’s intentions are communicated to ISIL by using various channels.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm whether ISIL has sent out any messages or made any contact with you.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan is leveraging various channels to send out messages that express Japan’s intentions and urge ISIL to swiftly release the Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: What is your outlook regarding the possibility of a deadline extension for the negotiations? Do you perceive that there could be an extension depending on how the negotiations proceed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan confirmed the video at around 2:50 P.M. on the 20th, Japan time. We understand the deadline to be 72 hours from that time, based on what ISIL stated. We are making maximum efforts to realize the swift release of the two Japanese nationals while communicating with relevant countries and relevant parties. That is the situation.

REPORTER: There could be opportunities for you to talk with the two Japanese nationals by telephone or by some other means. Does the Government have by its side, people who know the two individuals who were taken hostage, such as their family members or acquaintances? Or are such people at the Local Response Headquarters in Jordan? Or do you have access to technologies that will enable you to confirm the authenticity of sound and video through scientific analyses, without having such people by your side?  

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Could you say that one more time?

REPORTER: You said that the Government has not confirmed the safety of the two Japanese nationals. Depending on the circumstances, however, I think an opportunity could arise for you to talk with them over the telephone.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has not confirmed the safety of the two Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: Getting to my question, in case such an opportunity arises, are there family members or acquaintances by the Government’s side who can confirm whether the people you are talking to are them or not?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, the Government is continuing to make its strongest efforts to realize the release of the two Japanese nationals. As I said in response to an earlier question, while we have obtained various information, I would like to refrain from answering your question due to the nature of the matter. With regard to the families, the Government is offering them support while maintaining close coordination and communication with them. As for their whereabouts, I would like to refrain from answering as it concerns their privacy.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm whether during yesterday’s telephone talk between the Japanese and U.K. Prime Ministers, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would not pay ransom. Can you tell us if this is true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, my understanding is that the media reports to that effect were retracted. Japan’s position is, as I have stated repeatedly, that Japan urges ISIL to swiftly release the two Japanese hostages. At the same time, Japan will not give in to terrorism, and we will contribute to the counter-terrorism efforts by the international community. I understand that during the telephone meeting, Prime Minister Abe made statements to that effect and requested U.K. cooperation towards the swift release of the Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: I have a follow-up question. Is it your understanding then that the two Prime Ministers no more than reaffirmed the agreement in the 2013 G8 Summit Communiqué to reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister has stated that Japan will work with the international community in dealing with this situation. In this sense, I would like to refrain from responding to each and every statement made by the Prime Minister. However, Japan’s basic view is as I have stated at these press conferences.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding a different matter. It is about the sale of the building of the head office of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). There are reports that Marunaka Holdings Co., which made a successful bid, will resell the building. Is the Government aware of the facts?  
 
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are aware of the facts up to the transfer of ownership to Marunaka Holdings Co. following the completion of the court’s auction process. Anything beyond that is a private sector matter, and therefore, the Government is not aware of anything that happened after the transfer.  

REPORTER: My question concerns the death of the King of Saudi Arabia, which you noted in your opening statement. Is the Government considering the dispatch of a Special Envoy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are currently reviewing such details.

REPORTER: I would like to return to the subject of ISIL. What will the Government be doing until the 72-hour deadline? Will you be holding a ministerial meeting or holding talks with partner countries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We are now making our strongest efforts to engage ISIL, in consultation and coordination with various parties, including partner countries, relevant religious leaders, and tribal leaders.