Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has selected five individuals with expert insight on the Middle East, risk management, and other related subjects, to participate in and provide their opinions to the committee that is currently assessing the recent acts of terrorism in Syria in which two Japanese nationals were murdered, as expert members. The members are as listed in the materials distributed in front of you. This committee will assess whether the Government responded in an appropriate manner, based on the policies for protecting Japanese nationals abroad that were compiled two years ago following the terrorist incident in Algeria. These expert members will be asked to provide opinions from a third-party and specialist perspective for the assessment. Furthermore, given that they will provide opinions regarding the Government’s response as a whole, the Government has appointed them as part-time national public servants with an obligation to maintain confidentiality. Towards the end of this month the committee will hold a joint meeting with the expert members. We will seek the opinions of the expert members after that, and based upon the holding of a joint meeting, we will compile the assessment results, reflecting the views of the expert members.

(Abridged)