Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA:

(Abridged)

Today, based on the deliberations and decision of the National Security Council, the Cabinet meeting approved changes to the Implementation Plan of the International Peace Cooperation Assignment in South Sudan, among other matters. Accordingly, the dispatch period of the Self-Defense Force engineering unit to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) will be extended by six months. The peace and stability of South Sudan are key challenges for the international community. As a responsible member of the whole international community, Japan considers it deeply meaningful to continue to extend necessary support to South Sudan, in coordination with various countries.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Next year’s G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Hiroshima. It is rumored that Secretary of State John Kerry of the United States is considering a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on this occasion. Can you please share your comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I expect that events related to the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be arranged in the coming months. The Government of Japan hopes that world leaders will visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Government has always encouraged this, based on the view that getting a firsthand look at the aftermath of the atomic bombings would leave leaders with a deeper recognition of the need for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. In this sense, it would be welcome if Secretary Kerry visits the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.