NATO Secretary General visits Japan
The Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, paid a visit to Tokyo from 3 to 5 April, to discuss with the country’s leadership security issues of common concern.
The visit was carried out in the framework of the strategic dialogue between NATO and Japan.
Aspart of the dialogue, senior officials from Japan and NATO meet on abiannual basis to discuss security topics of mutual interest.
Mr.De Hoop Scheffer met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, ForeignMinister Nobutaka Machimura, with Defence Minister of State for DefenceYoshinori Ohno and with the Chairman of the Joint Staff Council GeneralHajime Massaki.
He also addressed the Japan Institute of International Affairs.
“In today’s world, geographic distance has little meaning,” the Secretary General said, “Japanand the transatlantic community face very similar challenges. All of usneed to come to grips with a security landscape that bears littleresemblance to the past, and that requires a radical rethinking of theway we do business.”