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Updated: 10-May-2006 NATO Speeches

NATO HQ
Brussels

4 May 2006

Joint press point

with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and H.E. Mr Taro Aso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan

 

Multimedia
Audio file
.MP3/3373

JAMES APPATHURAI (NATO Spokesman): The Secretary General and the Foreign Minister will each make very brief opening statements and then there'll be a little bit of time. Secretary General.

JAAP DE HOOP SCHEFFER (Secretary General of NATO): Just to say, once again, how warmly the North Atlantic Council, the ambassadors, have welcomed Minister Aso. The first time a Japanese Foreign Minister has come to the North Atlantic Council, showing ambition on the Japanese side, and the answer was ambition on the NATO side, to increase our dialogue, or increase our practical cooperation, to increase our political dialogue.

We are very glad that the Minister is here, and I was very glad to go to Japan last year. You all know that Japan is participating in a very important way in many things. The Japanese Self Defence Force is in Iraq supporting the coalition, playing a very important role in Afghanistan in the demobilization and reintegration sphere, thereby indirectly supporting ISAF, the NATO-led operation.

Because I know the Minister's schedule is very tight indeed let me just say that we consider here at NATO this a very important visit; that this visit proves that there is room and there is possibility and there's ambition to increase the relationship between Japan and NATO and in this regard we are very, very glad, indeed, Minister Aso, with your visit and you're warmly welcomed.

TARO ASO (Foreign Minister of Japan): Thank you very much.

DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Please.

ASO: Yes, for my side it is actually the very first time for a Japanese Minister to participate in this North Atlantic Council and I found this meeting was very meaningful and significant. And as you may know very well, NATO and Japan share very basic values, such as democracy, freedom, rule of law and others.

And since the end of Cold War and also the 9/11 the environment surrounding international security has changed quite drastically. Therefore, in order to secure, or in order to heighten or improve the international security I believe that it's very (inaudible) or Japan and NATO to structurally establish a very good relationship between the two countries, and to partners.

And as you may know very well, in the Indian Ocean and also in Iraq , for example, in the city called Samawah, NATO countries and Japanese SDF (Self-Defence Forces) are contributing to the establishment of stability in those areas together. And therefore, I believe that it is very important for us to establish a very good communication between the two parties, and to establish very good relationship as well, so that we can contribute to the international security in the more effective manner with utilizing the very good synergy between the two parties.

Q: (SPEAKING IN JAPANESE)...

ASO: You don't have to translate it. Mainly domestic, international Japan-Korean relationship, so (inaudible)...

DE HOOP SCHEFFER: Please, Minister. I'll refrain from commenting.

ASO: (SPEAKING IN JAPANESE)...

APPATHURAI: I'm afraid that's all the Minister has time...

ASO: (SPEAKING IN JAPANESE)...

I have to go in to meet your Prime Minister now, and time is very limited.

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