Press point

by NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
and Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe

De Hoop Scheffer:Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Let me start by saying that NATO considers the visit of Prime Minister Abe as a visit of extremely high importance. It is a historic visit; it is a historic first because never before a head of government in Japan came to visit the North Atlantic Council.

The Prime Minister is here shortly after the NATO Riga Summit where the NATO heads of state and government took a number of important decisions in the framework of strengthening the relationship between Japan and NATO and those Riga decisions have met with a very positive response this morning by Prime Minister Abe. And those decisions were taken and I think that Japan and the NATO Allies fully agree here as well, because Japan and the NATO Allies and NATO are facing the same threats. You cannot see security in only a regional context anymore; the threats and challenges are of a global nature, be it for Japan, be it for the NATO Allies.

It is a visit of very high importance because of Japan's impressive contribution to crisis response operations in general, but more specifically to Japan's impressive contribution to NATO's most important operation, which is the United Nations mandated operation in Afghanistan and nobody can underestimate the very important role Japan has been playing and is playing there.

So this visit is about further strengthening the ties between Japan and NATO in a pragmatic and flexible way. It is a visit about very important threats faced by all of us. The North Korean proliferation, the North Korea nuclear test, the ballistic missile tests, are a big threat not only for Japan, but for all the NATO Allies and threats of a global nature and that is why the North Atlantic Council, when that happened, in the most strong wording condemned these projects, condemned these threats and condemns the proliferation from North Korea. And although NATO of course does not have any direct role to play in the face of this problem - we leave that to the six-party talks - the proliferation activities by North Korea are an example of what I said about the global threats and challenges facing us all.

And finally, the fact that you see Prime Minister Abe and myself standing here next to each other means that Japan and NATO share the same values. Abductions, abduction of people, abduction of young girls, do not fit and are never to be brought into line with those values and that is why we discussed this grave and serious problem as well.

Japan and NATO will strengthen their ties. I'm very happy that the Prime Minister has invited me to come to Japan. Again, an invitation I very gladly accept, and I consider this visit as a very important step in further strengthening those ties in closer co-operation and I think this visit has laid an excellent basis for further strengthening the already excellent relations between Japan and NATO.

Thank you very much.

ABE: Ladies and gentlemen, today I had the pleasure of speaking to the North Atlantic Council and attending that meeting as the first Japanese Prime Minister every to do so. Together with like-minded countries, I shall support the free and prosperous world underpinned by basic values, a world that industrialized democracies have built up because doing so will be in Japan's national interest and in fact it is Japan's responsibility to do so as well.

As strategic partners that share objectives and responsibilities, Japan shall step up co-operation with NATO as it address international challenges and I believe by doing so we in fact will be able to make meaningful contributions to greater peace and stability, not just in Japan and NATO countries, but around the world as well.

Now in response to significant changes in the security environment in recent years, NATO has been strengthening its effort for international peace and stabilization and that is in line with the basic objectives and orientation of Japan's efforts as well. Against that backdrop, we agreed that Japan and the Provincial Reconstruction Teams under NATO shall co-operate in the area of humanitarian and development assistance in Afghanistan, an area of concern for both Japan and NATO.

And in addition, I explained Japan's position that North Korean nuclear weapons and abduction issues, issues of immediate concern for Japan, are serious issues for Europe as well. And especially with regard to the abduction issue let me say that 17, at least 17 Japanese national including a 13-year old school girl, have been abducted. And I explained that Japan wishes to achieve the resolution of this problem through international co-operation and I received the expression of understanding and support, as well as co-operation, from the Secretary General regarding NATO's co-operation in this respect.

We shall engage in close consultations in the days ahead regarding concrete ideas for Japan-NATO co-operation. Let me also say in concluding that in response to my invitation to the Secretary General for an early visit to Japan he kindly accepted that. So we look forward to further strengthening our partnership and co-operation with the Secretary General and with NATO Allies in general.

Questions and answers

Q: I'm Hosaka with TV Asahi. First a question for Prime Minister. In Northeast Asia surrounding Japan we see numerous factors of instability such as North Korean nuclear and missile issues. What specific security benefits will Japan gain by strengthening relations with NATO?

And a question for the Secretary General. As part of that stepped-up co-operation for relations with Japan, what specific roles would you expect Japan to play?

Abe: Well the international security environment has been undergoing major change in recent years. We have seen problems of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, regional conflicts that arise one after another and one example of weapons of mass destruction proliferation is in fact in North Korea an issue. To address these issues I believe we need very broad international co-operation. And in fact, with regard to the North Korean test or missile launches, soon after these incidents the North Atlantic Council adopted statement condemning these acts. So we do need this kind of co-operation in order to solve these problems.

Now in order to solve these problems, we need to share information and awareness so that we shall be able to proceed in the same direction together. Japan and NATO have been making efforts over the years in the interest of world peace and stability and by co-operating with each we should be able to make important contributions to better world peace and stability.

So I believe that, for example, co-operation between Japan and NATO in addressing the Northeast Asian security issues, including the North Korean issues, would be of extreme importance. And I think it is very important that for understanding of the North Atlantic Council regarding the North Korean missile issue, nuclear test issue… or nuclear issues and the abduction issue by attending the meeting here. In fact, I was able to get the support of the Council as well in this respect and I think that should translate into major pressure for North Korea.

De Hoop Scheffer: Let me in answering your question echo the Prime Minister's words in the sense that what he said and what I support and what the Allies support in an example of the notion that security cannot be approached in a regional context. And I say again, although NATO has no intention or ambition to play a direct role - that's up to the six-party talks - in the framework of the threat posed by North Korea, proliferation in North Korea is one of the main axis, is of course not only a threat to Japan or to Northeast Asia, it's a threat to the NATO Allies as well.

So that is, I think, an excellent and that is the reason why the North Atlantic Council issued this strong statement after the ballistic missiles tests and after the nuclear tests.

On the Japanese-NATO relationship, the umbrella of course is political consultation. Now under that umbrella and on the basis of what was discussed in Riga, to which the Prime Minister gave a very positive response, we have a great number of tools in the toolbox where Japan and NATO are going to define further added value for our co-operation. So the co-operation is political; political consultations, a strong political umbrella; but the co-operation is also and can also be very practical and that can range from discussing interoperability to civil emergency planning.

A subject like energy security and the security aspects of energy security is an important subject and I can mention many more, but this is of course what Japan and NATO are further going to develop. And again, I see this visit by the Prime Minister as an excellent start for that kind of discussions.

Q: Paul Ames from the Associated Press.

Prime Minister could I ask you to elaborate on how Japan envisages expanding its support for NATO's ISAF mission in Afghanistan? Will if, for example, involve the deployment of members of the Self-Defence Forces?

And for the Secretary General. Could I ask you to comment on the reports which have just come in in the last few minutes that Germany is considering expanding its contribution to ISAF with the deployment of several warplanes (inaudible)?

Abe: With regard to the reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan currently, Japan to date has provided economic assistance. It has also been engaged in refuelling operations in the Indian Ocean. And Japan highly appreciates the contributions that NATO have been making for further stabilization in Afghanistan. Japan is… partnering or co-operating with NATO, the PRTs… Provincial Reconstruction Teams under NATO and also in humanitarian and development assistance efforts. And furthermore, with regard to the disbandment of illegal armed groups, there again Japan wishes to co-operate with NATO's PRTs.

De Hoop Scheffer: Let me answer you on your question. I was standing here during the last minutes, so I have not been able to follow the news every second, but if the German government would announce or has announced the deployment of Tornado aircraft in a reci… reconnaissance role to Afghanistan, I would highly welcome such a decision if it was going to be made or has been made, Germany being a very important player in Afghanistan and I think those Tornados in a reci role being able to play an important role in the ISAF operation.

Q: First of all, when speaking of closer co-operation between Japan and NATO and Japan's participation in various operations, what specific forms would it likely be? Would it be essentially Japanese Self-Defence Forces participating in NATO-led operations? And also, would you contemplate a possible NATO deployment in Asia Pacific Region, which is a region of closer interest for Japan?

And a question for Prime Minister Abe. In engaging that sort of co-operation I think there are possible legal obstacles, domestic legal obstacles, if the Self-Defence Forces are to be deployed and I wonder how you intend to deal with this legal issue?

Abe: Japan and NATO have been acting for same objectives to date. For example, we have co-operated with each other in earthquake relief in Pakistan, in the refuelling operations in the Indian Ocean, as well as in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. And I believe there is plenty of room for us to further build up our experiences, gain greater knowledge in regard to peace-building, reconstruction assistance and disaster relief efforts and I think in fact it will be very meaningful for Japan and NATO to, through their co-operation, further build-up this store of experience and knowledge.

Now through close consultations we need to try and work out concrete co-operation or (inaudible) the co-operation between Japan and NATO which will be in the interests of both NATO and Japan. And through this process of consultations with each other, if we in fact will gain greater level of interest by NATO in North Korean issues, as well as in the East Asian security matters in general, that will be most welcome. And for that purpose I believe we need to further conduct dialogue including Ministerial level dialogue.

De Hoop Scheffer: Let me answer briefly that the way Japan participates is of course up to the Japanese government. That's up to Japan to decide. We heard the very encouraging news from the Prime Minister on co-operation in the humanitarian and development sense in Provincial Reconstruction Teams. And let me answer the second part of your question that there are of course no NATO plans to deploy forces in Northeast Asia. That is my answer.