Japan

I would like to begin by congratulating Mr. Al-Nasser on his assumption of the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixty- sixth session. I express my gratitude to Mr. Joseph Deiss for his devoted efforts during his tenure as President of the Assembly at the sixty-fifth session. I would also like to pay my deep respects to Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership. This has been a year of extraordinary challenges for Japan. A little more than six months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck Japan. Nearly 20,000 people were killed or remain missing, and nearly 40,000 who were forced to evacuate continue to endure inconvenience in their daily lives. I am truly proud to see the noble spirit of the Japanese people manifest itself even amid such despair and hardship. At the same time, I have been deeply moved by the strong feelings of compassion shown by people the world over towards Japan. There are many unforgettable stories. Ms. Rita Retnaningtyas, an Indonesian nurse candidate and trainee at the Miyagi Hospital, evacuated 120 patients from the hospital to a safer location just before the arrival of the tsunami. She stayed on at the hospital for several days, taking care of the patients in the absence of electricity and water. In Brazil, the children of a small rural town collected change and sent their contributions to us in a tin can. I heard that, when asked why, one of the children answered that it was because Japan, a friend of Brazil, was suffering. University students in Kenya gathered in Nairobi in memory of Japanese victims of the earthquake. They 31 11-51185 sang in chorus the popular Japanese song known outside Japan as “Sukiyaki” — whose original Japanese title reads “Let Us Walk Looking Up” — saying that they wished to deliver the song to the Japanese people. Those are only a few such stories among tens of thousands. The world expressed friendship, solidarity and praise for the Japanese people immediately after the earthquake. On behalf of the people of Japan, I express my heartfelt gratitude for the helping hands extended from all over the world. These bonds between Japan and the international community will be forever remembered by the Japanese. Since 11 March, the sounds of recovery have echoed throughout the Tohoku region of Japan. The Government of Japan has exerted every effort to restore and reconstruct the disaster-affected areas. The daily lives of those outside the affected areas, including the metropolitan area of Tokyo, have returned almost to normal. The infrastructure and economy of the coastal areas of Tohoku, which were washed away by the tsunami, are recovering. Damaged supply chains are close to full restoration. We have been sharply reminded of the role that Japanese companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, play in sustaining the growth of the global economy. We are making steady progress towards securing stable control of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power stations of the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Currently, we are focusing our efforts on moving up the existing target period to achieve cold shutdown status by the end of this year. A number of other challenges remain to be addressed, including the removal of debris and rebuilding of the livelihoods of the Japanese people in the affected areas. We will continue to be fully engaged in the restoration and reconstruction efforts as our highest priority task so that Japan’s renewal can be realized without delay. As the new leader of Japan, I am deeply honoured to discuss and share Japan’s ambitions for the world’s future, as well as Japan’s diplomatic vision, with all those in attendance here today at this meeting of the General Assembly. The world is undergoing tremendous changes, including those now under way in the Middle East and North Africa, which have been brought about by the peoples’ awakening and their resulting common awareness. Through its experience of the massive earthquake in March, Japan was again made aware of the importance of its bonds with the people of the world. We have come to fully realize the importance of the responsibility to society that is fulfilled by each individual. We have never felt more strongly the significance of promoting human security. I am resolved to implement Japanese diplomacy by working closely with all the world leaders here at the United Nations, with the determination to make a substantive contribution to overcoming the challenges that the world faces and shaping a brighter future for humanity. Allow me to touch on Japan’s efforts to help the world economy grow. Japan has a long history of assisting developing countries to create prosperous societies through nation-building and human-resource development. From our own experience, we understand very well that the engine of economic growth is a strong middle class. In order to strengthen that middle class, we must construct a social framework within which all individuals can strengthen their capacities and develop them to the full. In this regard, Japan will continue to actively support developing countries through its official development assistance. We must not let the current global economic uncertainty and financial unrest hamper the efforts of the international community to achieve growth. It is vital that all countries cooperate in order to bring harmony out of the current chaos. I myself am committed to doing my best as the new leader of Japan. Achieving economic growth in tandem with fiscal health is the most crucial challenge confronting the world at the present time. Japan will press ahead with its targets for restoring fiscal sustainability. Meanwhile, as we recognize that revitalizing the Japanese economy is directly linked to rebuilding the world economy, we will work on strengthening industrial infrastructure, employment and energy conservation in our efforts to achieve a full recovery from the earthquake disaster. In the mid-to-long term, we intend to further reinforce partnerships between the Japanese and other global economies. It is also important that trade activities not be disturbed by excessive currency volatility. Furthermore, in order to help realize sustainable growth of the Japanese economy, we will work to 11-51185 32 achieve a low-carbon society and a transition to a green economy. The key to achieving these goals is technological innovation in the areas of renewable energies, saving energy and the clean use of fossil fuels, all of which are considered part of green innovation. By next summer, the Government of Japan will have created a new strategy and plan for the composition of Japan’s mid- to long-term energy use, aimed at making a bold shift on energy policy. Japan will also further improve on its excellent, safe, secure and environmentally friendly technologies, represented by energy-efficient houses and electric appliances and vehicles, contributing to the growth of the global economy and to a brighter future for all during the discussions leading up to the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Japan will throw all its efforts into seeking a safe and brighter future. The run-up height, which is the maximum onshore vertical height above sea level, of the tsunami that hit the Tohoku district reached as high as 40 metres, the highest in Japan in recorded history. We have learned that we must be very well prepared. In that regard, there are contributions that Japan, with such experience behind it, is uniquely qualified to make. The first lesson to be learned from Japan’s recent tragedy is the importance of international cooperation in disaster risk reduction. We have a long history of combating and overcoming natural disasters. In fact, we have actively supported the response efforts to the disasters that have occurred in recent years in areas such as Sumatra, Sichuan in China, Haiti and New Zealand. As a country that has learned to coexist harmoniously with nature, we are prepared to share with the world our accumulated knowledge and skills. As a first step, Japan will hold an international conference in the disaster-stricken Tohoku region next year designed to improve international cooperation on coping with natural disasters. To build on the outcome of that conference, Japan proposes to host the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2015, and plans to take a leading role in the international community in creating a disaster-resistant world. Next, Japan hopes to share its acquired knowledge and experience in the field of nuclear safety. I welcomed yesterday’s high-level meeting on this issue held at the initiative of the Secretary- General. Following the nuclear accident, Japan has implemented emergency safety measures and further strengthened its nuclear energy regulation regime. In yesterday’s meeting, I expressed my resolve to contribute positively to the reinforcement of global nuclear power safety, drawing on our experiences with the accident. Next year, Japan will co-host an international conference with the International Atomic Energy Agency to share the results of the overall assessment of the accident in comprehensive detail, and to contribute to the various measures taken by the international community to raise standards for nuclear safety. Although some countries, regrettably, are still imposing undue restrictions on imports from Japan, our Government will continue to provide prompt, accurate and transparent information on this matter. I would request that all countries make sensible judgements based on scientific evidence. Global threats continue to proliferate. It is essential to deal with the root causes of such threats while taking steps to address them. Japan will continue to respond to those challenges in order to ensure a brighter and more peaceful future. With regard to the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia, Japan will remain actively engaged in combating the problem through continued deployment to the area of two destroyers and two patrol aircraft. Japan intends to enhance its efforts to eradicate terrorism and its causes. Though a decade has passed since the 9/11 attacks, our collective sorrow has yet to heal. And in that connection, I would like to express my sincere condolences on the death of Mr. Rabbani, Chairman of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council. Japan reiterates its firm condemnation of such atrocious acts of terrorism. In order to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorism, we will continue to confront the problem with strong resolve. Japan has expressed its commitment to providing approximately $5 billion in assistance over five years beginning in 2009, focusing on security, reintegrating former insurgents into society, and development, and will continue to implement that commitment. United Nations peacekeeping missions are being dispatched to fragile and conflict-prone States. Japan will contribute to peacebuilding efforts by actively participating in those operations. We must further improve the conditions that promote that goal. At the 33 11-51185 same time, we will do our best to achieve the ideal of a world without nuclear weapons through such efforts as the multi-country non-proliferation and disarmament initiative. The nuclear and missile issues of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea pose a threat to the entire international community, and Japan continues to urge that country to take concrete steps towards resolving those issues. In particular, the abduction issue represents a violation of basic human rights. It is thus an issue of universal import and a matter of great concern for the entire international community. Japan is committed to exerting all possible efforts to achieve the return of all the victims at the earliest possible date, through strengthened coordination with other Member States. With regard to relations between Japan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan intends to maintain its efforts to comprehensively resolve the outstanding issues of concern, settle the unfortunate past and normalize relations, in accordance with the Japan-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Pyongyang Declaration of 2007. Japan urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take positive steps in order that our countries may have a dialogue toward this goal. In recent years, the role of the United Nations has taken on greater significance than ever. In order for the United Nations to tackle such issues more effectively, Japan will continue to support increasing effectiveness and efficiency in reinforcing the functions of the United Nations. Security Council reform is absolutely necessary in that respect. We must revitalize the stagnated reform process. All Member States must proactively commit to the reform with a sense of urgency. The credibility of the United Nations is at stake. Japan intends to launch substantive negotiations toward the reform with like- minded Members, in order to achieve tangible results during the current session. As I promised moments ago, Japan will recover from the earthquake disaster and seek a peaceful, safe and brighter future, side by side with the leaders gathered here. For that purpose, Japan will maintain its contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, focusing on health and education. Moreover, Japan will continue its contribution to the development of Africa by hosting the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2013. Regarding the support intended to enable developing countries to address climate change, Japan will implement its quick-start finance commitments up to next year. Japan will continue its support beyond 2012. Today, I would like to announce Japan’s new commitments. First, I wish to congratulate the people of the Republic of South Sudan on achieving their independence, and provide assurances that Japan will extend wherever possible support for the nation- building efforts in South Sudan as well as for the consolidation of peace in the region. Japan is eager to contribute to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in the fields in which Japan excels. From this point of view, we are preparing to dispatch Japanese Self-Defence Forces personnel to Mission Headquarters as staff officers. Japan is also interested in dispatching an engineering unit of our Self-Defence Forces, regarding which the United Nations has expressed high expectations. Japan therefore will conduct the necessary field study as early as possible. Second, Japan will remain actively involved in the international community’s efforts with regard to humanitarian crises. One of the most pressing challenges at present is the drought in the Horn of Africa, which is directly affecting the children of the region. To mitigate this suffering as effectively as possible, Japan will provide further humanitarian aid in addition to the approximately $100 million in assistance that it has already implemented. The last commitment I wish to announce concerns the Middle East and North Africa. Japan will support reform and democratization efforts in this region, which is now undergoing a massive change that is often referred to as the Arab Spring. To improve the employment situation and support human resources development in the region, Japan is prepared to extend an additional yen loan worth approximately $1 billion for projects that are expected to contribute to infrastructure building and industrial development. Moreover, we will provide support to ensure fair elections in Tunisia and Egypt, where polls are scheduled to be held in autumn of this year. For a new Libya, Japan will support the country’s nation-building efforts in cooperation with the international community, utilizing its expertise and technological capacity. At the same time, Japan will deepen 11-51185 34 economic relations with Middle Eastern and North African countries by further promoting trade and investment through such means as trade insurance and export loans. As Middle East peace represents the linchpin for the peace and stability of the region, Japan will make active efforts, such as extending assistance to the Palestinians, for the realization of the two-State solution. To conclude my statement, I will touch briefly upon what I have felt in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. After the events of 11 March this year, I strongly felt the magnificence of a society in which each individual undertakes actions in an orderly manner, a society in which people help each other. In addition, all lines of the Tohoku shinkansen bullet trains, including a train that was running at 270 kilometres per hour at the time of the earthquake, made emergency stops safely, without causing a single injury. I believe this fact bears witness to Japan’s high level of technical advancement. I thus believe in the strength of the Japanese people, which comes to the fore most prominently in times of crisis. I am certain that such resilience, both human and technological, which does not yield in the face of enormous difficulties, will be the very source of Japan’s future contribution to the international community. Let us take up the challenges for the resolution of the issues confronting the world today, with strong determination to pave the way to a brighter future for humanity. As the new leader of Japan, I am determined to make progress step by step towards a more peaceful, prosperous and positive future, hand in hand with the leaders assembled here today. The people of Japan as well as the Government are determined to overcome any and all difficulties. We will continue our contribution towards a brighter future for the people of the world. I wish to close my statement by reiterating our firm determination.