Press Occasion on the Telephone Talk with President Putin of Russia
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, April 4, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
In regard to his telephone talk with H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister said,
“I have just held a telephone talk with President Putin, and expressed my condolences and sympathy in regard to the terrorist incident that occurred in St. Petersburg. Terrorism should never be tolerated for any reason. We strongly condemn it. I also expressed our sincere solidarity with the people of Russia during this difficult time.
I told President Putin that Japan will cooperate with Russia and the other countries of the world, the international community, in order to eradicate terrorism.
President Putin voiced his gratitude for my condolences, and expressed his intention to cooperate with Japan to eradicate terrorism.”
Arab Japan Day Reception
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, April 4, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Arab Japan Day Reception held in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister said in his address,
“Assalam alaikum.
I am highly honored to have been invited to the Arab Japan Day Reception once again this year. When I entered this room, I was enveloped by the delicious smells of Arabian cuisine. I felt as though I have come to Dubai, Cairo, or Doha.
I am delighted that, through my frequent meetings with the leaders of various Arab countries, the Japan-Arab relationship has deepened significantly in recent years.
We welcomed to Japan H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, in May of last year, His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of Jordan, in October, followed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, last month.
I also had meetings with H.E. Mr. Ismaël Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti, on the margins of TICAD VI, with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly session, and with H.E. Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, on the margins of the G20 Summit, and held very significant exchanges of views with each of these leaders.
Japan shares many things with Arab countries, including the spirit of believing that ‘the best way is in the middle.’ Respect for traditions and esteem for moderation lie at the roots of both our cultures. We have a close and deep relationship that overcomes the geographical distance between us and that is brimming with potential.
I hope that in the future the relationship between Japan and Arab countries will grow even deeper. I believe that this is my fifth attendance at the Arab Japan Day Reception. This is of course a new record for a Prime Minister of Japan. I would truly like to attend a sixth time.
I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my hope that the many people in attendance at this reception will enjoy exchanges and shorten the distance between Japan and Arab countries even further. Thank you very much.”
Headquarters for the Promotion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, April 4, 2017
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the seventh meeting of the Headquarters for the Promotion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, there were reports on the basic security strategy for the 2020 Tokyo Games, the measures for showcasing Japan’s food culture at the 2020 Tokyo Games, the Universal Design 2020 Action Plan, the Beyond 2020 Program, and the state of preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2019.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“Now that the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in three years, we need to further accelerate preparations in order to make this the world’s best Games.
First, ensuring security is a basic premise for the success of the Games. As the Government of the host country, it is our important responsibility to ensure the safe and smooth preparations and operation of the Games, as well as their continuity.
To that end, we have just compiled a basic security strategy comprising specific measures. The important thing is to ensure the implementation of the measures one by one.
In close cooperation with the organizations concerned, I would like everyone to think about what they should do and the measures to be taken through Japan-wide efforts, including counter-terrorism measures, such as those related to the passing of the bill concerning Tero-to-Junbi-Zai (the offence to criminalize an act in furtherance of planning to commit terrorism and other serious crimes) that has been submitted to the Diet, and cyber-security measures.
It has been decided that the baseball and softball events would be held in Fukushima Prefecture. We will ensure that this will give momentum to making the Games a ‘Recovery Olympics’ and to regional revitalization.
In regard to the Paralympic Games, we will work to achieve the biggest hype in history as well as realize a society of coexistence, based on the Universal Design 2020 Action Plan.
In addition, we will also thoroughly advance preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2019.
Moreover, in order to make the Tokyo Games a festival of culture, we will implement cultural programs across Japan through the Government’s Beyond 2020 cultural program and the transmission of Japan’s food culture.
Based on these policies, I would like to request that ministers collaborate closely and share information extensively with the Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and relevant bodies, with the Government working as one to implement these measures. Thank you.”
