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JAPAN-ARMENIA SUMMIT MEETING (OVERVIEW)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
June 6 2012
On Wednesday, June 6, from 5:30 p.m. for about 25 minutes, Mr.
Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Summit Meeting with
H.E. Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, who
is visiting Japan on an official working visit.
In addition, continuing on from the meeting, the two leaders
participated in a signing ceremony for the "Joint Statement on
Further Deepening of Friendship and Partnership between Japan and
the Republic of Armenia" and the Prime Minister hosted a working
dinner. The working dinner took place in a harmonious atmosphere
and was also attended by Chair of the Japan-Armenia parliamentary
friendship group, Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto (Member of the House of
Representatives), Acting Chair Mr. Yoshitaka Murata (Member of the
House of Representatives), Director-General Mr. Takashi Tanihata
(Member of the House of Representatives), and Secretary-General
Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga (Member of the House of Councillors).
The overview of the meeting is as follows.
Overall bilateral relations
(1) Prime Minister Noda welcomed President Sargsyan on his first visit
to Japan and said that he hoped the visit would be an opportunity
for further development in both countries given that it marked the
20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the welcome
from the Japan side, and offered his condolences on the passing of
His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa.
In addition, President Sargsyan also offered condolences on the Great
East Japan Earthquake that occurred last year, explaining that he had
started his trip off with a visit to the affected region and that he
was confident that the region would recover in a short time. He also
thanked Japan for the support received following the 1988 Armenia
Earthquake.
President Sargsyan also touched upon the establishment of the Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia in Tokyo two years ago, expressing the
hope that a Japanese embassy would also be established in Armenia in
order to develop further bilateral relations.
Cooperation for Disaster Prevention
(1) Prime Minister Noda pointed out the importance of disaster
prevention measures for Japan and Armenia given that both countries
were prone to earthquakes. He welcomed the release of the Interim
Report on "Seismic Risk Assessment and Risk Management Planning
Project" in the Republic of Armenia by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), saying that Japan would continue to support
disaster countermeasures in the country. He also stated the resolve
of Japan to share the knowledge and lessons learned from the Tokyo
Electric Power Company Fukushima Nuclear Power Station accident with
the international community, inviting Armenia to participate in the
Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety to be held in
December of this year.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan said there were various problems
with nuclear power station in Armenia from a safety perspective,
and continued that since there was a need to solve these issues, he
hoped to learn from Japan and was pleased to hear the proposals of
the Japanese side on how the two countries could advance cooperation
in the field of disaster prevention. He stated that Armenia would
certainly be participating in the Fukushima Ministerial Conference
on Nuclear Safety.
Economic Cooperation
(1) Prime Minister Noda said that Japan would continue the support it
had been offering Armenia for the development of its market economy
for 20 years. He expressed his expectations for great progress in
the promotion of the region and the industries in Armenia through
technical cooperation under the currently underway Development Project
of Brands and Local Products.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan commented that the close to
US$500 million donated by Japan to Armenia since its independence
had played a major role in the country's development, and expressed
his gratitude for this. In particular, he communicated the strong
gratitude of Armenia for the construction of the Yerevan Combined
Cycle Co-Generation Power Plant and said that he also wanted to
advance cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, and small-
and medium-sized enterprise promotion, in addition to disaster
cooperation. He expressed the hope that Japanese companies would
continue to advance to Armenia.
International affairs
(1) Prime Minister Noda brought up the human rights issues in North
Korea and provocative acts such as the launch of missiles and nuclear
testing, stressed the importance of resolving the abduction issue,
and sought the understanding and cooperation of the Armenian side on
these problems. In response, President Sargsyan offered support for the
position of Japan toward the securing of regional peace and security.
(2) President Sargsyan explained the situation in the Caucasus region.
Prime Minister Noda stated his expectations for the continuation
of cooperation toward a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict through dialogue, and said that Japan wished to continue to
offer cooperation to that end.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
June 6 2012
On Wednesday, June 6, from 5:30 p.m. for about 25 minutes, Mr.
Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Summit Meeting with
H.E. Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, who
is visiting Japan on an official working visit.
In addition, continuing on from the meeting, the two leaders
participated in a signing ceremony for the "Joint Statement on
Further Deepening of Friendship and Partnership between Japan and
the Republic of Armenia" and the Prime Minister hosted a working
dinner. The working dinner took place in a harmonious atmosphere
and was also attended by Chair of the Japan-Armenia parliamentary
friendship group, Mr. Takeaki Matsumoto (Member of the House of
Representatives), Acting Chair Mr. Yoshitaka Murata (Member of the
House of Representatives), Director-General Mr. Takashi Tanihata
(Member of the House of Representatives), and Secretary-General
Mr. Hisashi Tokunaga (Member of the House of Councillors).
The overview of the meeting is as follows.
Overall bilateral relations
(1) Prime Minister Noda welcomed President Sargsyan on his first visit
to Japan and said that he hoped the visit would be an opportunity
for further development in both countries given that it marked the
20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the welcome
from the Japan side, and offered his condolences on the passing of
His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa.
In addition, President Sargsyan also offered condolences on the Great
East Japan Earthquake that occurred last year, explaining that he had
started his trip off with a visit to the affected region and that he
was confident that the region would recover in a short time. He also
thanked Japan for the support received following the 1988 Armenia
Earthquake.
President Sargsyan also touched upon the establishment of the Embassy
of the Republic of Armenia in Tokyo two years ago, expressing the
hope that a Japanese embassy would also be established in Armenia in
order to develop further bilateral relations.
Cooperation for Disaster Prevention
(1) Prime Minister Noda pointed out the importance of disaster
prevention measures for Japan and Armenia given that both countries
were prone to earthquakes. He welcomed the release of the Interim
Report on "Seismic Risk Assessment and Risk Management Planning
Project" in the Republic of Armenia by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), saying that Japan would continue to support
disaster countermeasures in the country. He also stated the resolve
of Japan to share the knowledge and lessons learned from the Tokyo
Electric Power Company Fukushima Nuclear Power Station accident with
the international community, inviting Armenia to participate in the
Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety to be held in
December of this year.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan said there were various problems
with nuclear power station in Armenia from a safety perspective,
and continued that since there was a need to solve these issues, he
hoped to learn from Japan and was pleased to hear the proposals of
the Japanese side on how the two countries could advance cooperation
in the field of disaster prevention. He stated that Armenia would
certainly be participating in the Fukushima Ministerial Conference
on Nuclear Safety.
Economic Cooperation
(1) Prime Minister Noda said that Japan would continue the support it
had been offering Armenia for the development of its market economy
for 20 years. He expressed his expectations for great progress in
the promotion of the region and the industries in Armenia through
technical cooperation under the currently underway Development Project
of Brands and Local Products.
(2) In response, President Sargsyan commented that the close to
US$500 million donated by Japan to Armenia since its independence
had played a major role in the country's development, and expressed
his gratitude for this. In particular, he communicated the strong
gratitude of Armenia for the construction of the Yerevan Combined
Cycle Co-Generation Power Plant and said that he also wanted to
advance cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, and small-
and medium-sized enterprise promotion, in addition to disaster
cooperation. He expressed the hope that Japanese companies would
continue to advance to Armenia.
International affairs
(1) Prime Minister Noda brought up the human rights issues in North
Korea and provocative acts such as the launch of missiles and nuclear
testing, stressed the importance of resolving the abduction issue,
and sought the understanding and cooperation of the Armenian side on
these problems. In response, President Sargsyan offered support for the
position of Japan toward the securing of regional peace and security.
(2) President Sargsyan explained the situation in the Caucasus region.
Prime Minister Noda stated his expectations for the continuation
of cooperation toward a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict through dialogue, and said that Japan wished to continue to
offer cooperation to that end.