Fundur forsætisráðherra Norðurlanda og Japans í Reykjavík - á ensku

For a World of Human Dignity and Peace

- Japan-Nordic Partnership for the 21st Century -

Press release issued by a meeting of
the Prime Minister of Japan
and the Prime Ministers of the Nordic Countries
Reykjavík, 22 June 1999

Keizo Obuchi, Prime Minister of Japan, Davíð Oddsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Paavo Lipponen, Prime Minister of Finland, Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway and Göran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden met today for a second Prime Ministers} meeting between Japan and the Nordic countries. The first meeting took place in June 1997 at Bergen, Norway.

At today}s meeting the Prime Ministers had a fruitful exchange of views on a variety of issues and confirmed their intention to strengthen the good relations that already exist between Japan and the Nordic countries. The Prime Ministers shared the idea that with the globalization in progress the 21st century should be a century of peaceful and humane society where human dignity is ensured. To that end they noted that international cooperation is needed, including by Japan and the Nordic countries. For that purpose they would focus their cooperation in the following areas.

1. Toward the resolution of the Kosovo crisis and other regional and ethnic conflicts

The Prime Ministers expressed the will of their governments to cooperate where possible in aiding in the resolution of regional and ethnic conflicts, in aiding victims, including in Kosovo, and in the reconstruction of societies ravaged by such conflicts. They noted in particular the urgent need for reconstruction in Kosovo.

2. Contributing to global peace and prosperity

The Prime Ministers expressed their intention to encourage closer consultation and joint efforts by their countries in:

• - peace keeping activities, including to continue education and training of Japanese peace keeping personnel at Nordic peace keeping operations training centers;
• - assistance for destruction of nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union, including Russia;
• - achieving transparency in small arms transfer, utilizing 200,000 US dollars that Japan contributed to the United Nations for the projects.

The Prime Ministers confirmed the need for reform of the UN Security Council and expansion of the number of permanent and non-permanent members. The Nordic Prime Ministers reiterated their support to Japan and Germany as new permanent members. The Prime Ministers also confirmed to encourage closer consultation between their countries through various fora with regard to strengthening the UN.

Prime Minister Obuchi explained his efforts to achieve Japan}s economic recovery and to maintain its responsibilities in Asia by continuing economic assistance. The Nordic Prime Ministers expressed their strong appreciation of these efforts. The Prime Ministers confirmed to work together in strengthening the multilateral trading system at the next WTO round. The Nordic Prime Ministers expressed their support for the reforms recommended for the stability of the world financial system, which were announced at the Cologne Summit.

3. The pursuit of a more humane society

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed that to realise a more humane society in the world it was necessary to seek every possibility of international cooperation to meet any threats against the survival, daily life and dignity of human beings from the perspective of human security.

The Prime Ministers stressed the importance of giving all human beings the opportunity to develop themselves. They noted current Japan-Nordic policy dialogues and cooperation in the international development area, and shared common interests in pursuing coordination and cooperation in areas, including:

• - follow up to the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development;
• - development cooperation in Asia, including the environmental area;
• - seeking a solution to the problem of gaps between emergency humanitarian relief and long-term development.

In this context the Nordic Prime Ministers welcomed the new Debt Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC}s), which was agreed at the Cologne Summit.

The Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the success of the first Japan-Nordic Seminar on Aging Society in August 1998, which was agreed at the Bergen Prime Minister}s meeting in 1997, and welcomed the second seminar to be held this October in Tokyo to continue Japan-Nordic cooperation in this field.

The Prime Ministers stressed the importance of universal respect for human rights and confirmed their intention to cooperate on the issue in the international community. Prime Minister Obuchi praised the advanced state of gender equality in the Nordic countries and expressed his intention to encourage exchange of personnel between Japan and the Nordic countries to reflect on Japanese actions in this area.