Meeting between the Swedish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and
Observers/Ad-hoc Observers
Stockholm, Sweden
November 6, 2012
Statement
by
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
Mr. Shuji Kira
Ambassador Gustaf Lind, Chair for the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic
Council,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Government
of Sweden as the Chair for the Arctic Council for organizing this meeting and
inviting Japan. This meeting brought together high level delegates of observers
and ad-hoc observers to the Arctic Council and provides us an opportunity to
be briefed by the Swedish Chairmanship on the current issues over the Arctic
Council agenda, to be followed by the exchange of views among participants.
This is the first attempt of its kind for the Arctic Council and I believe this event
is extremely meaningful. For myself, I am honored to be the first Parliamentary
Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan to attend a meeting of the
Arctic Council.
The challenges surrounding the Arctic are now becoming global issues.
From this perspective, this meeting inviting participants from non-Arctic regions
is of critical importance. Japan believes that the outcome of today s discussion
would constitute good input from observers and ad-hoc observers towards the
8th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council next year.
Mr. Chairperson,
1
Japan, as a maritime State, has been paying great attention to the Arctic.
It thus highly commends that eight Arctic States, in cooperation with Permanent
Participants, have been addressing common challenges in the region, such as
environmental protection and sustainable development.
The situation surrounding the Arctic has been dramatically changing due
to climate change in recent years. Having listened to the introductory
presentations, we have further deepened our understanding of new challenges
facing the Arctic Council. As mentioned in the presentation, in response to
changes in the Arctic Ocean, the Nuuk Declaration, adopted at the 7th
Ministerial Meeting in 2011, identified measures to strengthen the Arctic
Council.
I understand that, as part of such measures, a task force to strengthen
the Council was launched. The preparatory process to establish a standing
secretariat in Tromso, Norway, to be operational by the next Ministerial Meeting
is now underway, which Japan highly appreciates.
Japan also commends that the negotiation among the Member States have
been smoothly conducted in order that an agreement on cooperation on marine
oil pollution preparedness and response in the Arctic would be open for the
Ministers to sign at the next Ministerial Meeting. The development of this
instrument shows another example of the Arctic Council to take concrete action,
following the adoption of the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and
Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic, done at last year s Ministerial
Meeting as a first legally binding agreement.
Mr. Chairperson,
One of the achievements made at the last Ministerial Meeting, which
drew Japan s great attention, was the adoption of the recommendations of the
Senior Arctic Officials on the role of the observers and criteria for admitting new
observers to the Council. By doing so, it made clearer what the Council expects
from the observers.
2
As mentioned in the introductory presentation, decision for admitting
new observers will be taken at the next Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, taking
into account the extent to which each applicant fulfils the criteria. This was also
confirmed in the recommendation adopted at the Deputy Ministers Meeting
held here in May this year, as I understand.
As for Japan, since we applied for the status of observer in July, 2009,
we have taken part in various meetings of the Council as an ad-hoc observer,
including the last year s Ministerial Meeting. Through our frequent participation
in those meetings, Japan has deepened its understanding on the activities of
the Council. When we attended working groups, in particular, we took every
opportunity to present the achievements of our observation and research in the
Arctic and demonstrated our will and ability to participate in concrete activities
of the Council, which were highly appreciated by the participants. The latest
example was the presentation given by a Japanese scientist on Japan s
activities in the Arctic region, at the working group of the Arctic Monitoring and
Assessment Program (AMAP) held here in Stockholm in October this year.
Such engagement by Japan in the activities of the Arctic Council clearly shows
that Japan s acceptance of the objectives of the Council set out in the Ottawa
Declaration and its full support to them.
The observation and research activities by Japan in the Arctic date back
to as early as the 1950s. Japan also has been conducting joint studies with
Members of the Council. For example, we have engaged in observation at the
Arctic Environment Research Center in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard since 1991; we
set up the observation radar in Longyearbyen in Svalbard, with the European
Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT).
As regards the respect for values, interests, culture, and tradition of
Arctic indigenous peoples, Japan is determined and eligible to address this
matter in an appropriate way, based upon our own experiences with indigenous
people living in Japan. As a State who has always valued the rule of law , let
us reiterate our support to the view expressed in the Ilulissat Declaration that
an extensive international legal framework, including the law of the sea, applies
to the Arctic Ocean. In committing to this legal framework, it is needless to say
that Japan recognizes and respects sovereignty, sovereign rights, and
jurisdiction of the Members of the Arctic Council.
3
With regard to the participation in the Arctic Council, Japan had attended
as an observer at the Ottawa Conference in 1996, which was clearly shown in
the joint communiqué of the Conference. At the Conference, needless to say,
the Arctic Council was founded as a high-level forum for cooperation in the
Arctic, which was an outgrowth of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
(AEPS). This fact tells that Japan has followed the activities of the Council
since its inception.
Mr. Chairperson ˙
I would like to reiterate that, once granted the observer status, Japan will
be ready to further contribute to the Arctic Council by sharing its expertise built
upon its years of research and observation of the Arctic, enjoying more stable
status than ad-hoc one.
In concrete, we are considering participating in working groups, for
instance, the AMAP working group. We would like to consult with the relevant
Working Group Chairs and others on the modalities of our participation.
Mr. Chairperson,
I wish to express that today s exchange of views between the
Chairmanship of the Council and the observers/ad-hoc observers will pave a
meaningful step leading to the success at the Council s 8th Ministerial Meeting
next year.
Let me conclude my remarks by commending Swedish Chairmanship
since May last year, and offering my best wishes for its further leadership
during the remaining term.
Thank you very much.
˙End ˙
4
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