JAPAN: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada asks Sydney for "calm" in dealing with the issue of whaling

Record ID: 463521

  • Title: JAPAN: Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada asks Sydney for "calm" in dealing with the issue of whaling
  • Date: 20th February 2010
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 19, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY JAPANESE FLAG NEWS CONFERENCE BY FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA SAYING: "We understand that the current Australian government in its manifesto opposes whaling for research purposes. With that in mind, we would like to have a calm and substantial discussion." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA SAYING: "Japan and Australia form a very important bilateral relationship. Thus we need to deal with this issue with calmness." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA SAYING: "The issue of Sea Shepherd is a totally different issue. They are forcing their way through and it's a matter of another dimension, which could affect the safety of people. In this respect, we would like to ask for the Australian government cooperation." NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations,Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5V0XAIAI6SWPD4I6L59EZT2HI
  • Story Text: Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada urged Sydney to deal with whaling issues calmly on Friday (February 19), ahead of his departure for Australia.
    Okada is arriving in Australia this weekend for talks with his Australian counterpart, Stephen Smith, on whaling, security and stalled free trade pact negotiations with Canberra.
    "We understand that the current Australian government in its manifesto opposes whaling for research purposes. With that in mind, we would like to have a calm and substantial discussion," Okada told a regular news conference.
    Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told Australian television on Friday that he had set Japan a November deadline to stop Southern Ocean whaling or face an international legal challenge to its yearly cull, launched by his government.
    Australia prefers to find a diplomatic solution to its standoff with Tokyo over the annual whale cull near Antarctica, Rudd said, but was serious about a threat made two years ago to challenge the hunt in an international court.
    "Japan and Australia form a very important bilateral relationship. Thus we need to deal with this issue with calmness," Okada said.
    Japan's government-backed whaling fleet aims to harpoon up to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales, classified as endangered, in the Southern Ocean during the current Southern Hemisphere summer.
    Commercial whaling was banned under a 1986 moratorium, but Japan still culls whales saying it is for research purposes.
    Tokyo has lodged a protest with New Zealand's government over a collision last month between an anti-whaling protest boat and a Japanese whaler which caused the activist's vessel to sink.
    The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society skipper is being held on board a whaling ship now and may face charges in Japan after boarding it at sea to lodge a protest on February 15.
    "The issue of Sea Shepherd is a totally different issue. They are forcing their way through and it's a matter of another dimension, which could affect the safety of people. In this respect, we would like to ask for the Australian government cooperation," Okada said.
    Japan's government-backed Institute of Cetacean Research posted a video on its website this week showing more clashes between activists and the Japanese fleet, with paint and butyric acid bombs seen being thrown at the whaling ship Nisshin Maru.
    ENDS.
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