Press Releases

JAPAN’S NEW PM ADDRESSES THE 64th SESSION OF THE UNGA:

Ref No: 39:
DATE: 29/09/09

On 24th September 2009, at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A., the new Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, addressed the Sixty-Fourth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, where he enlightened upon Japan’s electoral history, the domestic political landscape of Japan and the new vision of his Government that has recently been seated for the democratic governance of Japan.

In the said address, H.E. Dr. Hatoyama initially paid homage to the leadership of the UN’s Secretary General, H.E. Mr Ban Ki-moon and then elaborated on how half a century later, since inception of the previous regime, on 30th August 2009, the Japanese people chose through a General Election to have a change in power, leading up to 16th September 2009, when the people of Japan embraced their new Prime Minister.

H.E. Dr. Hatoyama respectively echoed the concepts advocated by his grandfather and former Prime Minister, H.E. Mr Ichiro Hatoyama, and the Former Foreign Minister, H.E. Mr Mamoru Shigemitsu, who both held office during Japan’s accession to the UN, and referred to the resonance between their concepts which positioned Japan as a ‘bridge’ between the East and the West.

Declaring with firm determination, H.E. Dr. Hatoyama said that Japan will once again play the role of a ‘bridge’. He said that Japan will make the utmost efforts to become a ‘bridge’ for the world, between the Orient and Occident, between the developed and developing countries and between diverse civilizations. Further in his address, H.E. Dr. Hatoyama added that there are five challenges that Japan intends to take on in serving as this ‘bridge’ as mentioned below:
1). Response to the Global Economic Crisis:
2). Address the Climate Change Issue:
3). Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation:
4). Address the Issues of Peace building, Development and Poverty:
5). Build an East Asian Community by Deeply Involving in Asia and the Pacific Region:

H.E. Dr. Hatoyama began concluding his address by affirming that Japan had the capacity to play a greater role in the UN especially the Security Council and that Japan would continue to engage actively in the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council Reform, pursuing the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership and Japan’s permanent membership in the Council.

Attachment:       

The New Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama’s address at  the 64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, delivered on 24th September 2009, at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Any enquiry on this press release should be addressed to Mr. Tomohiro Kanata on email address: tomohiro.kanata@mofa.go.jp or Ms Yumiko Honda at e-mail address yumiko.honda@mofa.go.jp or on telephone number (679-330-4633).

THE END.