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On October 16, Prime Minister (DPJ President) Yukio Hatoyama answered reporters’ questions at his residence.
In response to a question regarding the compilation of the budget in the light of reports that estimated budget requests amount to 95 trillion yen, Hatoyama said, “From that amount, we will engage in categorization of projects [into order of priority] and eliminate those projects that can be eliminated. I would like those under State Minister of the Government Revitalization Unit Yoshito Sengoku to take out a scalpel and ascertain whether these are all truly essential projects, and whether non-urgent and non-essential projects are still included in the budget for the new financial year. I believe that the fight still goes on.”
At the same time, Hatoyama said, “Naturally, if budgets continue to balloon, public finances will be unable to support this. I have issued instructions to each Minister to make every effort on this point and ensure those savings that can be made are made, and I believe that Minister Sengoku will also do his utmost.”
Hatoyama also commented on the announcement by the US government of its intention to reduce its nuclear weapon holdings by half according to 2001 levels, by 2012, saying, “Since the Obama administration took office, I have seen the tremendous efforts, centring around the President, toward realising a “nuclear-free world” and I rate those efforts highly.” He added, “I think that [the US] is very close to realising the goal of halving its nuclear weapons compared to 2001 levels…Showing that they intend to make reductions sends a message to the world, and naturally I would like them to make even more efforts. President Obama will soon receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and so I would like to call on him to make further strides toward a nuclear-free world.
Hatoyama went on to refer to the fact that the Japanese government had submitted a resolution, “Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons”, which was co-sponsored by 41 other countries, to the committee of the UN General Assembly that is concerned with arms reduction. He said, “Up until now, the US has been opposed to such resolutions. But, this time, for the first time, with the advent of the Obama administration, and with a new administration here in Japan as well, under that framework of cooperation, the US did not just support the resolution, but was a co-sponsor. We are extremely grateful for this, and I believe that this shows the extraordinary commitment of the new Obama administration toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and I find this commendable.”
This is the 16th year in succession that Japan has submitted a resolution calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, but under the Bush administration the US had opposed the resolution. Furthermore, this is the first time that the US has acted as a co-sponsor of the resolution.
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