Japan: Secretary's Meeting with Foreign Minister Machimura

Japan: Secretary's Meeting with Foreign Minister Machimura

Question: Can you provide a readout on the Secretary’s meeting today with Japanese Foreign Minister Machimura?

Answer: Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Machimura met this morning for thirty minutes. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Tsuneo Nishida also attended. The primary topic of discussion was Japan’s goal of obtaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Secretary emphasized again that the U.S. strongly supports Japan for a permanent seat, but that changes to the Security Council must be viewed as one element of an overall agenda for UN reform.

The BSE issue also was discussed at the meeting. The Secretary stressed to the Foreign Minister that it is important to achieve the resumption of U.S. exports of beef to Japan soon.

2005/736, Released on July 28, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC July 28, 2005 Question Taken at the July 28, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

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