Japan, 2012

First, I would like

to express my sincere appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Al-Nasser for his dedication during his one-year

tenure as President of the General Assembly, as well

as to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremić on

his assumption of the presidency of the Assembly at

its sixty-seventh session. I would also like to pay my

deep respect to His Excellency Secretary-General Ban

Ki-moon for his leadership.

One year ago, I started my speech on this rostrum by

conveying our outpouring of appreciation to the world

(see A/66/PV.19). It has been a year and a half since the

Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011. The people

in the affected areas are making strenuous efforts, with

an unyielding spirit, to revive their hometowns. In order

to respond to generous support from all over the world,

we, the Japanese, vowed before the souls of the victims

to hand the lessons learned from the disaster down to

succeeding generations beyond our national borders.

Japan will continue to share those lessons learned

with the world in order to build societies resilient to

natural disasters and to make concrete contributions to

nuclear safety. The Fukushima Ministerial Conference

on Nuclear Safety, which is scheduled for the end of this

year, and is co-sponsored by the International Atomic

Energy Agency and the third World Conference on

Disaster Reduction, which Japan plans to host in three

years, will also provide meaningful opportunities to

share those lessons.

The warning from nature brought on by the

unprecedented earthquake and massive tsunami posed a

more fundamental question as to how we should sustain

our civilization. From the moment of birth, human

beings transform their own wisdom into the power to

survive harsh natural environments. Despite advanced

science and technology in modern civilization, however,

the forces of nature have reminded us how weak human

beings still are and that they have a fragile existence.

Threats that may endanger human existence lie

not only in nature, but in advanced civilization itself.

There are a number of examples of those threats,

such as environmental degradation, terrorism and the

proliferation of nuclear weapons. What is required for

the human species to be able to keep its presence on

Earth and continue to enjoy peace and prosperity? The

answer is clear: humans must become wiser.

Humans have so far gained abundant knowledge.

The revolution in information and communication

technology unfolding in front of us is further building

up human knowledge on a geometric scale and at an exponential speed. Human wisdom seems to have

improved dramatically. However, is that really true? At

the forefront of a long human history, we are living in

a period of complicated and violent change. Tensions

among nations have risen in many parts of the world,

with more uncertain prospects for the future. The real

test for our survival in this unprecedented period is not

how much knowledge and information we have, but to

learn the true value of the numerous pearls of wisdom

we have accumulated.

One of the first such pearls of wisdom humans

gained was the power to give adequate thought to not

only the present, but also the future. It is also the power

to imagine, beyond our own benefits, the benefits to

future generations and the power to act on their behalf.

Agricultural society, which prompted human beings to

adopt a new vista, was made possible through the long-

term perspective towards the future that human beings

acquired when they waited for the harvest instead of

thinking solely about immediate concerns.

Now is the time for us to exert our wisdom and

build a sustainable future for the sake of succeeding

generations. Many countries have built up massive

fiscal deficits, therefore fiscal soundness is now

a common challenge. If people living now do not

overcome deficits by cutting spending and striving to

increase revenues, future generations will be forced to

repay the deficits.

That structure amounts to nothing but current

generations exploiting future generations.

Democracy has been historically proven to be

the best political system. However, we now face

the enormous challenge of learning whether or not

democracy can maintain fairness between generations

across the globe. Under the system of parliamentary

democracy, today’s representatives serve people living

now; there are no guarantees with respect to properly

representing the interests of future generations. The

current structure encourages politics that will burden

silent future generations by passing today’s problems

onto them.

We are all responsible for the next generations.

This generation must successfully meet the challenges

before us, and today’s political leaders must take

responsibility now for tomorrow.

In order to protect sound democratic societies,

now is the time to exert the power to think about the

benefits for future generations. Over the past 20-odd years, Japan repeatedly procrastinated in policies and

was considered a symbol of a country that delayed

decisions. I pledged to change all that and staked my

political life on implementing a comprehensive reform

of our social security and taxation systems.

That reform is an ambitious package of policies

developed to support Japan’s social security system

by maintaining a stable financial basis in the face

of a rapidly aging population and by paving the way

for fiscal rehabilitation. It is a comprehensive reform

programme that pursues both economic growth and

fiscal reconstruction. Japan is taking a firm step

towards becoming a country that makes decisions

without postponing difficult issues.

Another pearl of wisdom that humans acquired

came from the possibility of seeing the Earth we live on.

I recently had the opportunity to communicate directly

with astronaut Akihiko Hoshide from my office while

he was orbiting the Earth in the International Space

Station. At the time of our phone linkup, a female

elementary school student who was in the office with

us posed a riddle to the astronaut: “The Earth has air

and gravity, but space does not,” she said. “What does

space have that the Earth does not?” “The view of

the Earth from outside it”, the astronaut replied. That

conversation expressed in simple terms what I want to

say today.

Because we have attained the perspective of being

able to see the Earth from outside, humankind as a

whole shares the sublime mission of protecting the

global environment. We must always return to that

perspective, reaching beyond borders and advancing

concrete measures to protect the Earth’s environment,

which is the a basis of human survival.

With the aim of protecting the global environment,

a significant outcome for sustainable development

was achieved at the United Nations Conference on

Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012. Japan

announced its green future initiatives, proposing that

we explore sustainable growth in prosperity without

the supply-demand crunch of natural resources and

energy or damage to the global environment. Japan

will implement a low carbon and sound material-cycle

society and take the lead in solving the common energy

challenges facing the world. To that end, we need more

innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

In the light of the accident at Tokyo Electric Power

Company’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station on

11 March 2011, and with the goal of achieving a society not dependent on nuclear power by the 2030s, the

Government of Japan will mobilize all possible policy

resources to show the world a model that supports a

good balance between the shift towards green energy

and economic growth. We will constantly review and

re-examine our policies while carefully assessing the

outlook for the future, including the international

energy situation.

Being ever more conscious of our one precious

Earth, we must direct our caring attention to the

preciousness of each life breathing on the planet. The

Japan-led resolution on human security (resolution

66/290), adopted on 10 September, can be a solid guide

to visualizing development for the next generation from

the perspective of all people, including women and

young people. In the light of the common understanding

of human security stipulated in that resolution, Japan

is determined to contribute to worldwide efforts to

achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to

work towards the establishment of the next development

framework.

The ideal of human security needs particular

emphasis with respect to the African continent, which

steadily reveals greater development potential but

still suffers from many challenges, such as poverty,

natural disasters and conflicts. On the occasion of

the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African

Development, to be held in Yokohama next June,

Japan plans to discuss the measures the international

community and Africa should adopt and implement.

We must completely and successfully meet the

challenges that place our precious lives in danger.

Afghanistan is making significant efforts

towards reconstruction after its prolonged experience

of war. South Sudan is also moving forward in its

nation-building efforts, and Myanmar has taken steady

steps towards democracy and reconciliation. Japan will

do its utmost to support and promote peacekeeping,

peacebuilding and human security in each of those

regions.

A third pearl of wisdom that humans obtained

was the manner in which human beings settle disputes

reasonably under rules. Human beings acquired

language and nurtured wisdom, but, even in modern

times, they have failed to resist the temptation to solve

conflicts by force. Despite two world wars and the two

calamities of atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima

and Nagasaki, disarmament, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the prevention of

terrorism remain key contemporary issues. The nuclear

and missile issues in the Democratic People’s Republic

of Korea and Iran currently pose serious threats

to the entire world. It is essential that all countries

coordinate at the United Nations and the International

Atomic Energy Agency, including the implementation

of Security Council resolutions urging both the

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran to

take concrete action. Japan, the only country that has

experienced the horror of nuclear devastation in war,

will continue to carry out its mission of seeking a world

free of nuclear weapons.

The issue of the abductions by the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea represents a violation of

basic human rights. That makes it a universal issue and

a matter of grave concern to the entire international

community. Japan is committed to continuing its utmost

efforts to achieve the return of all victims at the earliest

possible date, through strengthened coordination with

other Member States. Japan intends to maintain its

efforts to comprehensively resolve outstanding issues

of concern, settle the unfortunate past and normalize

relations in accordance with the Japan-Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea Pyongyang Declaration.

Japan continues to urge the Democratic People’s

Republic of Korea to take positive steps.

Humans have done more than just act on their lust

for the use of force. We have also developed the skill

to solve conflicts calmly through reason, which we

call the rule of law. Every State has a responsibility

to safeguard peace, ensure the safety of its people

and protect its territorial and maritime sovereignty.

Japan will fulfil those responsibilities in accordance

with international law. Meanwhile, as globalization

proceeds, the challenges confronting the international

community are growing increasingly complex, and

relations between nations can easily become tense.

At this critical juncture, we must establish the rule of

law as a basis for global peace, stability and prosperity.

Because the rule of law is essential to preventing and

resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner, and because

it plays a critical role in the maintenance of stable and

predictable societies, it must be further enhanced. Any

attempt to impose a country’s ideology or claim by

unilateral use of force or by threat of the use of force is

inconsistent with the fundamental spirit of the United

Nations Charter and runs counter to human wisdom; it

is thus absolutely unacceptable. It is important to try to further develop international law and ensure that

it gets implemented more effectively. I strongly call

for leaders to strengthen the rule of law so as to leave

future generations with a more peaceful and stable

international community.

We are currently witnessing the settlement of

conflicts between nations on the basis of international

law. A typical example is the dispute settlement process

of the World Trade Organization, a mechanism that has

made it possible for States to solve trade disputes with

the common language of law, not by force, in a panel or

appellate body.

Japan has always valued the rule of law and has

contributed to strengthening it. Since joining the

International Court of Justice, Japan has consistently

recognized the jurisdiction of the Court as compulsory

and has taken the lead in practicing the rule of law.

Japan is leading the world in its contributions

of personnel and financing to international judicial

institutions. In addition to having served at the

International Court of Justice, Japanese judges have

also served at the International Tribunal for the Law of

the Sea, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the

Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

Furthermore, Japan has provided the largest financial

support of any country for the latter three institutions.

Japan requests each country to kindly offer financial

support to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts

of Cambodia, which is facing a severe financial crisis

at the moment.

Supporting the United Nations in promoting the rule

of law continues to be a great challenge. Once again, I

call for nations to work in cooperation with the United

Nations to recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of

the International Court of Justice, as Japan did, and

for non-member countries of the ICC and the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to join at an

early date.

There are still a number of territorial and maritime

disputes in many parts of the world. It is the philosophy

of the Charter of the United Nations and a principle

shared by the international community as a whole

that disputes should be settled in a peaceful manner

on the basis of international law. In all circumstances,

Japan is determined to comply with that principle and

seek peaceful solutions based on international law.

The world should pay greater attention to the role the international judicial institutions play in the peaceful

settlement of disputes.

Although the Middle East and Africa are still in

a tumultuous whirlwind, they are in fact moving in

the direction of establishing democracy. Japan will

continue to support efforts at democratization and

reform of every country. Moreover, we cannot overlook

the ongoing violence and suppression in Syria, or the

serious violations of human rights with respect to

the rule of law. Japan strongly condemns the massive

attacks in Syria that have involved tens of thousands

of innocent citizens, journalists and aid workers,

including Ms. Mika Yamamoto, a Japanese journalist.

Japan intends to put more pressure on the Government

of Syria, together with the international community,

and to extend humanitarian assistance to the people of

Syria.

Let me emphasize that the international community

must secure the protection of civilians and the safety of

diplomats and workers of international organizations

through the rule of law. Today, violence against that

principle cannot be tolerated for any reason.

The concept of the rule of law is the foundation for

a stable and reliable society, making the movement of

peoples and goods more vibrant and serving as a basis

of prosperity. I believe that the rule of law can provide

important infrastructure for order and prosperity for a

network of States centred in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan will vigorously contribute to rule-making efforts

to expand trade and investment, build maritime order,

including the safety of navigation, and create stability

for prosperity.

The rules needed by the international community

are not simply for solving individual problems. Orderly

relations between nations or within international

organizations require the rule of law, more specifically,

enhanced global governance. Unless all nations fulfil

their responsibilities in their respective capacities, we

cannot overcome the various common challenges that

the world is facing. I hope in particular that emerging

countries will fulfil their responsibilities commensurate

with their respective national powers.

As part of such efforts, it is important that we

engage in thorough discussions on how the United

Nations should develop in the future. We strongly

support management reform at the United Nations.

Furthermore, in order for the Security Council to be

fully effective, it must be endowed with a legitimacy that reflects the realities of the world today. Japan

is ready to take on greater responsibility in the

international community. Now is the time to accelerate

the stalled process on Security Council reform and to

start genuine negotiations.

So far I have mentioned three pearls of wisdom

necessary for human beings to live sustainable lives

in the future, and I have tried to convey Japan’s

contribution in each. It is my belief that human beings

will continue to adapt to a complex world and become

wiser. I believe they will give adequate consideration

to future generations and solve disputes calmly through

reason based on rules generated from the perspective of

looking at the Earth from the outside.

Let us take charge of our responsibilities for

tomorrow together. The lofty task for us living now is

to carry out politics while imagining the benefits for

future generations and gather all our wisdom to set a

course towards the survival of human beings.

I should like to conclude my remarks by pledging

to the entire General Assembly that Japan will stand at

the forefront of shaping the future of human history for

peaceful and aff luent societies.