[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
[August 30, 2007]
[Pages 1148-1150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Interview With Kensuke Okoshi of NHK Japan
August 30, 2007

Japan-U.S. Relations/Japan's Antiterrorism Law

    Mr. Okoshi. Thank you, Mr. President. My first question is on the 
U.S.-Japan alliance. It has been said that relationship between our two 
countries grew closer than ever before under your leadership. On the 
other hand, in Japan, the opposition party blocked the extension of the 
antiterrorism special law, which can be seen as a symbol of the U.S.-
Japan alliance. How serious do you think this is?
    The President. First of all, we do have a good relationship with 
Japan, and it's an important relationship. The relationship between the 
United States and Japan is good for the American people, I believe it's 
good for the Japanese people, and I believe it's good for stability in 
not only Southeast Asia but where we cooperate in other parts of the 
world. And so therefore, I would hope that the Government would keep 
this important law in place so that Japan and the United States and 
other nations can continue to work for peace and stability. And it's an 
important piece of legislation, as far as we're concerned.

President's Meeting With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan

    Mr. Okoshi. Will you talk about this issue, about the extension of 
the antiterrorism special law with Prime Minister Abe at the next 
meeting in Sydney?
    The President. I'm not exactly sure what he wants to talk about. I'd 
be happy to talk about anything he wants. Of course, I'll be wanting to 
make sure that our relationship remains as close as it is. Secondly, 
we'll be talking about economic issues. Thirdly, I know we'll be talking 
about North Korea, and I will once again make it clear that the abductee 
issue is an important issue for the United States of America. We want 
this issue resolved.
    This battle against extremism and radicalism that is manifested in 
two theaters right now, which is Afghanistan and Iraq, is going to be a 
subject matter. And to the extent that we can work together, it's going 
to be helpful for peace. The Japanese presence helps peace, helps 
achieve peace. And that's what we want. We'll talk about every aspect of 
our relationship.

[[Page 1149]]

Six-Party Talks

    Mr. Okoshi. On North Korea, in conjunction with six-party talks, 
there has been an effort regarding the U.S.-North Korea bilateral 
meeting. Do you regard this softer and more direct approach towards 
North Korea as a success?
    The President. The discussion was as a part of the six-party talks. 
I am not for undermining the six-party talks. As a matter of fact, the 
six-party talks is the most successful forum, because I want to make it 
clear to the North Koreans that should they choose to ignore what 
they've agreed to do, that it's not just the United States that will be 
at the table, but China and, of course, Japan and South Korea and 
Russia. So in other words, there's got to be a sense of accountability 
if somebody says they're going to do one thing, like shut down their 
weapons programs, and they don't do it. And there's going to be better 
accountability when they have said that to five countries as opposed to 
one. And so it's important that we all stay at the table.
    My approach hasn't changed. My approach is firm. They're making some 
progress now. Obviously, we want to make sure that this continues. But 
the reactor has been shut down. But they've got a lot more work to do.

Abduction of Japanese Citizens

    Mr. Okoshi. How much will the abductee issue be taken into 
consideration in terms of removing North Korea from the State Sponsors 
of Terrorism?
    The President. I told the Prime Minister this 
is an important issue for me. Our Ambassador, Ambassador Schieffer, asked me to meet the mom of a young girl who had been 
abducted. And that's probably the most--one of the most profound 
meetings I've had in the Oval Office, to see her emotion, to feel her 
sense of hurt as a result of the callous actions of a state.
    And so the abductee issue is an important issue. Of course the 
Japanese are concerned that what will happen is, is that we'll conclude 
the nuclear weapons issue and then forget about the abductee issue. And 
the answer is, I won't forget about the abductee issue.

Military Operations in Iraq

    Mr. Okoshi. Moving on to Iraq. You made a decision to implement 
surge. And so far, what are some of the things that have met with your 
expectation, and on the other hand, what are the elements that have 
fallen short?
    The President. First of all, the surge, from a military perspective, 
from a security perspective, is successful. There are still suicide 
bombers, and there are still these murderers who are killing people, but 
we're slowly but surely, along with the Iraqis, taking back 
neighborhoods and Provinces. Al Anbar Province used to be a safe haven--
not a safe haven, used to be kind of the grounds where it looked like Al 
Qaida was going to be the predominant force, and now we've got them on 
the run. And so there's been success in the security.
    That's not to say everything is perfect, but there's been good 
successes. At the grassroots level, in other words at the local level, 
when people feel secure, they start asking questions about what does it 
take to create peace so their families can grow up peacefully. In other 
words, when the thugs get removed and people start saying, ``I've got a 
different attitude,'' that's called reconciliation. They're beginning to 
say, ``What do we need to do to build on this momentum so we can live in 
peace?''
    At the Government level, they're still struggling with--frankly--
trying to recover from a dictatorship. And it takes a while. And we've 
asked them to--hopefully, they would pass some laws--some laws they 
haven't passed. But I believe, one, we can succeed; two, I know it's 
important that we do succeed. And I'm looking forward to our people on 
the ground coming back and charting a way forward so that we can 
continue to be in a position to succeed.

[[Page 1150]]

Environment

    Mr. Okoshi. Moving on to your climate change. Are you really 
inviting the major emitters, including China, to Washington, DC, at the 
end of this month? What kind of initiatives or roadmaps do you have in 
mind for the post-Kyoto framework?
    The President. Yes, look, I think we need to make sure that we get 
the major emitters, the big economies of the world that are emitting 
greenhouse gases to the table so that we can all be at the same table. 
And the first step toward coming up with a common accord is to recognize 
there's a problem and set a goal, a reduction goal, because I believe 
once you get people to sign up to a goal, it makes it easier to begin to 
get--ask them to sign up to a solution.
    So that's the purpose. The purpose is to set up a process that 
includes everybody. Now, the United States, by the way, has reduced 
greenhouse gas emissions last year. We grew our economy at about 3 
percent, and our greenhouse gases went down. So our strategy is 
beginning to work. But the truth of the matter is, if we really want to 
be serious about solving this problem, the question is, how fast can we 
get new technologies to the marketplace? And the countries that are 
going to be leading the way and developing new technologies will be the 
United States and Japan.
    For example, I believe that the Japanese battery makers will be 
coming to the market, hopefully, relatively soon, with a new battery 
that will enable us to drive a regular-size automobile for 40 miles on 
electricity. That will, of course, achieve a couple of objectives: one, 
less dependence on oil, which will help both our countries; and two, it 
will help us clean up the environment. And so technologies is going to 
really make an enormous difference. And to the extent that the United 
States and Japan cooperates on technologies, it will help the world. 
We're wealthy nations, and these developing nations are going to look to 
us to help them develop technologies that will enable them to grow their 
economies and, at the same time, be better stewards of the environment.
    So the way I see it is, post-Kyoto is going to be setting goals, 
helping countries with the technological developments they need so that 
each country could meet the goal it sets. And collectively we'll have 
done a better job on the environment.
    Mr. Okoshi. Time is up. Thank you very much, Mr. President----
    The President. Thank you, sir.
    Mr. Okoshi. ----for spending time for Japanese people.
    The President. Glad to do it. Proud to be a friend. Thank you.

Note: The interview was taped at 3:50 p.m. in the Map Room at the White 
House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to 
Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korean 
authorities. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on August 31.