Ratas started the meeting by expressing his sympathy for the victims of the March 11 Japanese natural disaster and his condolences to their family members. Ratas expressed his hope that the situation in Fukushima nuclear power station would soon be under control.

 

Yutaka Banno thanked Estonia for the assistance provided by the state as well as for the donations collected by its people to help eliminate the consequences of the catastrophe.

 

The Minister gave an overview of the activities for eliminating the consequences of the Fukushima nuclear power station catastrophe. He assured that the situation was already under control. Renovation works have started according to the plan.

 

The Japanese Assistant Foreign Minister praised the Japanese-Estonian relations so far and said that he hoped to see them develop positively in the future. He expressed his contentment that an Estonia-Japan Parliamentary Group has been formed in the Riigikogu. The Minister pledged to contribute to the active functioning of the corresponding friendship group in Japan. This would add momentum to the development of relations between the two national parliaments.

 

Ratas reiterated Estonia’s wish to continue developing bilateral relations in the fields of economy and culture alike. He stressed that Tallinn, as the 2011 Capital of Culture, offers good opportunities for that. Another topic was the charity concert organised in May in support of the Fukushima accident elimination work. The concert will include an important contribution by the Estonia-Japan Parliamentary Group.

 

The Deputy Chairman of the Estonia-Japan Parliamentary Group Imre Sooäär was also present at the meeting.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service