On this, my first visit to Japan as Prime Minister, it is an honour to have the opportunity to talk about how Ireland sees itself, Europe, and Japan as partners in the wider world.
I am very pleased to have been invited to speak at this oldest and most prestigious of Japanese Universities. Congratulations on your 150th anniversary which, I understand, you celebrated last year. With alumni such as former Prime Ministers, including Junichiro Koizumi as well as countless distinguished politicians and world-renowned academics, Keio University is a significant player in the world of foreign policy studies.
I am aware of the exchange links between Keio and Ireland's University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. But I was also very interested to learn that Keio's connection with Ireland goes back as far as 1906 when an Irish clergyman, Rev. William Grey, introduced the game of hockey here. I have also heard that one of Ireland's best known contemporary figures - Bono, of the rock group U2 and international humanitarian advocate - received an Honorary Degree in Law here last year. I am not the first Irishman to be on this podium addressing a distinguished audience.
Japan-Ireland relationship.
The healthy links between Ireland and Keio University are a snapshot of the wider relationship between Japan and Ireland.
2007 saw the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan. This was a milestone in the warm and longstanding partnership between our two countries. However, the relationship between Japan and Ireland goes back much further and covers the entire spectrum of political, cultural, social and economic relations.
In 1872, the Iwakura Mission visited the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, marking what was probably the first diplomatic mission to Ireland from Japan (and created a common bond between the two countries - the love of a pint of stout!).
Lafcadio Hearn, or Koizumi Yakumo, was an Irishman whose literature and love of Japan has inspired generations. Then there are the many Irish missionaries who travelled here to "foreign parts", as they were known back then, establishing schools, colleges and churches.
Today we are writing a very different chapter in the story of relations between our countries. Accompanying me on this official visit is a group, not of missionaries, but of 70 Irish companies; they come not to establish schools, colleges and churches in a foreign country, but to build on an economic relationship with a global neighbour that has been growing from strength to strength over the past two centuries.
In 2007, trade between Ireland and Japan was 558 billion Japanese Yen or 4.6 billion euros. Japan is our largest market in Asia and it is the largest source in Asia of foreign direct investment to Ireland. And in recent years, we have seen an increase in person-to-person contacts through tourism and a vibrant working holiday agreement. Above all we have seen the development of political ties with a country with which we share strong democratic values, and a commitment to human rights and international co-operation.
These political ties, and the values that inform and underpin them, may never have been more apt than in the circumstances of the world in which we find ourselves today. Later today, in the latest chapter of our ongoing political relations, I will have the pleasure of meeting with Prime Minister Aso. I look forward very much to my discussions with him.
I am also delighted to have been invited to an audience with Emperor Akihito tomorrow morning. This is a great honour for me and for my country and I believe further reflects the growing and deepening relationships between our two countries, at a time when the world in which we find ourselves is changing rapidly.
Middle-East.
The recent events in the global economy and the world's financial markets have left no country untouched. The challenge of climate change, which is no respecter of national boundaries, is of growing urgency and requires a global response. And the recent events of the Middle East remind us once again of how easily the pain of war and conflict can replace peaceful co-existence. Challenging times such as these bring home to all the degree to which our world is inextricably inter-connected and the vital importance of international co-operation in addressing the many challenges we face.
President, distinguished Guests,
We are on the eve of inauguration of a new President of the United States of America. Seldom has a US President-elect carried the burden of expectation as much as Barack Obama has over recent months.
Many, many people, both in the United States and beyond, are waiting with anticipation to see what impact the new administration may have on the global challenges of the 21st century that are already upon us today. In particular, many have noted the remarks of President-elect Obama and others of his proposed administration regarding the situation in the Middle East.
For my Government's part, we have consistently said that we consider the action taken by Israel in response to Hamas' rocket attacks to be disproportionate. Such action can only further complicate the search for a durable peace. The voice of the UN Security Council and the international community must be heard, and the present appalling situation must end now. We need to see immediate implementation of a ceasefire and I once again call on both sides to end the current hostilities. I welcome UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's visit to the region, and I sincerely hope that it will help to bring about such a ceasefire.
Ireland and the EU.
Ireland's voice on this and other international issues is not put forward as a single voice, but also through our membership of the European Union. Indeed, Ireland's engagement with the wider world is, inevitably, profoundly influenced by, and very largely conducted through, our membership of the European Union. We have been part of the Union for thirty-six years.
The European Union is, above all, about consolidating peace and democracy across the European continent. What was once the scene of some of the bloodiest wars in history - and of the most sustained and murderous genocide - is now at peace. Old enmities and conflicts have been cast aside in favour of tolerance, partnership and co-operation. The European Union, having put an end to war in Europe and after the fall of communism, became a magnet for countries seeking to escape tyranny and poverty. Membership, and indeed the prospect of membership, has strengthened and sustained young democracies in Southern and Eastern Europe. The world could be a safer, more prosperous and harmonious place, if the example of the European Union were more widely emulated.
The Union's impact goes well beyond restoring peace to Europe. It is a strong force for economic, social and environmental progress. As a small, open economy Ireland is not immune to the global downturn. The last year has seen a fall in national income and a rise in the number out of work. Restoration of balance to our public finances will require hard choices and difficult corrective measures and over a sustained period. However, in taking decisions necessary to address the present situation, we are also identifying new opportunities to position our economy strongly for the future, beyond the current recessionary period.
Despite the enormous challenges we face, the underlying position is much stronger than it was when we last faced a comparable crisis, largely thanks to our EU membership. The scale and pace of Ireland's economic transformation over the past two decades was dramatic. In that period the Single European Market, Economic and Monetary Union and successive enlargements of the Union helped to create the largest consumer market in the world, sweeping aside barriers to trade and investment.
In the current global financial crisis, Ireland's membership of the Eurozone, and the strong support of the European Central Bank, are crucial to our prospects for stabilisation and recovery. A strong and co-ordinated European input into international negotiations on economic growth and financial reform is vital.
Climate Change.
Europe now has a vital role to play in facing new global challenges. Climate change threatens the world's environmental and ecological balance. Its consequences for us all - and above all for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people - are potentially catastrophic. It is our children and grandchildren who are most at risk of experiencing the worst and most dramatic changes. Young people are to the forefront in demanding and expecting a political response. This is a crucial year in the formulation of that response, as we head towards the Copenhagen Conference.
I acknowledge the leadership which Japan provided through the ground-breaking Kyoto Protocol, and also during last year's Presidency of the G8. We in the EU see Japan as our natural partners on the climate change issue. Your role in the UN negotiations this year will be a crucial one.
Europe is now taking a global lead. We have set down in detail how we will reach reductions of 20% of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. If, as we hope, the rest of the world joins us in this momentous endeavour, the Union is committed to step up its target to a reduction of 30% in emissions.
This commitment is a significant contribution to a solution to both the climate crisis and the current economic and financial crisis. Moving to a low carbon economy will encourage innovation, provide new business opportunities and create new jobs. Japan is at the forefront in the development of green technology and has an important role in spreading know-how in this area.
Success in achieving positive action on climate change - both internally and internationally - will be a major test of the European Union's relevance and of its credibility in the eyes of present and future citizens.
Development.
Another area in which Europe is a world leader is that of development. Collectively, through the efforts of Member States and the Commission, the European Union is the largest aid donor internationally, in both absolute and relative expenditure. There is a strong commitment to maintain that role.
Helping to build vibrant economies and functioning states in the developing world is not only a moral obligation. It is in our interests to see the emergence of partners with whom we can work to our mutual benefit in the fields of trade and investment. This is a commitment Europe shares with Japan.
The Lisbon Treaty.
When citizens across Europe are asked if membership of the Union has been of benefit to their country, Irish people are consistently among the most positive. We are undoubtedly committed Europeans. We value the European Union as an indispensable framework for our continued national advancement. We also value the constructive, effective role Europe can play in world affairs and the important contribution Ireland can make from its position at the heart of the Union.
Last summer, in a referendum, the Irish people voted against ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which seeks to amend the institutional framework of the European Union. However, I want to stress that this outcome in no way detracts from our deep commitment to the European Union.
The reasons for the decision of the Irish electorate have been comprehensively analysed. With the strong support of our EU partners, a process has been initiated whereby we will obtain firm and legally-binding assurances on a number of points to do with taxation, military neutrality, ethical issues and a perceived loss of influence, that caused concern in Ireland.
In December I gave a commitment to my fellow EU leaders that, if we receive the assurances we have been promised, the Irish Government will seek to ratify the Treaty later this year, by holding another referendum. I believe that addressing the specific concerns of the Irish people in clear terms will greatly help in persuading them to support the Treaty on this occasion.
Tackling global challenges.
President, Distinguished Guests,
The global political future is uncertain. The United States remains the world's greatest power but Iraq has exposed the limits of that power and America's need for friends and partners. The spread of liberal democracy, which during the 1990s seemed unstoppable, is faltering in many parts of the world. Human rights standards, which we regard as universal, are now more explicitly called into question. We see the rapid emergence of new powers, above all in Asia. Russia has re-emerged as an indispenable partner and neighbour to Europe but also presenting particular challenges.
And as the tragic and appalling events of the last weeks have reminded us, the Middle East, with the still unresolved issue of Israel and Palestine at its heart, is an acute source of instability.
The European Union has a fundamentally important role to play. Europe's relative share of world population and of the world economy is falling, but we do share interests and values and, together, we are still, powerful, prosperous and influential. Our history has made us appreciate the importance of diversity and cultural difference. It has bred in us a deep respect for the rule of law and for the peaceful resolution of conflict, and a horror of political violence. We support effective multilateral institutions and value the sanctity of human life. We believe in free markets with robust social safety nets. These values are not exclusively European, but they are certainly amplified through the combined strength of 27 Member States working together to pursue and uphold them.
Whether it is in regard to international trade, stability in the Balkans, relations with Russia, or the closure of Guantanamo, Ireland's role and influence in shaping developments is greatly enhanced by working with our European partners. Of course there can be differences among us; and we need to build alliances with other States and blocs. But on the whole, and most of the time, it is within the EU that Ireland's interests are best protected in a turbulent world, and our values promoted in an era of change.
EU-Japan relations
As I said earlier, the EU and Japan form two of the main pillars of the global economy. Together, we account for over 40 percent of the world's GDP and almost 30 percent of world trade. The EU is Japan's second largest export market, while Japan is the EU's fifth largest export market.
The EU and Japan provide half of the world's outflow of foreign direct investment. The EU is the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment into Japan in recent years, while Europe attracted the lion's share of Japanese FDI.
There is significant co-operation between Japan and the EU in fields such as regulatory reform, the environment, science and technology, trade, financial services and industrial policy.
Japanese and EU leaders meet regularly to consider joint approaches to key international issues. My predecessor as Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, came to Japan in 2004 as President of the European Council to sign the EU-Japan agreement on strategic co-operation. The EU and Japan share core values and work together in international fora such as the UN, WTO, and the G8.
The current global economic and financial crisis reminds us just how important such co-operation is. It is not only desirable - it is essential. With the future so unclear, unease in the markets among consumers and indeed among policy makers is to be expected. However, with a focused and strong international approach, confidence can be restored.
National foreign policy priorities
Our membership of the European Union has not prevented Ireland from maintaining strong national foreign policy priorities. These are naturally consistent and compatible with agreed European objectives. As a small country, we have chosen to focus particular national attention on a few specific policy areas, on issues where Ireland has been a traditional advocate, where we believe we have particular national experiences to share, or where there is a particularly strong level of public commitment and engagement.
A passionate commitment to sustainable and equitable development and the eradication of poverty is manifested in an official development assistance programme which has strong public support and an international reputation for quality and effectiveness. Per head, Ireland is the sixth largest aid donor in the world. We are now establishing pilot co-operation projects with Japan.
Promotion of human rights is another key foreign policy priority which resonates deeply in our country and which is actively pursued at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Ireland is unswervingly committed to a strong and effective United Nations. For over fifty years we have been involved in UN-mandated peace-keeping, with up to 8% of our armed forces on international service at any given time - currently mostly in Chad, Kosovo and Bosnia. We are happy to share our experiences in this area with Japan.
And our commitment to peace and security is reflected also in two further key foreign policy areas on which I would like to say a few words: disarmament and conflict resolution.
Disarmament
Given the horrific experiences of the Japanese people at Hiroshima and Nagasaki - which remain seared on the world's collective memory - disarmament and non-proliferation issues understandably rank highly in Japan's foreign policy. Ireland shares this foreign policy priority with you. We co-operate in international fora and we have similar approaches to disarmament and non-proliferation issues.
Over fifty years ago the then Irish Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken initiated a process which eventually led to the negotiation of the Non Proliferation Treaty. The NPT remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime today. It remains the only multilateral legally binding commitment by the nuclear weapon States to nuclear disarmament. This is of particular importance, because disarmament and non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes. But progress remains stubbornly slow.
I warmly welcome, therefore, the establishment by Japan and Australia last September of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation. We believe that this is a timely initiative and hope that it can help us to make meaningful progress. Changes on the international political stage might suggest that renewed political commitment to the NPT might be possible. With a fair political wind, progress might even be possible on moving towards ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which would indeed be welcome.
While progress on the NPT and CTBT would mark huge progress, challenges will continue to be posed by the growing number of States which possess nuclear weapons, or are actively trying to develop them. The time may well have come for a radical rethink in our approach. Perhaps, our focus should no longer be on reducing the number of nuclear weapons - important as this is - but on considering in a practical and concrete way the steps needed for their active elimination.
While Japan was working last year to establish the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Ireland's focus was on conventional weapons. Last May, Dublin hosted the Conference which adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The Convention was opened for signature last month in Oslo. Ireland was one of four countries to sign and ratify on the same day. Japan signed the Convention in Oslo and simultaneously announced a significant and very welcome contribution to relief efforts for victims of cluster munitions. I am very proud of our shared role in negotiating this Convention.
Conflict resolution.
Ireland's determination to make real and substantive progress on disarmament, non-proliferation, and banning cluster munitions addresses the hardware of conflict. But the use of that hardware is a consequence of a complex mix of history, politics, interests and identity. Understanding the causes of conflict is essential to addressing them effectively. Only through such analysis and application can we reach our goal of a world at peace.
We in Ireland endured some 30 years of conflict. Our peace has been hard won. The tough and complex negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 were matched, if not exceeded, by the years of negotiation prior to its implementation.
Since the spring of 2007, a durable power-sharing government has been in place in Northern Ireland and is playing a key role in consolidating peace and generating social and economic advancement.
The lessons from our own experiences can be more broadly applied. Ireland has now established new Conflict Resolution Unit to work closely with other political and NGO actors. Its first field engagement, in Timor-Leste, is headed by Dame Nuala O'Loan, who previously served as Police Complaints Ombudsman in Northern Ireland.
Recording, sharing and applying the lessons of the past is a vital part of the dialogue internationally between peacemakers. Based on our experience of Northern Ireland, lesson-sharing is an important part of the work of the Conflict Resolution Unit. It would be naïve to expect too much too soon but we are determined to develop our capacity and expertise over the longer term, and to play our part in resolving and preventing conflict internationally.
Concluding remarks.
In conclusion, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would emphasise that challenges that the world faces today, some of which I have touched on this afternoon, require ever greater collaboration and co-operation between countries across the globe. As I have said, the relationship between Japan and the European Union, including Ireland, is crucial in this context. It is a partnership between two key pillars of the international economy and political order, with an increasingly important role to play in forging truly global responses to 21st century challenges.
In this era of global challenges, I believe that the strengths of the relationship between Ireland and Japan, measured in friendship, shared values and deepening economic and political relations, will unite us far more than distance, measured in miles or kilometres, separates us.
It has been my great honour to have had this opportunity of addressing you here today. I thank you very much for your kind attention and I will be happy to respond to some questions.
ENDS