紛争と食料安全保障に関する安保理公開討論における小田原潔外務副大臣ステートメント
令和4年5月19日
Mr. President,
I would like to thank the United States for convening this important meeting, as well as the Secretary-General and others for their briefings.
Japan attaches great importance to the achievement of global food security in realizing a “society where no one is left behind”, reflecting the philosophy of human security which Japan regards as an important pillar of its foreign policy. This meeting is timely, given the dramatic deterioration of global food security caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine.
Mr. President,
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which has exacerbated food security globally, infringes upon Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and shakes the very foundations of the international order that never tolerate any unilateral change of the status quo by force. Russia targeted critical civilian infrastructure, including that for agricultural production, transportation and storage, in clear denial of commitments in the Council, such as Security Council resolutions 2417 and 2573. Japan is gravely concerned by such attacks and condemns them in the strongest terms.
Japan stresses the importance of the following three points as rapid responses to deteriorating global food security. Firstly, the international community must work together to expand emergency food assistance, especially in the severely affected Middle East and Africa. As a consistent partner of the WFP, on May 10, Japan decided to extend Emergency Grant Aid of 10 million US dollars in response to the food crisis in Yemen, where the humanitarian situation could further deteriorate due to the impact of rising food prices caused by the situation in Ukraine. The provision of food aid to Sri Lanka will also be decided shortly. Japan will continue to work with the international community to closely consider the necessary measures.
Secondly, it is important to treat the Ukrainian grain exports as a humanitarian issue and to create political momentum to enable the smooth export of food to those in need. Japan advocates for this approach and for the establishment of a “humanitarian food passage” which would facilitate such exports. We would like to call on the countries concerned, including Russia, to restore the international distribution of Ukrainian food.
Lastly, it is important to ensure that measures that disrupt global food trade and affect global food insecurity, such as export restrictions and excessive hoarding, are not taken. In this connection, it should be agreed at next month's WTO Ministerial meeting that food procurement for humanitarian aid by international organizations should not be subject to export restrictions.
Mr. President,
Japan is determined to continue to make every effort in cooperation with the international community to address the negative impact of conflict on global food security.
Thank you.