News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Canada and Japan strengthen political, peace and security cooperation

November 14, 2010
Yokohama, Japan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today signed the 2010 Canada-Japan Joint Declaration on Political, Peace and Security Cooperation with Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The declaration will deepen bilateral relations and better protect the citizens of both countries. The leaders signed the Joint Declaration after holding bilateral discussions on the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Yokohama, Japan.

"Canada and Japan are close partners in promoting security and development at home and around the globe, including in Afghanistan and Haiti," Prime Minister Harper said. "The plan Prime Minister Kan and I signed today will improve our joint response to mutual security threats and further ensure the safety of our citizens, at home and abroad."

The Joint Declaration builds on the 1999 and 2005 Canada-Japan Action Agendas for Peace and Security Cooperation as well as other international security initiatives designed to improve both countries' peacebuilding and conflict resolution capabilities, encourage global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and strengthen the rule of law internationally.

The Joint Declaration establishes flexible, high-level dialogue between both countries through regular meetings between Canadian Deputy Ministers and Japanese Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence. The plan also enhances policy and operational cooperation in a number of traditional and emerging areas of shared interest related to peace and security.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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2010 Canada-Japan Joint Declaration on Political, Peace and Security Cooperation

November 14, 2010
Yokohama, Japan

At the Huntsville G-8 Leaders' Summit, Prime Ministers Stephen Harper and Naoto Kan agreed to strengthen peace and security cooperation.

On November 14, they signed the 2010 Canada-Japan Joint Declaration on Political, Peace and Security Cooperation during a bilateral meeting held on the margins of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Yokohama, Japan (November 13-14).

The signing of the Declaration concludes over a year of negotiations and builds on the 1999 and 2005 Canada-Japan Action Agendas for Peace and Security Cooperation. The Declaration is also expected to foster greater political, peace and security co-operation and co-ordination between the two countries through joint discussions on:

• Exchange of strategic assessments and related information;
• Disarmament and non-proliferation;
• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding, including post-conflict reconstruction;
• Counter-terrorism and transnational organized crime;
• Effective institutions for global and regional security;
• Global energy security;
• Maritime security;
• Natural disaster response, humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction;
• Pandemic preparedness and response;
• Security implications of climate change;
• Space; and,
• Cybersecurity.

The Joint Declaration would commence immediately with the expectation that meetings will be held on an ongoing regular basis.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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Statement

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

November 13, 2010
Yokohama, Japan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the release of Nobel peace laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi:

"I am pleased that Aung San Suu Kyi has finally been released from house arrest in Burma. She is an unwavering champion of peace, democracy and respect for human rights in Burma, despite being held in detention for 15 of the past 21 years.

"Neither her trial nor appeal process were conducted in line with international standards. She was not granted due process and should never have been detained.

"Canada has long supported Ms. Suu Kyi in her efforts to bring genuine democracy to Burma. In recognition of her struggle to promote fundamental freedoms and democratic principles, she was granted honourary Canadian citizenship by the Parliament of Canada in 2007.

"Canada stands resolutely with Burma's democratic forces and like-minded members of the international community in the quest to restore civilian government to the Burmese people. We continue to call on the Burmese authorities to release all political prisoners and allow the meaningful political participation of all Burma's opposition and ethnic groups.

"In December 2007, Canada imposed the toughest sanctions in the world against the Burmese regime to indicate its condemnation of the regime's complete disregard for human rights and its repression of the country's democratic movement. Those sanctions will remain in place."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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