Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

ADDRESS BY
H.E. DR. YUKIO HATOYAMA
PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
AT THE SIXTY-FOURTH SESSION OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS

24 SEPTEMBER 2009
NEW YORK

Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki on assuming the Presidency of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly. I would also like to express my respect to His Excellency Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann for his excellent leadership in the previous session.

I highly commend as well the dedication and leadership of His Excellency Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in tackling the various challenging issues that the United Nations faces at this time.

Mr. President,

It was 120 years ago, in 1889, that the electoral system, while limited, was initiated in Japan.From that time forward, the change of government through elections was in fact a matter of course in Japan, which even had an era in the early 20th century called the "Taisho democracy".

Japan thus is a nation with a solid heritage of democracy and elections. After the Second World War, however, Japan has not experienced changes of power through the ballot box. Tensions between the politicians and the bureaucrats disappeared. As a result, it cannot be denied that Japan's foreign policy was somewhat deprived of vitality.

However, on 30 August this year, the Japanese people finally chose through a general election to have a change of power. This is a triumph for democracy in Japan and a victory for the Japanese people. Last week, on 16 September, I assumed the office of Prime Minister of Japan, and thus I stand before you today.

My new administration embodies the dynamism of democracy and will exert all efforts to address both domestic affairs and foreign policy challenges through our "all-Japan" lineup.

Mr. President,

Japan's accession to the United Nations was approved on 18 December 1956. The Prime Minister at the time was Ichiro Hatoyama, my grandfather.

At the eleventh session of the General Assembly, where Japan made its maiden speech, then-Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu stated:

The substance of Japan's political, economic and cultural life is the product of the fusion within the last century of the civilizations of the Orient and the Occident. In a way, Japan may well be regarded as a bridge between the East and the West. She is fully conscious of the great responsibilities of such a position.

My grandfather Ichiro, then Prime Minister, was an advocate of the concept of yu-ai, or "fraternity". This yu-ai is a way of thinking that respects one's own freedom and individual dignity while also respecting the freedom and individual dignity of others.

There is a remarkable resonance between the concept of the "bridge" in Mamoru Shigemitsu's address and Ichiro's concept of yu-ai, or "fraternity".

Now, fifty-three years later, here at the very same United Nations General Assembly, I declare with firm determination that Japan will play again the role of a "bridge".

（以下省略）