林　肇 駐英国日本国大使メッセージ（邦文）

当地ロンドンにて映画「めぐみへの誓い」の上映会の実現の為にご尽力されてこられた、Mプロジェクトの皆様に敬意を表します。
民間団体が主導してこのような拉致問題の啓発に資する活動が進んでいることを心強く考えており、在英国日本国大使館でも本上映会を後援しております。　
　日本政府は、2002年に帰国した5名を含む17名を北朝鮮当局による拉致被害者として認定しているほか、北朝鮮による拉致の可能性を排除できない行方不明者が存在するとの認識の下、認定の有無にかかわらず、全ての拉致被害者の安全確保及び即時帰国のために全力を尽くしています。
　　北朝鮮による拉致問題は、時間的制約のある人道問題です。拉致被害者の御家族も御高齢となる中、その解決は、一刻の猶予も許されません。また、拉致問題は、日本国の主権及び国民の生命と安全に関わる重大な問題です。同時に、この拉致問題は、日本だけにとどまるものではありません。被害者の中には、欧州滞在中に拉致された方もいます。
　さらに、拉致の被害者は韓国にも多数いることが知られているほか、タイ、ルーマニア、レバノンなどにも北朝鮮に拉致された可能性のある方が存在することが明らかになっており、拉致問題は基本的人権の侵害という国際社会の普遍的問題です。国連の場においても、人権理事会、総会で拉致問題を含む北朝鮮の人権状況決議が繰り返し採択されているほか、安保理の場においても拉致問題の早期解決と拉致被害者の即時帰国を強く要求するステートメントが発出されています。
　拉致問題は基本的人権が守られる国際社会を築こうとする私たち皆が力をあわせて解決すべき問題でもあるのです。
　今回、関心を寄せてご来場いただいた皆様に御礼申し上げるとともに、これからも拉致問題解決へのご理解とご支援をいただければ幸いです。

Message from Hajime HAYASHI,
Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom
　　
　　 I would like to pay tribute to M Project Japan for their efforts to realise the screening of the film 'The Pledge to Megumi' in London. It is heartening that a private organisation is taking the initiative to contribute to raising awareness of the abductions issue, and the Embassy of Japan lent its support to this screening.
The Government of Japan has recognised 17 people, including five who returned to Japan in 2002, as victims of abductions by North Korea.
Furthermore, based on the recognition that there are missing persons for whom the possibility of having been abducted by North Korea cannot be ruled out, the Government of Japan is doing its utmost to ensure the safety and immediate return of all abductees, regardless of whether or not they have been officially recognised as abductees.
The issue of abductions by North Korea is a humanitarian matter with time constraints. Because the families of the abductees are now elderly, not a moment's respite can be allowed for the resolution of this issue. It is also a serious problem that concerns the sovereignty of Japan and the lives and safety of its citizens.
Moreover, this is an issue not confined to Japan alone. Some of the victims were abducted while they were in Europe.
Furthermore, it is known that the Republic of Korea also has many victims of abductions, and it has become clear that there have been cases where people may have been abducted by North Korea in Thailand, Romania, Lebanon, etc. It is thus a universal problem for the international community as a violation of fundamental human rights. In the United Nations, the Human Rights Council and the General
Assembly have repeatedly adopted resolutions on the human rights situation in North Korea, including the issue of abductions, and the Security Council has also issued statements that strongly call upon North Korea to urgently resolve this issue and the immediate return of all abductees.
This is a universal matter to be addressed by all of us who are trying to build an international community ensuring fundamental human rights.
I would like to offer my thanks to all those who attended this film screening and would be grateful for your continued understanding and support for the resolution of the abductions issue.