Following the publication of an article in a Haitian media, saying that rice delivered by Japan, would have been grown near the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant, and thus would be contaminated by radioactive dust, the Embassy of Japan provides a formal denial and gives all the explanations allowing to refute this article, information that this media could easily obtain, before causing unnecessary irritation of a friendly country and cause harm to the good diplomatic relations of Haiti with Japan.

Note of the Embassy of Japan :

"Following the rumor [in Haiti] which says that the rice provided by Japan, would have been grown near the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant, the Japanese Embassy in Haiti wishes to make a formal denial to the rumor that has no basis, and which is totally contrary to reality.

Indeed, this rice provided on the basis of exchange of Notes signed between the governments of Japan and Haiti March 7, 2012, within the framework of Food Aid of the Japanese government and which is arrived in Port-au-Prince October 2, 2012, was grown in the United States.

This rice was imported into Japan between 2009 and 2010 before the accident of the nuclear plant Fukushima-Daiiehi. hereafter, and until his departure to Port-au-Prince, in September 2012, the ice was stored properly inside a warehouse in Ishikari and Otaru, on the island of Hokkaido, which is located outside the evacuation zone determined by the Japanese government.

lshikari and Otaru are respectively located to 652 km and 654km away from the nuclear plant of Fukushima-Daiichi. Hence, we affirm that this rice has no been exposed to radioactive dust and that it is extremely unlikely that the safety of this rice is reached. In addition, this rice is not subject to any restrictions for the sale and consumption on the Japanese territory.

In addition, Japan sent this rice earlier than planned, two weeks in advance, to meet the urgent request of the Haitian Government. We do not prevent the Haitian government,to realize, through bodies accredited in the field, depth analysis on the rice. However, we sincerely hope that this rice will be delivered as soon as possible to the population, which is in the extreme necessity.

It is important to note that Japan's cooperation with Haiti in the field of food security encompasses two major programs, namely : the KR which is a donation in food products and the KR2 which is the granting of agricultural inputs to reinvigorate and make profitable the Haitian agriculture."

HL/ HaitiLibre