Japan Gensuikyo urges nuclear weapons states to implement promise to eliminate nuclear weapons

In preparation for the 1st preparatory committee meeting of the 2005 NPT Review Conference to be held in New York from April 8 to 19, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) has published a statement urging the nuclear weapons states to implement their previous promise of an "unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the elimination of nuclear arsenals."

The statement made the following points:
1. Implementation of the "undertaking to abolish nuclear weapons"

We call on the First Preparatory Committee meeting to confirm the basic points agreed upon by the 2000 Review Conference and urge the States parties, especially the nuclear weapons states, to declare the "unequivocal undertaking" to "accomplish" the "elimination of their nuclear arsenals" as their basic policy, and implement it without delay by the 2005 Review Conference.

2. Legal measures to ban the first-use of nuclear weapons and use/threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states

In light of the urgency and the widest-range of international agreement on this issue, we call on this Preparatory Committee meeting to move for the conclusion of a treaty to ban the first-use and the use/threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states as a binding international measure to be taken without waiting for 2005.

3. Promotion of CTBT entering into force and nuclear test ban

We suggest that the early entry into force of the CTBT and the prevention of the resumption of nuclear tests be given special emphasis among others. (end)