 Government and NGO representatives discuss how to build a nuclear-free world At the international forum for the abolition of nuclear weapons in Shizuoka City on February 28, representatives of non-nuclear governments and NGOs confirmed the importance of cooperating with each other in preparation for the NPT Review Conference scheduled for May, focusing on the elimination of nuclear weapons. Ambassador of Mexico Miguel Ruiz-Caba–as Izquierdo said, "If the nuclear-weapon states continue to refuse complying with its disarmament obligations arguing that nuclear weapons are indispensable security enhancers, there is a real danger that other states will start pondering they should do the same." He stated that the NPT Review Conference should reaffirm the agreement reached in the NPT conference in 2000 on concrete measures to achieve a nuclear-free world. Walid Ahmed Haggag, second secretary of the Embassy of Egypt in Japan, pointed out that nuclear weapons states are considering giving nuclear weapons a new life. He stressed the importance of pursuing the abolition of nuclear weapons and their disarmament at the same time, stating that non-nuclear states continue to urge nuclear states to eliminate their nuclear weapons as a legal obligation they must fulfill. Jacqueline Cabasso, U.S. coordinator for the Abolition 2000 who is now working on organizing anti-nuclear demonstration in New York scheduled for May 1, pointed to the danger of the Bush administration's strategy of first use of nuclear weapons. She also spoke about young people taking part in the U.S. movement calling for an end to the Iraq war. Sophie Lefeez and Francois Gagnaire, representatives of Mouvement de la Paix, the French peace movement, reported on their activities to send 200 French delegates, including 100 young people, to the 2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs. The forum was organized by the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) as a part of a series of 2005 Bikini Day events and attended by about 400 people. (end) |