Governments and NGO representatives discuss nuclear weapons abolition in Nagasaki

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Governments and NGO representatives discuss nuclear weapons abolition in Nagasaki

Representatives of governments and NGOs met at a discussion forum to jointly search for ways to develop the movement towards the NPT Review Conference in 2010 in Nagasaki on August 8.

The event took place at Nagasaki University as part of the 2008 World Conference against A & H Bombs.

Walid Ahmed Haggag, the First Secretary of the Egyptian Embassy, called on participants to urge nuclear weapons states to renounce nuclear doctrines as part of their strategic national security policy and start negotiations for total and complete nuclear disarmament. He also stressed the need to denuclearize the Middle East and develop the effort in Asia.

Joseph Gerson of the American Friends Service Committee criticized the U.S. ambassador to Japan for stating that the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to end. He also criticized U.S. presidential candidates’ nuclear policies.

Tsuchida Yayoi, vice secretary of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs, said, “Let us give rise to voices that would influence nuclear weapons states” at a time when the abolition of nuclear weapons is supported by a majority in the world. She called on participants to do their utmost to carry out the new signature campaign and activities to help people understand the actual damage caused by the A-bombings in preparation for the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

Mohamed Ezzeldine Abdel-Moneim, special advisor on Disarmament and Strategic Affairs of the Arab League, and Pham Van Chuong, vice president of the Vietnam Peace Committee, also spoke.

Nagasaki Mayor Taue Tomihisa in his speech called for the creation of a network in solidarity with as many residents as possible to influence governments and municipalities to move toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Mexico’s Acting Ambassador Mercedes Ruiz Zapata also spoke.

- Akahata, August 9, 2008