Shii and South African ambassador agree on cooperation to abolish nuclear weapons

Japan Press Weekly

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Shii and South African ambassador agree on cooperation to abolish nuclear weapons

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 26 met with South African Ambassador to Japan Gert J. Grobler at the JCP head office, and agreed on cooperation in abolishing nuclear weapons.

Welcoming the newly appointed ambassador, Shii expressed his hope for further cooperation with the government of South Africa, a New Agenda Coalition member.

The ambassador, who had read the letter from Shii to U.S. President Obama, said that he agreed with what the letter calls for, and that he conveyed this to his government.

Shii referred to the historical importance of the recent speech President Obama had delivered in Prague, and stressed the need to start international negotiations for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The ambassador said that his government is urging the United States to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and is calling for such concrete measures as setting a time frame for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

- Akahata, May 27, 2009