Shii: A-bombed Japan must clearly support progress in NPT Review Conference

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii: A-bombed Japan must clearly support progress in NPT Review Conference

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in a lecture he made on May 18 to editors of Kyodo News Service and its allied 47 newspapers called for the A-bombed Japanese government’s clear-cut support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to eliminate nuclear weapons.

In his lecture at Kyodo News Service, Shii reported on his visit to the United States and said that the Main Committee I of the Conference published a draft report with a proposal to start international negotiations to examine the procedure toward eliminating nuclear weapons, which represents a positive step forward.

In the question-and-answer session, the Chugoku newspaper’s chief editor said that A-bombed Hiroshima City has great expectations of this year’s NPT Review Conference. He added, “As you say, complaints about the Japanese government’s non-committal attitudes are increasing. What further action will the JCP take to help the crucial situation forward to achieve the draft report proposal?”

Shii said that after his visit to the United States he sent another letter to the Review Conference President Libran N. Cabactulan, asking him to do his utmost to formulate a final agreement based on the Main Committee I draft proposal. He expressed his intention to put a similar request to the Japanese government, saying “It is essential for the government to send a strong message to the world that the A-bombed country supports the proposal.”

Shii said, “If the Main Committee I proposal is finalized, the 2010 NPT Review Conference would reach an epoch-making decision. The government should express definite support for the proposal.”

As regards the House of Councilors election, Shii said, “At issue is whether people should accept a government that works to serve the interests of the United States and Japan’s business circles.”

- Akahata, May 19, 2010