STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. KUNIKO INOGUCHI

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

Geneva, 22th August 2002

Mr. President,

Distinguished delegates,

At the outset, allow me to express my warmest congratulations, Mr. President, for your assumption of the presidency during the concluding segment of this year’s annual session of the Conference on Disarmament. I would like to assure you the full support and cooperation of my delegation in our common efforts to make a difference to break the current stalemate.

Mr. President,

The Conference has just heard from the distinguished ambassador of Malaysia that the ambassadors of this Conference on Disarmament have been invited by the mayor of Nagasaki to visit and hold their meetings in his city. I would like to express my appreciation to the distinguished Ambassador of Malaysia, Dr. Rajmah Hussain, for sharing this information within the Conference today and for the most moving account of Her Excellency’s visit to the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and their museums.

As stated, Nagasaki, like Hiroshima, is a city that experienced devastation from a nuclear bomb. The strong desire of the people of Japan, including the citizens of both cities, that such tragic experiences should never be repeated by generations to come in any part of the world is well-known. Against this background, the Government of Japan has been making utmost efforts to promote nuclear disarmament towards an aim to achieve a peaceful and secure world free of nuclear weapons. It is the duty of my government to explore ways to address the will of the people of Japan.

In the context of the CD in particular, my country accords the highest priority to the commencement of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty and has been trying to contribute to common efforts to bring about a breakthrough that will realise such negotiations. While the current impasse in the CD reflects existing differences among some member States, the invitation by the mayor of Nagasaki should certainly be given serious attention by my government.

Mr. President,

Most importantly, the frustrations of the citizens of Nagasaki about the lack of progress taking place here in the CD are real, and compounding with each day that passes without any substantive work being made. I would like to ask all delegations to the CD to share the fervent desire of those citizens to see progress achieved in the field of disarmament. This important body must make further efforts to achieve such tangible progress.

Thank you.