Statement by Ambassador Yukio Takasu
Representative of Japan
at subsidiary body of Main Committee II
of the 2005 Review
Conference
of the Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Delivered on 20 May 2005
Thank
you, Mr. Chairman.
I would like to present Japanfs views on the regional issues.
(Middle East)
Lack of progress in the establishment of
a weapons-of-mass- destruction-free zone in the Middle East poses a serious concern for the credibility
of the NPT. Japan supported, and continues to fully support,
the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East,
which calls for the establishment of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction,
nuclear, chemical and biological, and their delivery systems. Japan has also consistently joined adoption of
resolutions by UN General Assembly on the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East.
In response to
the request by the 2000 Review Conference, Japan has submitted to the 2005 Review Conference
(NPT/CONF.2005/20) as well as to Preparatory Committee a report on the steps to
promote the achievement of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East and the realization of the goals and
objectives of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.
The establishment of a zone free of
nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in
the Middle
East will
ultimately require the adherence by all states in the region to the NPT, the
Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by all states in
the region would also be a substantial practical step towards this end. Japan has been actively taking part in international
efforts to encourage universal adherence to these multilateral legally binding
instruments on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. In this context, Japan calls upon Israel to accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon
State, thereby contributing to taking an initiative for building confidence in
the region.
Strengthening
the IAEA safeguards system plays a vital role in underpinning the NPT. Japan strongly believes that the conclusion of the
IAEA comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols by all states
in the Middle
East region would
contribute to confidence building which is essential for the establishment of a
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
Japan is firmly committed to supporting the Middle East peace process, a key to achieving regional
stability. Such stability will facilitate the process of establishing a zone
free of weapons of mass destruction there. Japan will intensify political consultations with Israelis
and Palestinians, as well as other countries concerned, to encourage peace
efforts and will assist the Palestinians to help them establish an independent
state according to the Road Map. As a concrete step to this end, Prime Minister
Koizumi of Japan invited President Mahmoud
Abbas of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government
Authority to Japan from 15 to 17 of this May and had close
exchanges of views on the Middle East
peace process. On this occasion the Government of Japan pledged to provide assistance
of US$100 million to the Palestinians for the immediate future. Both leaders agreed to hold a ministerial
meeting this year to map out a detailed plan of this assistance. At the same
time, Japan extended the invitation to Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon of the State of Israel to visit Japan and discuss with Japanese political leaders
for promoting the peace process.
(Iran)
Japan appreciates the efforts of Islamic Republic
of Iran, the IAEA and countries concerned, in resolving Iranfs nuclear issue. Recognizing the efforts made
by the international community to pursue the peaceful resolution of Iranian
nuclear issue, we welcome, and attach great importance to, Iranfs suspension of uranium enrichment-related and
reprocessing activities. At the same time, Japan reaffirms its strong concern that Iranfs policy of concealment up to October 2003
has resulted in many breaches of Iranfs obligations to comply with its safeguards
with the IAEA. There are still outstanding issues to be resolved and clarified.
Continuous efforts are needed to establish international confidence.
In order to
dispel the serious concerns of the international community, Japan believes that it is essential for Iran to sincerely implement all the requirements
of the relevant IAEA resolutions, including the suspension of all its
enrichment-related and reprocessing activities without exception. It is equally
important that Iran continues to positively cooperate with the IAEA
by providing adequate and complete information and any access deemed necessary
by the IAEA. It is equally important that Iran ratifies its additional protocol as a matter
of urgency.
Japan sincerely hopes the current negotiation
process between EU3/EU and Iran will result in a success. In particular,
Japan considers it extremely important that Iran agrees to provide sufficient gobjective
guaranteesh as required by EU3, which we believe will provide the most
effective assurance that Iranfs nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful
purposes.
(Libya)
Japan welcomes and commends Libya's decision in December 2003 to abandon all of
its weapons of mass destruction programs, while expressing concern over Libyafs past failure to meet the requirements of its
safeguards agreement, which constituted non-compliance. I would also like to welcome Libyafs positive cooperation with the IAEA in the
verification work related to Libya's past undeclared nuclear programme.
Japan encourages Libya and all other relevant member states of the
IAEA to continue their cooperation in order to enable the successful completion
of the Agency's verification work.
Japan hopes that Libya will play an even more active role as a
member of the global non-proliferation regime. In particular, Japan welcomes Libya's signing of the Protocol Additional in March
2004 and would like to urge Libya to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible.
(South Asia)
The nuclear
weapon capabilities of both India and Pakistan make peace and stability in South Asia more vulnerable, and the fact they remain
outside the NPT undermines the universality of the Treaty. In this regard, I
would like to reiterate the importance of the implementation of Security
Council Resolution 1172, adopted in June 1998.
The 2000 NPT
Review Conference declared that both States do not have the status of
nuclear-weapon States. Japan continues to urge India and Pakistan to accede to the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon
States promptly and without condition. Japan also encourages both countries to continue
their commitment to the moratorium of nuclear tests, and to make positive move
toward signing and ratifying the CTBT.
At the same
time, it is also of the utmost importance that both States refrain from any act
that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty as well as take
practical steps in support of the Treaty, pending their accession to the Treaty
as non-nuclear-weapon States.
(DPRK)
I would like to emphasize
that the DPRKfs nuclear programs are a direct threat
to Japanfs national security and undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. In the plenary meeting yesterday,
I expressed our deep concern regarding the DPRKfs
decision in 2003 to withdraw from the Treaty and its statement in February 2005
regarding the manufacture and possession of nuclear weapons. These represent a
serious challenge to the global non-proliferation regime and one of the most
serious challenge to the NPT regime since 2000 Review
Conference. Therefore, 2005 NPT Review Conference should send clear message
that the international community does not accept, under any circumstances, any
development, acquisition or possession, test or transfer of nuclear weapons by
the DPRK.
I would like to
suggest that the following essential elements be incorporated in the final
product of this Review Conference.
- expresses
grave concern over the DPRKfs nuclear programs, which
undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond
- expresses deep
concern over the DPRKfs decision in January 2003 to
withdraw from the Treaty, as well as its recent statement in February regarding
the manufacture and possession of nuclear weapons
- urges the DPRK
to promptly come into compliance with the NPT, under any circumstances, not to
develop, acquire, possess, test or transfer nuclear weapons and to completely
dismantle all of its nuclear programs, including its uranium enrichment
programs, in a permanent, thorough and transparent manner subject to credible
international verification
- emphasizes the
importance of peacefully resolving this issue through diplomatic means within
the framework of the Six-Party Talks and urges the DPRK to expeditiously return
to the Six-Party Talks without preconditions
Thank you.