STATEMENT BY H.E. Mr. YOSHIKI MINE

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

 

Geneva, 28th February 2006

 

 

Mr. President,

 

            Since this is the first time I speak under your Presidency, allow me, first of all, to congratulate your assumption of the presidency at this critical juncture of starting the P6 initiative on structured debate throughout the year. This week’s session under your presidency could set the tone for the whole exercise, and let me assure you of my delegation’s full support.

 

Mr. President

 

Japan has been advocating the necessity of longer presidencies for conducting any substantial work at the CD, especially in the absence of agreement on a programme of work.   Therefore, you could imagine how much hope and expectation Japan has for the coordinated efforts of the P6 initiative. Japan believes that the result of this year’s work will naturally lead the CD back to normality. Furthermore, I am honoured to be chosen as one of the Friends of Presidents.  Let me assure you, Mr. President, that I am fully committed to undertaking this task in support of this year’s Presidents.

 

Mr. President,

 

We are facing challenges in the field of nuclear disarmament. It was regrettable that the 2005 NPT Review Conference concluded without adopting a consensus document on substantive issues, and that the Outcome Document of the 2005 World Summit found no consensus on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. As members to the CD, a body of limited membership, all the CD members must unite their efforts to improve this unfortunate situation concerning nuclear disarmament.

 

It is widely known Japan has placed its highest importance on nuclear-disarmament.  As the only country to have suffered nuclear devastation, Japan recognizes that it has a moral responsibility to the international community to actively campaign for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and has conducted vigorous diplomatic efforts to realize this aim. Our basic position on the promotion of nuclear disarmament is best represented by the resolutions submitted to the United Nations General Assembly every year since 1994.  Japan believes that an incremental and realistic approach will best serve the promotion of nuclear disarmament.

 

Last year, we redrafted our annual resolution in stronger yet more concise terms. This resolution titled “Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons” not only adopted by 166 countries, the highest number of countries since its submission, but also gained support from countries of varying positions.  This demonstrates that there already exists a common ground in the international community on specific guidance in promoting nuclear disarmament.  I would like to highlight a few of them in relation to the CD.

 

First of all, states are encouraged to take further steps leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are committed under article VI of the Treaty, including deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons.  Since the establishment of the NPT, nuclear disarmament has been a prime responsibility of the nuclear weapon states. Therefore, if the nuclear weapon states do not fulfill their commitment to advance nuclear disarmament, the credibility of the NPT regime would be seriously undermined. 

 

 In the process of working towards the elimination of nuclear weapons the application of irreversibility, verifiability, and increased transparency is crucial.  Some progress has been made in the field of nuclear disarmament. Japan highly values the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (the Moscow Treaty) and encourages both Russia and the United States to take further steps towards its full implementation, and to undertake nuclear arms reductions beyond those provided for by the Treaty.  The next NPT Review Conference in 2010 is two years before the Moscow Treaty obligations must be implemented.  Accordingly, it provides an excellent and timely opportunity for the State Parties to review the progress of nuclear disarmament under the Moscow Treaty, as well as the respective nuclear disarmament measures by the other nuclear weapons states.  Furthermore, the international community would like to see the U.S. and Russia conclude by that time a new agreement which prescribes nuclear disarmament beyond the Moscow Treaty.  I hope the other nuclear weapon states will make similar or further efforts in the reduction of nuclear arsenals. The nuclear-weapon states must revisit their commitments made at the 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conferences.

 

It is generally said that since the height of more than 60,000 nuclear warheads in the late 1980s that number has dropped significantly to the current level of about 20,000.  However, the further reduction of nuclear arsenals, leading towards their total elimination, is a clear necessity. In this regard, greater transparency in the process of nuclear disarmament process is essential.  I believe the CD offers a good opportunity for the nuclear weapon-states to inform the CD members on efforts to reduce their nuclear arsenals, including both strategic and non-strategic nuclear weapons.

           

Likewise, the nuclear-weapon states should further reduce the operational status of nuclear weapons systems in ways that promote international stability and security. In addition, diminishing the role for nuclear weapons in security policies is essential to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination.  In this regard, I appreciate that the French delegation made a presentation on its new nuclear doctrine at the CD plenary dated 7 February.  I hope other nuclear weapon states do the same.  Such initiative would help promote transparency concerning the nuclear policies of nuclear weapon states, and effective use of the CD. 

 

Second, the CD must start negotiation on FMCT as soon as possible. Since I will be touching upon the FMCT at a later date, I will not go into detail on this issue. But I would like to stress that the FMCT is the most realistic multilateral legal disarmament measure envisaged at this moment.

 

Third, in order to advance nuclear disarmament, gaining the understanding and support of future generations, as well as civil society as a whole is essential. Japan  encourages all States to undertake concrete activities to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations in the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education, and to voluntarily share information on efforts they have been undertaking to this end. 

 

Over the past 20 years, Japan has invited under the United Nations fellowship programme more than 580 various government officials to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I hope this program helped to provide an insight into the reality of nuclear weapons.  Moreover, Japan has sponsored a UN Conference on Disarmament Issues in a different local city each year since 1989, providing a valuable opportunity for disarmament experts from around the world to exchange views, and enhancing awareness of the importance of disarmament at a regional level.  Furthermore, Japan has invited disarmament and non-proliferation experts to give lectures to high school students, civic leaders, and atomic bomb survivors (hibakusha).  Sharing the information at the CD on national and international efforts on nuclear disarmament education would be appreciated.

 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to call on states not parties to the NPT to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay or conditions.  Moreover, pending their accession, I urge them to take practical steps in support of the NPT and refrain from activities that undermine its objectives.  If the international community ceases pressing the non-NPT member States to accede, it could lead to their recognition as de-facto nuclear weapon states, further weakening the NPT regime. I fully recognize that this is a Plenary of the CD and not part of the NPT process, nevertheless, the CD created the NPT, and the NPT is the cornerstone of the legal framework for promoting nuclear disarmament.

 

Likewise, all States that have not yet done so should sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at the earliest opportunity with a view to its early entry into force, and it is important to maintain existing moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty.  Japan has been repeatedly urging relevant countries to sign and ratify the CTBT and it is important for the international community to consolidate their diplomatic efforts.

 

Thank you