Mr.
Chairman,
At
the outset, please allow me to refer to an honor for Japan that Ambassador
Yukiya Amano has been elected as the chair of the first Preparatory Committee
(PrepCom) of the 2010 NPT review process. I would like to express my heartfelt
thanks to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for their support.
I am also delighted to be here in Vienna, the home of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
On
a sadder note though, I would like to express my profound sorrow and strong
outrage at the tragic murder on 18 April of Mr. Iccho Ito, the Mayor of
Nagasaki. On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to
express our sincere gratitude for the moment of silence observed by all the
participants. The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity to
pay its deepest respect to the tireless activities of Mayor Ito towards the
total elimination of nuclear weapons, and we will make further efforts to
realize the common wishes of the Japanese people for a peaceful and safe nuclear-weapon-free
world.
Mr.
Chairman,
From
the viewpoint of the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings, as well as
to improve the security environment, Japan places immense importance on
maintaining and strengthening the NPT, which is the cornerstone of the nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Presently the NPT regime faces a
plethora of serious challenges, but the NPT States Parties should rather take
these challenges as a good opportunity to concentrate their endeavors to
further strengthen the NPT regime.
This
Preparatory Committee marks the beginning of a new review process in the wake
of the 2005 NPT Review Conference, which failed to achieve any substantive
outcome. Through constructive discussions on the three pillars of the NPT -
nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear
energy - during this PrepCom we must prove to the international community that
the review process is fulfilling its key responsibilities of addressing the
current challenges and thus maintain confidence in the NPT.?@ With the NPT
facing serious challenges, we are now at the starting point towards the 2010
Review Conference. We should not repeat what happened at the 2005 Review
Conference when we failed to agree on substantive issues while spending too
much time on the procedural matters. Japan strongly urges all States Parties to
show their flexibility by adopting the draft agenda proposed by the Chairman in
order to make the first step towards a successful 2010 Review Conference.
Mr.
Chairman,
In
this PrepCom, Japan will be taking up in particular the following items.
Advancing
nuclear disarmament together with nuclear non-proliferation bolsters faith in
the fundamental bargain that underpins the NPT, and leads to the strengthening
of the NPT regime. Nuclear disarmament must be promoted persistently while
respecting to the fullest possible extent the "Principles and
Objectives" of 1995 and the outcome of 2000 including the 13 practical
steps. The pressing issues in nuclear disarmament are the early entry into
force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the immediate
commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off
treaty (FMCT). The Six Presidents' proposal, which is currently before the
Conference on Disarmament (CD), is a realistic compromise that would enable the
CD to resume work in its primary role, including negotiations on an FMCT. Japan
strongly urges the CD Member States to manifest the necessary flexibility to
adopt the Six Presidents' proposal. Additionally, it is important that the
nuclear-weapon States implement deeper reductions in all types of nuclear
weapons, including beyond those required of the United States and the Russian
Federation in the Moscow Treaty, and we urge all nuclear-weapon States to
provide transparent accounts of their nuclear disarmament efforts.
The
DPRK and Iranian nuclear issues represent serious challenges to the
international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The unanimous adoption of
strong United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning these two cases
demonstrates the international community's strong resolve. Japan welcomes such
unified international responses and calls upon all UN Member States to
implement these relevant resolutions.
Japan
once again condemns the nuclear test by the DPRK in October last year. The
DPRK's nuclear test, combined with its buildup of ballistic missile
capabilities, poses a significant threat to the peace and security not only of
Japan but also in East Asia and the entire international community, and thus a
major challenge to the NPT regime. The DPRK's nuclear development cannot be
possibly tolerated. We strongly urge the DPRK to fulfill its obligations under
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 and to take concrete steps
toward denuclearization. Japan will continue to work towards a peaceful and
diplomatic solution to the DPRK nuclear issue through the Six Party Talks.
In
relation to Iran, Japan regrets that, despite repeated calls from the
international community, Iran has not complied with the requirements of the UN
Security Council resolutions, which include suspending all enrichment-related
and reprocessing activities and work on all heavy water-related projects. Japan
strongly hopes for a negotiated peaceful solution to this issue. To this end,
Japan will continue to take every opportunity to urge Iran, based on the
"suspension for suspension" proposal of the EU3+3, to suspend its
enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and then to return swiftly to
the negotiation process.
For
the purpose of achieving the universality of the NPT, Japan reiterates its
calls for India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as
non-nuclear-weapon States. In this connection, we would like to point out once
again the importance of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.
Mr.
Chairman,
Implementation
of the nuclear non-proliferation obligations set out in the NPT must be ensured
through IAEA safeguards. For the IAEA to perform sufficiently its vital role
and to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, it is necessary to
further universalize the IAEA Additional Protocol. The number of States
adhering to the Additional Protocol currently stands at 78, which is less than
half the membership of the NPT. We call upon all countries that have yet to
conclude an additional protocol to do so at the earliest possible time. Japan
for its part has been working hard towards the conclusion of additional
protocols by those countries, in particular in Asia, and intends to continue
these efforts.
In recent
years, expanding global energy demand and global warming has brought about a
reexamination of the role of nuclear energy, and internationally the promotion
of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is gaining momentum.
Ensuring
nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear safety and nuclear security is indispensable
prerequisite to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including nuclear power
generation. Ensuring these three areas, especially for the introduction of
nuclear power generation, is a critical issue not only for the countries
introducing nuclear power but also for the countries providing assistance,
neighboring countries and by extension the whole international community. The
activities of the IAEA are crucial for dealing with this issue and Japan is committed
to continuing its support for the IAEA.
Enhancing
nuclear security, in particular ensuring the prevention of nuclear material
proliferation to non-state-actors such as terrorists, is a new issue that
international society must tackle. In this regard, Japan has been making
efforts to enhance nuclear security through its contributions to the IAEA
Nuclear Security Fund, and in March this year, approximately $125,000 U.S.
dollars was additionally contributed to this Fund. It is Japan's intention to carry
on such support.
We
are faced with the challenging task of advancing the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy while ensuring nuclear non-proliferation. Japan welcomes the various
proposals put forward, including its own for an "IAEA Standby Arrangements
System for the Assurance of Nuclear Fuel Supply" to this end. Japan will
continue to participate actively in the international discussions on this issue
at the IAEA and other fora.
Mr.
Chairman,
Withdrawal
from the NPT is a problem that can have serious ramifications for international
peace and security. Therefore, more in-depth deliberations should take place
based on the valuable discussions that occurred at the 2005 NPT Review
Conference.
Government
officials and experts like ourselves are not the only people promoting
disarmament and non-proliferation. It is important for the general public to
pass on to the next generation its own strong aspirations for peace, experiences
and wisdom. In this connection Japan has been emphasizing the importance of
disarmament and non-proliferation education. As a new endeavor by Japan, we
will hold a Debating Cup on disarmament and non-proliferation between Japanese
students and students from around the world. We also intend to utilize
"manga", a part of Japanese pop-culture, to spread information on
disarmament and non-proliferation.
Mr.
Chairman,
Japan
has submitted to this Preparatory Committee a comprehensive working paper,
which covers the important points I have just raised, and a disarmament and
non-proliferation education working paper. Japan is committed to participating
actively in the deliberations of each cluster. We strongly desire that through
frank discussions among the NPT States Parties on strengthening the Treaty the
process for the 2010 NPT Review Conference will smoothly start.
Thank
you for your attention.