Statement by H.E. Mr. Akio Suda

Ambassador of Japan

Third Session of the Preparatory Committee

for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty

on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

- Specific Issue: -

Regional Issues

New York, 8 May 2009

Mr. Chairman,

Japan believes that greater emphasis should be placed on the role of the NPT in strengthening regional security. When we discuss the effective implementation, compliance and universality of the NPT, we should always bear in mind significant challenges that can arise in certain regions.

(DPRK)

Mr. Chairman,

The DPRK’s nuclear issue poses a grave challenge to the NPT regime. The abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs by the DPRK is essential for the peace and security of not only Northeast Asia, but also the entire world.

The latest DPRK’s missile launch, in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, is a serious challenge to the peace and security of the international community, and it must never be condoned from the viewpoint of non-proliferation as well. In response to this provocative act, the United Nations Security Council issued the Presidential Statement to condemn the launch by the DPRK, stating that the launch was in contravention of Security Council Resolution 1718. In spite of the united message from the international community, the DPRK recently mentioned the possibility of another nuclear test, launches of ICBMs and production of nuclear fuel for a LWR power plant to be constructed.

Japan urges the DPRK, once again, to fully comply with the obligations imposed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution, inter alia, to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes as well as all other exisiting weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, and to act strictly in accordance with the obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, without further delay.

The DPRK should fully implement its commitments and should engage constructively in the Six-Party Talks to realize the verifiable abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes, as agreed in the Joint Statement in September 2005. Japan will continue to collaborate with other partners of the Six-Party Talks towards the full implementation of the Joint Statement as a whole.

(Iran)

Mr. Chairman,

Iran continues to conduct enrichment-related activities, to work on heavy water related projects, and to suspend implementation of the Additional Protocol, and has yet to ratify the Protocol despite UN Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1835. This situation causes serious concern among the international community.

No country is denying Iran the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Iran needs to restore the international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

This issue of Iran should be resolved peacefully through negotiations. Japan supports and cooperates with the diplomatic efforts made by the States concerned including the EU3+3. In this regard, we welcome the US Government’s announcement on its readiness for direct engagement with Iran. Japan urges Iran to respond to the requests of the international community positively, to comply with all relevant resolutions and to return to the negotiation process seizing the current opportunity. Japan is taking every opportunity to do so. Foreign Minister Nakasone, who held a useful dialogue with President Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Mottaki during his visit to Iran last weekend, communicated our concern and underlined the importance of taking necessary steps to restore the confidence of the international community.

(Middle East)

Mr. Chairman,

The lack of progress in the establishment of a WMD free zone in Middle East poses a serious problem for the credibility of the NPT. Japan fully supports 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.

The establishment of such a WMD free zone in the Middle East will ultimately require the adherence by all States in the region to the relevant treaties, including the NPT, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). In particular, the adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by all States in the region would greatly contribute to achieving this goal. Japan has been taking part in international efforts to encourage all States concerned to join these legal instruments.

In this context, Japan has been urging Israel to accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State on such occasions as ministerial visits and other bilateral talks. We have also encouraged Israel to join other disarmament and non-proliferation regimes. At the same time, we urge other Middle Eastern countries to participate in all disarmament and non-proliferation regimes including the CTBT, the BWC, and the CWC in order to foster an environment conducive to the creation of a WMD free zone in the region.

(South Asia)　

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to South Asia, Japan continues to urge India and Pakistan to accede to the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without condition. Japan and India share the goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons. In this context, we continue to urge India to maintain its commitment to the moratorium on nuclear tests, and to sign and ratify the CTBT. We urge Pakistan too to continue the moratorium on nuclear tests, to sign and ratify the CTBT, and to strengthen its efforts in export control. Japan encourages both States to declare a moratorium on the production of fissile material for any nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

Thank you very much.