Statement by H.E. Mr. Masakazu HAMACHI,
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan
At the Conference on Disarmament
2 March 2016, Geneva, Switzerland
Mr. President,
At the outset,
I would like to congratulate you, Ambassador Kongstad, on your assumption of
the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament (CD). I assure you the full
support and cooperation of my delegation throughout your tenure. I also would
like to express my gratitude to Secretary General, Mr. Møller, and his team for
their continuous support of the work of the Conference.
It is well
known that Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered the atomic
bombings, has placed nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation as one of the
central pillars of its foreign policy. Japan has made its best efforts in
taking a leading role towards the realization of a world free of nuclear
weapons, including through revitalizing this important forum, the Conference on
Disarmament (CD).
Japan commends
the Presidents’ tireless efforts towards the adoption of a Programme of Work
during this year’s session. Considering that the mandate given to the CD is not
a “discussion” but a “negotiation” of a disarmament treaty, the work of the CD
should lead to the early commencement of a negotiation of a disarmament treaty.
This year, the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) in Geneva has promoted our
discussions in the CD. It is a wake-up call from the international community
that the CD should end its two-decade stalemate and fulfill its mandate by
adopting a meaningful Programme of Work. Japan spares no effort on this.
Mr. President,
Looking back
on the recent situation of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, active
discussions on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and effective
measures on nuclear disarmament were held at the 2015 NPT Review Conference and
UN General Assembly First Committee last year.
However, the
Review Conference was not able to adopt a final document. The UN General
Assembly resolutions related to the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons as
well as establishing the Open-Ended Working Group were adopted but with
dissenting votes from a group of countries. It is Japan’s concern that, as a
result of these discussions, the rift between the nuclear-weapon States and
non-nuclear-weapon States seems to have widened.
Japan has
consistently stated that to promote nuclear disarmament, practical and concrete
measures with the cooperation between nuclear-weapon States and
non-nuclear-weapon States are necessary. Japan ascribes importance to the
following measures, among others, as practical and concrete measures:
²
enhanced transparency of nuclear forces,
²
deeper reduction of all types of nuclear weapons by all States that possess
nuclear weapons and eventual multilateralization of nuclear weapons reduction
negotiations,
²
early entry into force of the CTBT,
²
early commencement and conclusion of negotiations on an FMCT, and
²
promotion of the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament
Verification (IPNDV).
With regard to
the CTBT, last September, Japan, together with Kazakhstan served as
Co-President of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the
Treaty. Furthermore, Japan hosted a Group of Eminent Persons meeting in
Hiroshima last August. Japan will continue to strongly call for the early
ratification of the CTBT by all Annex II States, and to work to facilitate the
CTBT’s early entry into force.
Furthermore,
among the four core issues of the CD, the early commencement of negotiations on
an FMCT is vital as one of the important building blocks towards the
realization of a world free of nuclear weapons. Any issue, including existing
stocks, should be dealt with within the process of negotiations.
These concrete
and practical measures are included in the UN General Assembly Resolution,
entitled “United action with renewed determination towards the total
elimination of nuclear weapons”, which was presented by Japan and was adopted
with the support of a large majority of the 166 UN Member States.
Mr. President,
It is of our view
that nuclear disarmament must be promoted based on two understandings, a clear
understanding of the humanitarian impacts of the use of nuclear weapons and the
objective assessment of the reality of the security situation.
Japan, more
than any other country, fully and directly understands the catastrophic
humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. In this regard, Japan has long
been working very hard to spread the awareness of the reality of the
devastation that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki across national borders and
generations and to deepen its understanding. Awareness of the catastrophic
humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons fundamentally underpins all nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.
In terms of
security, despite the repeated calls by the international community, the DPRK
conducted the fourth nuclear test in January and launched a ballistic missile
in February. The series of provocations in a short-range of time seriously
undermines the peace and security of Northeast Asia, as well as the
international community. They are serious violations of relevant UN Security
Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration as well
as the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks of September 2005. Furthermore,
they represent a serious challenge to the international disarmament and
non-proliferation regime based on the NPT. Thus, Japan lodges a serious protest
against the DPRK, and strongly condemns its nuclear test and missile launch.
Japan reiterates its strong demand for the DPRK to immediately and fully
implement relevant UNSCRs and other commitments. Such a severe security
environment must always be taken into consideration in promoting nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation.
Mr. President,
As a basis for
promoting above mentioned concrete and practical nuclear disarmament measures
based on two understandings, it is imperative to maintain and strengthen the
NPT regime. Despite the result of the 2015 NPT Review Conference, the NPT
remains to be the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation regime. In order to strengthen the NPT regime, it is vital to
achieve a meaningful outcome at the 2020 NPT Review Conference. Seizing every
opportunity, Japan will make the utmost efforts to this end through the 2020
NPT review process starting from next year. Japan will, as a member of the
Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), continue to strengthen
cooperation with other States and groups of States.
This year
Japan holds the presidency of the G7, and will host the Foreign Minister’s
Meeting in Hiroshima in April and Summit Meeting in Ise-Shima in May. Japan
serves as Co-Coordinator of Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT until
next year. Making best use of these opportunities, Japan will work to make
progress towards the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
The widening
difference of views negatively affects international discourse on nuclear
disarmament. The CD is no exception. The longer the stalemate of the CD
continues, the more its raison d’etre
will be questioned.
Japan urges
the CD to achieve a meaningful decision on a Programme of Work that will lead
to early commencement of negotiations.
Thank you, Mr. President.
(end)