STATEMENT BY MR. YUKIYA　AMANO

MINISTER

DELEGATION OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

Geneva, 14 June 1995

　

　

Mr. President,

　

　 At the outset, let me congratulate you on your assumption of the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. I am confident that your long experience as an able diplomat will contribute to solve the outstanding issues during the remaining period of the 2nd session of the Conference on Disarmament of 1995.

　

Mr. President,

　

　 It was with extreme disappointment that Japan learned that France had decided to resume her nuclear testing.

　

　 It is, indeed, Japan's firm belief that nuclear testing should not be conducted.

　

　 It is extremely regrettable that France decided to resume the nuclear testing, while it was agreed that the nuclear weapon States should exercise "utmost restraints" on the nuclear testing at the NPT Review and Extension Conference which was held from April to May 1995 in New York.

　

　 Mr. Yohei Kono, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, stated in his conversation with Mr. Herve de Charrette, Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, that the decision taken by France had betrayed the confidence that non-nuclear weapon countries had on the commitment by the nuclear weapon countries.

　

　 Japan would like to reiterate her position that the moratorium on nuclear testing should be maintained by the nuclear weapon States, including France.