(97.01.30)黒河内大使ＣＤ（一般）

　 Last year the international community made significant progress in disarmament, both of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. The most notable, of course, is the adoption, after two and a half years of negotiations in the CD, of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty at the fiftieth session of the United Nations General Assembly with an overwhelming majority of support. In addition, among other important developments, I would like to point out the strengthening of Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and the ratification by the sixty-fifth state enabling the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

　 Nevertheless, we still have tremendous tasks before us and we must continue to move forward the disarmament process steadily in 1997. One important task is the preparation for the implementation of the CTBT, particularly, the successful start of the work of the Preparatory Commission and the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBT Organization. It is also essential for all states which have not yet done so to sign and ratify the CTBT in order to ensure its universality and entry into force of the treaty without delay. Japan, for its part, is currently making the necessary preparations for its ratification.

　 With regard to nuclear disarmament, while the CTBT is a historic milestone on the road to a world free of nuclear weapons, we cannot afford to be complacent about this achievement and stop our efforts there. It is indispensable that we take a further step to promote nuclear disarmament, following the indefinite extension of the NPT and the adoption of the CTBT. In this regard, the commencement of the strengthened NPT review process in April has great significance.

　 While I see no need to explain in detail Japan's well-known position as a strong advocate of disarmament, I would like to take this opportunity to elaborate Japan's views with regard to the tasks of the CD at this critical juncture, namely, the CD agenda and its program of work in 1997.

　 Needless to say, the nuclear issue is a matter of major concern in the CD and delegations have expressed a variety of views reflecting different national positions. However, if I may make a simplified observation, there seems to be two different approaches on how to discuss this issue in the CD. One could be called a "blue print approach," which calls upon, as the first step, an unequivocal commitment by nuclear-weapon States to eliminate their nuclear arsenals within a prescribed period, and then starts to work on the steps required for its achievement. The other approach might be called an "incremental approach," which tries to steadily accumulate realistic disarmament measures, step by step, with the ultimate goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

　 In Japan's view, the possibility to achieve a concrete result lies only in the second approach. We must, taking into consideration the realities of the international security environment, agree on those specific measures which the entire international community, including the nuclear-weapon States, can support. This view was reiterated most recently by Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda at the Seminar on "Nuclear Disarmament after the Indefinite Extension of the NPT" held in December last year m Kyoto. Based on this belief, for three years in succession, Japan took the initiative at the United Nations General Assembly for the adoption of the resolution entitled "Nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons." As Foreign Minister Ikeda stated at the aforementioned seminar, the overwhelming majority of support that this resolution received attests to the widespread acceptance that Japan's basic approach enjoys in the international community.

　 At this point, I would like to stress that we must renounce the so-called linkage strategy. This approach, in which no agreement is possible on any item unless the CD agrees on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on Nuclear Disarmament within a time-bound framework, is certainly a recipe for blocking any kind of progress in nuclear disarmament in the CD or for that matter, practically any work in the CD. We should take whatever steps possible, even if small, so that further progress may be built upon what is achieved. By the same token, although disarmament in the field of conventional weapons is certainly very important, further negotiations on nuclear disarmament must not be discouraged by the lagging progress of conventional weapons disarmament.

　 Concerning nuclear disarmament, we believe that a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty is, without doubt, a priority in the CD. As paragraph four of the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament specifies, we should immediately start negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. The three items listed in paragraph four under the title of "nuclear disarmament" in the NPT Principles and Objectives are the central issues not only in terms of nuclear disarmament but also in terms of nuclear non-proliferation, that is to say, the maintenance of the credibility of the NPT system.

　 Now that the CTBT has been adopted, the CD, as the sole multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, should continue to play its role to further enhance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. It is still vivid in my memory that, on March 23, 1995, I myself, as the then President of the CD, hit the gavel to mark the consensus decision to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Japan strongly appeals to all CD members to establish an Ad Hoc Committee and begin negotiations on a Cut-off Treaty immediately.

　 Having said that, I would like to make one more point clear. We believe that the CD should not limit its discussions on the nuclear issue to a Cut-off Treaty alone. We should make our best efforts to explore what role the CD could play for the promotion of nuclear disarmament. In this context, I would like to suggest that we consider the possibility of establishing some kind of forum, not necessarily an Ad Hoc Committee, in the CD to exchange views from a wider perspective on how we can best advance nuclear disarmament in the future.

　 The negotiations on actual reduction of nuclear weapons have to be conducted between or among the nuclear-weapon States. As paragraph four of the NPT Principles and Objectives states, the nuclear-weapon States should pursue the reduction of nuclear weapons with determination. They must move it forward without cease.

　 It should not be forgotten, however, that the NPT article six obliges each of the State Parties to the Treaty, not only the nuclear-weapon States, to pursue negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament.

　 Moreover, with their devastating power, nuclear weapons cause catastrophic destruction; they can in an instant take a tremendous toll in human life and destroy the basic infrastructure of a society. In addition, due to atomic radiation, nuclear weapons can also cause the victims who survive an attack itself indescribable suffering which may continue until their death. Since the effects of nuclear war can be global, the whole international community cannot remain indifferent to nuclear disarmament. Rather, it has a legitimate right to be concerned.

　 Allow me also to say a few words as regards conventional weapons. The first issue I would like to refer to is Anti-Personnel Landmines, which the former United Nations Secretary General called "weapons of mass destruction in slow motion." In the view of my government, it is important to take measures in the following four areas : first, strengthening of international restrictions on landmines; second, cooperation for mine clearance activities by the United Nations and other organizations; third, development of technologies for mine detection and clearance; and fourth, assistance for the rehabilitation of victims.

　 With regard to the last three points, Japan is preparing to convene an international conference at the senior official level in Tokyo in this coming March. We hope that this conference will make a significant contribution to the strengthening of international efforts in these areas.

　 Regarding the first point, restrictions, Japan supports international efforts toward a global ban on anti-personnel landmines, as Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto announced at the G7 Summit in Lyon last June. Furthermore, we cosponsored the UNGA resolution 5l/45S, which calls for an international agreement to ban APLs.

　 As for the negotiating forum, Japan supports the CD because we attach great importance to the realization of "a global and effective" total ban on APLs. The CD, which is the sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament with rich experiences and expertise, and which has the participation of key countries in the landmine issue, could provide the most appropriate forum for this goal. In addition, it is important for the credibility and function of the CD itself to take up this issue which concerns all humanity. In this context, we warmly welcome the recent announcement made by the United States.

　 We are aware, however, that achieving a comprehensive ban on APLs in the near future is not an easy task. If it turns out to be very difficult to reach an agreement in the CD to start negotiations on total ban, it might be more practical, as suggested by the Ambassador of France last week, that we begin with one of the components of a comprehensive ban as a part of phased approach. For example, we think that the commencement of negotiations focusing on the total ban on export of landmines would be a good starting point. According to a UNIDIR Newsletter, virtually all of the land mines in most of the worst affected nations were provided by foreign sources.

　 At the same time, we should take advantage of every possible approach to deal with the land mine problem. In this connection, the so-called "Ottawa Process" which started at the Ottawa Conference last year is an important initiative to accelerate political momentum toward a total ban on APLs. While we support having negotiations for total ban in the CD, we welcome and support Canada's initiative because we regard the Ottawa Process and negotiations in the CD as complementary and not mutually exclusive approaches towards our common goal.

　 As regards the CCW, the government of Japan is now making its best efforts to ratify the new Protocol II of the CCW at the earliest possible date. We hope that the Diet will approve the ratification during its current session.

　 The second issue I would like to refer to is Transparency in Armaments, in particular the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Japan attaches great importance to the U.N. Arms Register as a measure to enhance confidence-building and security among countries concerned. While this system has contributed significantly to the enhancement of transparency in armaments, it should, we believe, be even further developed and strengthened. Here, let me recall the United Nations General Assembly resolution 49/75C, which requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, with a view to a decision at its fifty-second session of UNGA. As it is clear from this, the international community has entrusted the CD to conduct its work on the Arms Register system this year.

　 Regarding "Regional aspects of conventional arms regulation and disarmament" in the suggested draft provisional agenda/work program presented by the President, we would like to see some clarification regarding, for example, how we should take into account the specific security environments of each region, and how we should consider nuclear disarmament in each region in negotiations of conventional weapons disarmament.

　 In discussing the CD agenda, I would be remiss if I did not express my deep appreciation for your untiring efforts to discharge your challenging task at this difficult time. I would also like to congratulate you on your important initiative to formulate a draft provisional agenda/work program, which can serve as a good basis for possible agreement. I hope that your efforts will prove to be fruitful so that we have an agreed agenda and embark on a concrete program of work as soon as possible.

　 Last but not least, concerning the important question of further expansion of membership, Japan also supports the President's efforts to appoint a special coordinator with a broad mandate and we hold high hopes that the special coordinator will bring about a solution which is satisfactory to all.