(98.01.22)林大使ＣＤ一般演説

　 At the outset, please allow me to congratulate you, Ambassador Norberg, on your assumption of the high post of the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at this important juncture. It is said that the early stage of the Conference's annual session is always difficult. It may be true especially this year. I am fully confident, however, that, under your wise guidance based on your long and rich experience here, the Conference will overcome difficulties and find its way to meet the tasks entrusted by the international community. I assure you of my delegation's full support and cooperation as you lead the work of the Conference. Our greetings are also extended to the Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Vladimir Petrovsky, and to the Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, Mr. Abdelkader Bensmail.

　 Since this is my very first time to take the floor as the representative of Japan to this distinguished Conference, I would like to express my personal gratification to be here and to work with such admirable diplomats for such an important cause, that is to say, the advancement of global disarmament. Our predecessors said that the CD is the best club in town. It has been the case to date, and hopefully it will continue to be so. However, as those predecessors also said, the fame of the Conference does not depend on how much money we spend in the restaurants around here, but it depends on what the Conference does as the sole multilateral negotiating body in the field of disarmament. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make this Conference what we can be proud of not only in this town of Geneva, but also in the whole international society.

　 The most important recipe to maintain the credit of this Conference would be to avoid the repetition of what happened last year. Each delegation needs to address itself to the Conference with fresh spirit of cooperation. In this context, it is indeed an encouraging sign that we agreed on the Conference's agenda at the outset of annual session this year. Taking advantage of this good and smooth start, we must proceed to substantive works as soon as possible.

　 Nuclear disarmament is Japan's invariable priority in disarmament. Let me recall that my delegation put forward a proposal last year to appoint a special coordinator on nuclear disarmament in order to identify the issues which could be negotiated in the Conference. We do not stick to a specific format how we pursue nuclear disarmament in the CD. We are open to a special coordinator, an ad hoc committee or any other mechanisms, but it is Japan's firm belief that the CD itself should make its own effort to identify possible items in the field of nuclear disarmament to be negotiated in the Conference. In this respect, my delegation welcomes very much the concrete proposal made by South Africa for the establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament. It is now the time for us to seriously consider the possible way in which the nuclear disarmament is most adequately dealt with in the CD. In the meantime, it would be useful if nuclear weapon states inform the Conference of the progress or efforts made in the process of nuclear disarmament. My delegation also notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the fissile materials derived from the process of the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, as reflected in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 52/38K.

　 There are a number of important measures in nuclear disarmament. A cut-off treaty, however, is the only one item already identified and agreed as a subject for negotiations in the CD. That is why Japan continues to hold the view that an FMCT is the next practical item for negotiations after the CTBT in the context of nuclear disarmament. That is why Japan supports the reestablishment of an Ad Hoc Committee based on so-called Shannon Mandate of 1995. We sincerely hope that our wish will come true this year thanks to the spirit of cooperation in the Conference.

　 If it will facilitate the discussions on this issue to reach an agreement, my delegation is delightful to make a contribution. If appropriate, we would propose to put an FMCT more in the context of nuclear disarmament but at the same time without being bound by the so-called time bound framework, or in case the agreement cannot be reached on commencing the negotiations, we would suggest starting some discussions on the technical aspects of a treaty together with experts. My delegation is now examining the desirability of concrete proposals and we would table them when it is appropriate to do so.

　 Let me now touch upon the issue of anti-personnel landmines. When Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Keizo Obuchi signed the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction" at Ottawa on December 3rd last year, he at the same time pointed out the need for a comprehensive approach under the banner of "Zero Victim Program" because "Zero Victim" must be our real goal.

　 Japan will redouble its efforts toward this goal. On a humanitarian side, Japan has decided to extend 10 billion yen (approximately 80 million dollars) over five years for the implementation of the so-called Tokyo Guidelines adopted at the Tokyo Conference last March, which cover mine clearance, development of technologies for mine detection and removal, and assistance to surviving victims.

　 In the field of regulation of landmines, Foreign Minister Obuchi emphasized at Ottawa the need to start treaty negotiations as early as possible at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, if we are to aim at a universal and effective banning of landmines. Japan is flexible as to whether we pursue an immediate establishment of an ad hoc committee or we prepare negotiating mandate through the works under a special coordinator, but Japan strongly believes that it is indispensable in order to achieve universal elimination of anti-personnel landmines that we negotiate a ban on APLs with the participation of main producers and users which remain outside of the Ottawa Treaty. The negotiations in the CD are exactly the steps for this purpose of universal ban on APLs and thus the endeavors toward the goal of "Zero Victim." In other words, the works in the CD can be understood as the efforts to realize the objective of the elimination of anti-personnel landmines, the objective which the Ottawa Treaty itself aspires for. My delegation will continue to appeal to the Conference to start negotiations on APLs as soon as possible.

　 The Conference on Disarmament is now suffering a lot of criticisms. Some even express doubt about the significance of the existence of this Conference itself. Japan, however, continues to regard the CD as one of the most important fora in the field of disarmament. If the CD is in the blues, Japan would make all the more efforts to cheer it up. Today, I have the pleasure to join so many colleagues in hoping for the revitalization of this Conference.