STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. KUNIKO INOGUCHI

AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN

TO THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

THE SECOND SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE

FOR THE 2005 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE TREATY

ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

29 April 2003, Geneva

Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished delegates,

At the outset, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you, Ambassador Laszlo Molnar, on your assumption of the chairmanship of this second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference of the NPT. I am fully confident that this session will be fruitful under your leadership and I assure you of my delegation’s full support throughout the session.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, and the members of his department, for the diligent work they have put into the preparation of this Preparatory Committee.

1. The role of the NPT and the importance of multilateral disarmament and the non-proliferation regime)

Mr. Chairman,

The NPT is a treaty on both nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. These two complementary aspects are closely interlinked, and therefore, need to be promoted simultaneously.

With respect to its nuclear non-proliferation aspect, the treaty has been greatly reinforced with the achievement of its near-universality, the 1995 decision on its indefinite extension, and the introduction of the strengthened IAEA safeguards system, including the Additional Protocol, thus contributing greatly to the enhancement of international security. Moreover, the terrible events of 11 September two years ago have further highlighted the NPT’s role in preventing nuclear terrorism.

As for its nuclear disarmament aspect, the NPT obligates nuclear-weapon States to pursue nuclear disarmament. The total elimination of their nuclear weapons will be achieved upon the full realization of article �Y. The 1995 decision on “Principles and Objectives” and the Final Document of the 2000 Conference reaffirm this objective.

All State parties must remain fully convinced that the NPT is a key instrument in realizing global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States must remain fully committed to their obligations and commitments under the Treaty.

It is regrettable to note that weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including nuclear weapons, still exist, and regional conflicts and localized wars continue to cause massive carnage and suffering in many parts of the world. The proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery increases the danger of these conflicts as well as heightening the threat of terrorism.

Preventing and curbing the proliferation of WMD is thus a matter of urgency. This goal should be pursued through multi-layered and mutually complementary efforts, encompassing unilateral, bilateral, regional, and multilateral approaches. The multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation regimes, in particular, should continue to play a key role in improving the international security environment, and the NPT, the main pillar of these regimes, should be further strengthened.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate Japan’s stance on its non-nuclear policy. Japan, being the only country to have ever experienced nuclear devastation, has no intent to possess nuclear weapons and firmly maintains the so-called “Three Non-Nuclear Principles”?the policy of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. Successive Cabinets, including that of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, have repeatedly articulated these principles, and Japan continues to uphold this position.

Mr. Chairman,

As we recall, the first session of the Preparatory Committee was held in a rather drastically changing international political and strategic environment, and the major task before us at that time was to ensure a smooth start to the new NPT review cycle. The session consequently produced the Chairman’s factual summary and made a successful first step toward the 2005 Review Conference.

This second session of the Preparatory Committee is being held at a time of great challenge to the NPT, in a continuing adverse international security environment. It should thus address, in a most effective and balanced manner, both nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues, as well as peaceful uses of nuclear energy, particularly with respect to the control of nuclear material, with a view to maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime.

This Preparatory Committee, as in the case of the first session, is to consider “specific matters of substance relating to the implementation of the Treaty” and the contents of three collateral documents agreed upon in 1995, as well as “the outcomes of subsequent Review Conferences, including developments affecting the operation and purpose of the Treaty.” In other words, this session, unlike the third session which will be tasked to produce a consensus report containing recommendations to the 2005 Review Conference, is the last of the two sessions where negotiation on agreed recommendations is not required, thus providing us with the last opportunity for some years where States parties will be able to engage in free, wide-ranging and interactive discussions.

I hope that open and constructive exchanges of views will take place, based on last session’s deliberations and national reports, as well as the 1995 decisions on “Principles and Objectives” and the Final Document of the 2000 Conference, and that such exchanges will facilitate the implementation of the Treaty as we progress toward the 2005 Review Conference.

Mr. Chairman,

Japan welcomes the accession by the Republic of Cuba to the NPT. Cuba’s accession has further strengthened the NPT regime and this regime has achieved near universality. Regrettably, however, India, Israel and Pakistan still remain non-member States. We must continue to urge those states that have not yet done so to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear weapon States without delay. In this connection, I would like to inform you with great pleasure that in response to Japan’s request for their early accession to the NPT, Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor Leste advised us last week that preparation is well under way and that it will join the NPT in due time.

Multilateral disarmament treaties, such as the NPT, represent the fruit of efforts which we have made to provide peace and stability for all of humankind. Coming from the only nuclear weapon affected country, it is my wish that we be able to work together peacefully to overcome problems associated with NPT non-compliance, and to protect, preserve and strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, not only for our own generation, but also for the generations to come.

Japan is deeply concerned about the steps taken by North Korea in this regard. I firmly believe that multilateralism does matter, and that we all share the view that the erosion of the credibility of multilateral disarmament treaties is not in anyone’s interest.

As the international community is confronted with multiple uncertainties and difficulties concerning security matters, Japan strongly calls upon North Korea to show its political will to cooperate with the international community in reducing such uncertainties and in increasing mutual confidence by taking concrete actions. Japan cannot accept, by any means, any development, transfer or possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea. Japan strongly urges North Korea to comply with all its obligations under the NPT and consequently obligations under the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, to refreeze its nuclear related facilities and to take prompt action to dismantle its whole nuclear weapons program in a verifiable and irreversible manner.

I welcome efforts made by all countries concerned for the trilateral meeting in Beijing including the pivotal role played by China. Japan is now carefully studying the result of the meeting. Japan believes that this issue should continue to be dealt with multilaterally with the early participation of the concerned countries including Japan and the Republic of Korea. I believe that a strong common interest exists, among all those concerned, in urging North Korea to take necessary action to de-escalate and improve the situation, and to engage in talks with countries concerned in a responsible, forthcoming and constructive manner. International community should endeavour to resolve this problem peacefully so that we are able to relate to our children how our political will and concerted efforts are able to make a profound difference in the security environments of the mankind in the 21^st century.

Mr. Chairman,

Issues related to the suspicion of WMD development in Iraq have entered into a new phase. Japan hopes that reconstruction work will proceed smoothly in Iraq and that regional stability will be restored as soon as possible. We urge Iraq to observe obligations under the disarmament regimes, including the NPT.

As Japan is the only country to have experienced the horrific destruction of nuclear bombs, it is the desire of the people and the government of Japan to realize at the earliest possible date a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons. In order to achieve this goal, Japan urges States parties, particularly nuclear-weapon States, to strive faithfully to make progress in implementing specific nuclear disarmament measures, including “the thirteen steps” in the Final Document of the 2000 Conference, which provide a constructive roadmap for nuclear disarmament.

Japan has submitted a resolution entitled “A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons” at each session of the General Assembly since 2000. These resolutions identify concrete steps toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons, based on 2000 Review Conference agreements, and also reflect the present situation of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. These resolutions strongly appeal to the international community for the necessity of progress in nuclear disarmament.

In the twelfth of “the thirteen steps,” States parties are requested to submit regular reports on their implementation of Article �Y. This reporting is an effective means to facilitate the implementation of specific nuclear disarmament measures. Japan will submit its report at this session of the Preparatory Committee, and looks forward to all States parties, particularly nuclear-weapon States, putting forward reports on their efforts to implement “the thirteen steps,” as well as on specific measures they intend to take in the future.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to nuclear disarmament, I would like to touch upon the following specific issues.

During the first session of the Preparatory Committee, States parties welcomed continuing bilateral negotiations between the United States and the Russian Federation on strategic nuclear arms reductions, and many expressed hope that such efforts would result in a legally binding instrument. The signing of the Russian-US Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reduction (the Moscow Treaty) demonstrates efforts made by both states to strive towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Japan welcomes US ratification of the Treaty and continuing efforts by Russia to follow suit, and hopes for its early entry into force and steady implementation.

Other nuclear-weapon States must also make progress in their commitment to nuclear disarmament. We urge all nuclear-weapon States to engage in the process of eliminating nuclear weapons and to further reduce their nuclear arsenals, unilaterally or through negotiations. In this connection, I would like to note that the “G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction,” agreed upon at the G8 Kananaskis Summit, is of historic significance in terms of promoting both practical nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Japan has been providing support to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus under this Global Partnership for various projects related to the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to multilateral nuclear arms control and disarmament, it is regrettable to note that there has been very little progress made.

I would like to stress that the CTBT will not only contribute to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, but also to constraining the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons. The CTBT, like the IAEA safeguards, is one of the major pillars of the NPT regime as well as a realistic and concrete instrument for the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world. It is truly regrettable that the CTBT has not yet come into force, more than six years after its adoption in 1996, leaving the future of nuclear disarmament in a state of uncertainty.

Early entry into force of the CTBT must be achieved, and Japan has been making various efforts in this regard. Apart from its continuous effort to urge those states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the CTBT, Japan, together with Australia and the Netherlands, held the “Friends of the CTBT Foreign Ministers’ Meeting” last September, to this aim. Japan has also launched the CTBT National Operation System and has begun to construct domestic monitoring facilities. We strongly hope that many more states will sign and ratify the CTBT between now and the next Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT, scheduled in September this year. All States must be reminded that pending the entry into force of the CTBT, the moratoria on nuclear test explosions should continue to be observed by all States concerned.

The Conference on Disarmament (CD) must resolve the deadlock on its program of work. It is extremely disappointing that the CD has neither commenced negotiations on a treaty to ban the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons nor established an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament. Japan gives high priority to an early agreement on a programme of work and the commencement of FMCT negotiations. In this connection, Japan, jointly with Australia and the UNIDIR, hosted a workshop last March in order to give momentum to FMCT negotiations. It is high time for CD member States to overcome differences relating to its mandates and resume substantive work toward the common objective of strengthening international security through this multilateral disarmament regime.

Mr. Chairman,

Further reductions in non-strategic nuclear weapons are also important in order to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We call upon all States parties in possession of non-strategic nuclear weapons to further reduce these weapons in a transparent manner, based on the Final Document of the 2000 Conference. In addition, we hope to receive information on the implementation of the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives of 1991 and 1992 on reducing non-strategic nuclear weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to emphasise that the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons should be kept as high as possible. In this vein, we believe that the international community should be well informed and ever conscious of the horrendous and long-lasting consequences of the use of nuclear weapons.

Japan attaches great importance to maintaining the reliability and effectiveness of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and in particular to ensuring full implementation of IAEA safeguards as well as strengthening the ability to detect non-reported nuclear activity.

Universalization of the Additional Protocol is also important in order to strengthen IAEA safeguards. Japan hosted the International Conference on Wider Adherence to Strengthened IAEA Safeguards in December last year in Tokyo.

Japan believes that the more advanced nuclear technology a State has, the more responsible it should be for its peaceful use of nuclear energy, including ensuring transparency. Japan calls upon these countries, particularly countries with advanced nuclear fuel cycle technology, to discharge their responsibility by effectuating the prompt conclusion of the Additional Protocol.

7. Nuclear terrorism)

Mr. Chaiman,

Through a series of terrorist events since 11 September 2001, the international community has renewed its awareness of the real and imminent threat of the acquisition of nuclear material and nuclear weapons by terrorists. In order to prevent nuclear terrorism, the international community must cooperate at national, regional and international levels.

Japan calls upon all States to take measures of the highest possible level to ensure that WMD and their means of production do not fall into the hands of terrorists. Furthermore, Japan appeals to States to take all necessary national and international measures to ensure the safe and secure management of radioactive sources in order to avert nuclear terrorist acts.

Japan strongly supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among States of regions concerned and on the condition that the establishment of such zones would contribute to regional stability and security. It is encouraging that Central Asian countries have been engaged in consultations in order to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region, which would contribute to regional security and the prevention of nuclear terrorism. We hope that the outcome of the P5-C5 Consultative Meeting will meet the satisfaction of countries concerned and become another achievement in the area of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Japan, through the United Nations, has been supporting such efforts.

The steady use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is vital, not only to secure a stable energy supply, but also to preserve the global environment. Japan, as a State party to the NPT, has enjoyed and promoted the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan is also making positive contributions towards promoting international cooperation in the area of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, based on Article IV of the NPT.

Mr. Chairman,

In order to advance disarmament and non-proliferation, it is essential to gain the understanding and support of young people and of civil society as a whole. Well-balanced disarmament and non-proliferation education is important in this respect. Japan welcomes the report entitled “United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,” submitted by the Group of Governmental Experts in July last year, which contains practical recommendations on the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training. Japan has initiated various programmes, such as overseas disarmament educator exchange programmes, and contributed greatly to the implementation of these recommendations.

Regional disarmament conferences are another effective means to enhance awareness of the importance of disarmament at a regional level. Japan sponsors a United Nations conference on disarmament in a different local city each year, providing a valuable opportunity for distinguished disarmament experts from around the world to engage in useful discussions. I am pleased to announce that this year’s United Nations Conference on Disarmament will be held in Osaka, Japan. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for their continued dedication to disarmament work.

Mr. Chairman,

The NPT, since its entry into force in 1970, has made immense contributions to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security. It is a cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and a foundation for the promotion of nuclear disarmament. Its role is indispensable.

The Japanese delegation looks forward to working closely with all participants to reinforce the significance of this treaty and to renew our commitments to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.