(95.04.20)田中大使ＮＰＴ再検討延長会議（第１委）

　 First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the chairmanship of this important Committee, which has been given the task of reviewing the implementation of the disarmament aspect of the NPT.

　 Inasmuch as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kono, in his Statement at the Plenary on the 18th of April, presented the outline of Japan's position concerning the issues to be addressed in the Main Committee I, I would like to comment on some points in relation to Article VI and Article VII of the Treaty.

　 Looking back over the twenty-five years since the NPT went into effect, I must say that the progress made in nuclear disarmament has not been as satisfactory as we had hoped. Indeed, the arsenals of the nuclear weapon States are significantly greater today than they were in 1970.

　 On the other hand, there have been encouraging developments since the end of the: Cold War. I am referring, in particular, to START I which was concluded between the United States and the former Soviet Union in 1991 and entered into force in December of last year. In addition, START II was concluded in 1993, under which the number of nuclear warheads in the respective arsenals of the United States and Russia is expected to be reduced to between 3,000 and 3,500 by the year 2003. This will be a great achievement in the area of nuclear disarmament. In addition, President Clinton announced that the United States will withdraw 200 tons of fissile material for nuclear weapons from its stockpile, and referred to reductions beyond those envisaged in START II. Japan highly appreciates this initiative.

My delegation hopes that the United States and Russia will ratify START II as early as possible and continue their efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate their nuclear arsenals altogether, thereby setting a positive example for the other nuclear weapon States.

　 We welcome as well the clear statement in this Conference by other nuclear weapon State regarding the reduction of their nuclear weapons. Japan considers that, while the United States and Russia continue their disarmament efforts, it is now time for the other three nuclear weapon States to engage more seriously in the reduction of nuclear arsenals.

　 In view of the tragic experiences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan has consistently called for disarmament in a realistic and steady manner, and it sponsored the General Assembly resolution entitled, "Nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons," which was adopted last year by the General Assembly with the overwhelming support of UN Member States.

　 The very considerable progress that has been made in the negotiations on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva is also encouraging.

　 This Treaty should be concluded at the earliest date possible. And as a matter of fact, I think that time is just around the corner. Japan also appreciates the continued suspension of nuclear testing by France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and hopes China will join the nuclear test moratorium in the near future.

　 Japan welcomes the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Fissile Materials Cut-Off Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament under the presidency of my successor, Ambassador Kurokochi, and we eagerly hope that it will begin negotiations as soon as possible.

　 We appreciate the recent declaration at the CD by France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States expressing their intention to implement the provisions of the NPT -- including those in Article VI -- and also the statement by the P5 concerning the NSA and PSA, as well as the resolution of the UN Security Council confirming those statements.

　 On Article VII, we place importance on the establishment of nuclear free zones to complement the NPT as long as they are in accordance with local conditions. We appreciate that the validity of the nuclear free zone established by the Tlatelolco Treaty was enhanced by the accession of Brazil, Argentina and Chile to the Treaty in 1994, and that the African Nuclear Free Zone Treaty is near conclusion.

　 I believe that the international environment surrounding nuclear disarmament is now quite favorable in comparison with that which prevailed during the Fourth Review Conference in 1990. If our common goal of nuclear disarmament is to be achieved, however, the existence of a stable non-proliferation framework is essential. This can best be secured by extending the NPT indefinitely.

　 We would like to invite all the States Parties, in accordance with the provisions of Article VI of the NPT, to reinforce their realistic efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament so that future generations can live in a secure, nuclear-weapon-free world. I assure you that Japan will work tirelessly toward that end.