Statement by H.E. Mr. Akira Hayashi

at the Second Preparatory Committee

of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties

to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Geneva, 29 April 1998

(Cluster 1) Nuclear Disarmament

　

　

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

　

　 In my speech at the plenary meeting, I stated the basic position of Japan on the issue of nuclear disarmament. And there I touched upon, very briefly, the need for information sharing on the practical issues of nuclear disarmament. Now, I would like to expand on this.

　

Mr. Chairman,

　

　 As nuclear weapon States pursue nuclear disarmament, they come across various practical issues. In this connection and in light of UNGA resolutions entitled "Nuclear disarmament with a view to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons," I would like to invite these states to share with the international community any relevant information. In this regard, there may be two sets of issues that emerge.

　

　 First, there is the issue of sharing with the international community, the practical issues that the implementation of nuclear disarmament measures entail.

　

　 Nuclear disarmament measures are often costly, both in terms of nuclear weapons dismantlement and disposal, and in terms of ensuring the chain of custody which includes safe and secure transport and storage of fissile material as well as its control and accounting. Nuclear disarmament measures may also pose various technical challenges. For example, the management of surplus weapons plutonium may require the modification of existing technologies and perhaps also the development of new ones. Institutionally, there is need, for example, for national, regional and international coordination among national authorities to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear material. Furthermore, nuclear disarmament has a social dimension. It is necessary, for example, to accommodate the economic and intellectual needs of displaced scientists and engineers who had worked for nuclear weapons related industries.

　

　 Second, there is the issue of sharing information regarding any operational measures that the nuclear weapon States have taken such as the de-targeting their nuclear warheads and taking their nuclear forces off alert, including the removal of nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles. These measures may enhance confidence, especially among the nuclear weapon States, themselves.

　

　 Through greater familiarization with these practical issues, the international community can deepen its understanding on how to proceed with nuclear disarmament.

　

　 Japan would like to invite the nuclear weapon States to provide such information in various fora including the Conference on Disarmament and this Preparatory Committee, now and in the future.

　

　 For its part, Japan intends to request that the Department of Disarmament of the United Nations Secretariat to consider allocating a session of the forthcoming United Nations Disarmament Conference in Nagasaki this November, solely to the issues of the practical aspects of nuclear disarmament.

　

Mr. Chairman,

　

　 My delegation will submit a working paper on this issue and I would like to request, through you, Sir, that the secretariat will issue it as quickly as possible.

　

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.