Japanese prime minister speaks at Peace Memorial Ceremony
Aug. 6, 2010
by Kiyoko Takahashi, Staff Writer
On August 6, Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, the first prime minister from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to appear at the event. In a speech at the ceremony, he expressed the intention of having A-bomb survivors convey the horrific nature of nuclear weapons to the world as special antinuclear envoys. After the ceremony, he met with representatives of seven A-bomb survivors organizations and told them, "Thanks to you, the momentum for nuclear abolition has grown. I would like to join you in spearheading this effort."
In his speech, Mr. Kan expressed his determination to exercise leadership in efforts toward building a world without nuclear weapons. He stressed that he would appeal for the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to the leaders of the world's nations, including the nuclear weapon states.
Mr. Kan praised the efforts of NGOs and citizens. He mentioned Mayors for Peace, an organization comprised of local governments across the world, which is calling for nuclear abolition (and for which Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba serves as president). He said that he hopes A-bomb survivors can serve as representatives from Japan in the role of special antinuclear envoys to convey to the world the horror and the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and the importance of peace.
At the meeting held in a Hiroshima hotel to listen to requests from representatives of A-bomb survivors, Mr. Kan and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma heard such appeals as an early resolution to the issue of A-bomb disease certification. With regard to the screening procedure for this certification, which has become a lengthy process, the prime minister said that "The government will make an effort to speed up the procedure as much as possible."
(Originally published on August 6, 2010)
On August 6, Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, the first prime minister from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to appear at the event. In a speech at the ceremony, he expressed the intention of having A-bomb survivors convey the horrific nature of nuclear weapons to the world as special antinuclear envoys. After the ceremony, he met with representatives of seven A-bomb survivors organizations and told them, "Thanks to you, the momentum for nuclear abolition has grown. I would like to join you in spearheading this effort."
In his speech, Mr. Kan expressed his determination to exercise leadership in efforts toward building a world without nuclear weapons. He stressed that he would appeal for the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to the leaders of the world's nations, including the nuclear weapon states.
Mr. Kan praised the efforts of NGOs and citizens. He mentioned Mayors for Peace, an organization comprised of local governments across the world, which is calling for nuclear abolition (and for which Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba serves as president). He said that he hopes A-bomb survivors can serve as representatives from Japan in the role of special antinuclear envoys to convey to the world the horror and the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and the importance of peace.
At the meeting held in a Hiroshima hotel to listen to requests from representatives of A-bomb survivors, Mr. Kan and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma heard such appeals as an early resolution to the issue of A-bomb disease certification. With regard to the screening procedure for this certification, which has become a lengthy process, the prime minister said that "The government will make an effort to speed up the procedure as much as possible."
(Originally published on August 6, 2010)
