Chairman of NPT Review Conference Preparatory Committee asks Japan to take central role in nuclear disarmament efforts
Aug. 27, 2013
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
On August 21, Enrique Roman-Morey, 67, the permanent representative of Peru to the United Nations and the chairman of the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, to be held next year, visited Hiroshima and spoke with the Chugoku Shimbun. Mr. Roman-Morey stressed the importance of advancing nuclear disarmament, step by step, through ongoing dialogue among the international community, though each nation holds it own views and interests.
The third preparatory committee will be held for two weeks in New York, starting next April 28, and will take on the important task of compiling the agenda for the review conference in 2015.
Mr. Roman-Morey demonstrated his leadership ability as secretary general of the executive organization for the Tlatelalco Treaty, which prohibits the production and possession of nuclear arms in Central and South America, with achievements that include persuading Cuba to join the pact. The ambassador said that believing in the notion of nuclear deterrence means condoning the existence of nuclear arms and that he does not accept this idea. Rather, he believes strongly that nuclear abolition must be the ultimate goal.
At the second session of the Preparatory Committee, held in last April, “a joint declaration on the effects of nuclear weapons on humanity” was issued, backed by over 70 nations. The ambassador said that he welcomes this development wholeheartedly. He added that Japan’s decision to withhold its support for the declaration is due to its concerns over North Korea and China.
Still, Mr. Roman-Morey has high hopes for the role of the A-bombed nation. He pointed out that Japan holds more moral authority than any other country when it comes to appealing for nuclear abolition and said that Japan should take a central role in nuclear disarmament efforts. He pledged to do his utmost to work together with Japan toward this end.
(Originally published on August 22, 2013)
On August 21, Enrique Roman-Morey, 67, the permanent representative of Peru to the United Nations and the chairman of the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, to be held next year, visited Hiroshima and spoke with the Chugoku Shimbun. Mr. Roman-Morey stressed the importance of advancing nuclear disarmament, step by step, through ongoing dialogue among the international community, though each nation holds it own views and interests.
The third preparatory committee will be held for two weeks in New York, starting next April 28, and will take on the important task of compiling the agenda for the review conference in 2015.
Mr. Roman-Morey demonstrated his leadership ability as secretary general of the executive organization for the Tlatelalco Treaty, which prohibits the production and possession of nuclear arms in Central and South America, with achievements that include persuading Cuba to join the pact. The ambassador said that believing in the notion of nuclear deterrence means condoning the existence of nuclear arms and that he does not accept this idea. Rather, he believes strongly that nuclear abolition must be the ultimate goal.
At the second session of the Preparatory Committee, held in last April, “a joint declaration on the effects of nuclear weapons on humanity” was issued, backed by over 70 nations. The ambassador said that he welcomes this development wholeheartedly. He added that Japan’s decision to withhold its support for the declaration is due to its concerns over North Korea and China.
Still, Mr. Roman-Morey has high hopes for the role of the A-bombed nation. He pointed out that Japan holds more moral authority than any other country when it comes to appealing for nuclear abolition and said that Japan should take a central role in nuclear disarmament efforts. He pledged to do his utmost to work together with Japan toward this end.
(Originally published on August 22, 2013)
