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U.S. Under Secretary of State mentions important role of A-bomb survivors in non-use of nuclear arms

On August 7, Rose Gottemoeller, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, who attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on August 6, delivered a speech in Tokyo. Referring to the fact that nuclear weapons have not been used for 70 years, since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Ms. Gottemoeller said she believed that the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have played a vital role by conveying the terrible experiences they faced as a consequence of the A-bomb attacks.

Ms. Gottemoeller said she was very impressed that the A-bomb experiences are being handed down to the next generation in schools in Hiroshima and stressed that the dire consequences of the use of nuclear arms must be known to ensure that these weapons are never used again.

Reflecting on the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which she attended as the first senior U.S. government official, Ms. Gottemoeller said she was deeply moved by the sight of survivors and children at the ceremony, expressing their condolences to the A-bomb victims. The moment the Peace Bell tolled left an unforgettable impression, she said.

On the subject of nuclear weapons, Ms. Gottemoeller said that U.S. President Barack Obama has made clear that the non-use of nuclear weapons must be maintained forever, with this non-use leading to the reduction of nuclear arsenals.

Prior to her speech in Tokyo, Ms. Gottemoeller visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy. They met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and told him that Japan and the United States should deepen their cooperation further in the areas of nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

(Originally published on August 8, 2015)

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