Students ask Japanese foreign minister to make use of “Hiroshima Declaration” at meeting of foreign ministers
Apr. 12, 2016
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
On March 22, five participants of the G7 Youth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hiroshima visited Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and delivered a message of peace, called the “Hiroshima Declaration,” that was drafted at the meeting. At this gathering of youth, junior high and high school students from Japan and other nations assembled in Hiroshima to discuss ideas to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and other issues. They appealed to Mr. Kishida with the words, “We hope our message can become part of the discussions at the meeting of foreign ministers in Hiroshima in April.”
Of the 24 participants who came together from seven nations for the meeting from March 18 to 21, five high school students from Hiroshima Prefecture met with Mr. Kishida. Tsugumi Inoue, 16, a first-year student at Hiroshima Prefectural High School and a resident of Aki Ward, Hiroshima, served as the representative of the group and handed the four-page declaration to Mr. Kishida, saying, “I would like the foreign ministers to take in our serious message.” Mr. Kishida replied, “I will make sure that the contents of your document are reflected in the discussions at our meeting.”
The declaration urges the governments of the participating G7 nations to accelerate nuclear disarmament by setting a solid deadline. Specific recommendations are also included in the statement, such as making the stockpiles and capability of the nuclear weapons of each nuclear nation more transparent, and strengthening security measures to prevent terrorists from using nuclear power to cause harm. After meeting with Mr. Kishida, Ms. Inoue commented, “Presenting the Hiroshima Declaration was not our goal. We are determined to make greater efforts so that young people will take more action and contribute to building peace.”
(Originally published on March 23, 2016)
On March 22, five participants of the G7 Youth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hiroshima visited Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and delivered a message of peace, called the “Hiroshima Declaration,” that was drafted at the meeting. At this gathering of youth, junior high and high school students from Japan and other nations assembled in Hiroshima to discuss ideas to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and other issues. They appealed to Mr. Kishida with the words, “We hope our message can become part of the discussions at the meeting of foreign ministers in Hiroshima in April.”
Of the 24 participants who came together from seven nations for the meeting from March 18 to 21, five high school students from Hiroshima Prefecture met with Mr. Kishida. Tsugumi Inoue, 16, a first-year student at Hiroshima Prefectural High School and a resident of Aki Ward, Hiroshima, served as the representative of the group and handed the four-page declaration to Mr. Kishida, saying, “I would like the foreign ministers to take in our serious message.” Mr. Kishida replied, “I will make sure that the contents of your document are reflected in the discussions at our meeting.”
The declaration urges the governments of the participating G7 nations to accelerate nuclear disarmament by setting a solid deadline. Specific recommendations are also included in the statement, such as making the stockpiles and capability of the nuclear weapons of each nuclear nation more transparent, and strengthening security measures to prevent terrorists from using nuclear power to cause harm. After meeting with Mr. Kishida, Ms. Inoue commented, “Presenting the Hiroshima Declaration was not our goal. We are determined to make greater efforts so that young people will take more action and contribute to building peace.”
(Originally published on March 23, 2016)
