Foreign ministers’ meeting in Hiroshima: Written interview with John Kerry, U.S. secretary of state
Apr. 10, 2016
On April 9, John Kerry, the U.S. secretary of state responded to a request for a written interview with the Chugoku Shimbun, prior to his participation in the foreign ministers’ meeting in Hiroshima on April 10 and 11. To support “a world without nuclear weapons,” Mr. Kerry stressed that he embraced “a realistic and practical approach” to pursuing nuclear disarmament.
Mr. Kerry said that U.S. President Barack Obama had endorsed the aim of a world without nuclear weapons and laid out an agenda for reducing nuclear dangers. He pointed to accomplishments made by President Obama, such as hosting the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, and referred to the president’s view that while global nuclear disarmament would not happen quickly, or even in his lifetime, the United States has a moral responsibility to take concrete steps to lead in this global endeavor.
However, the United States and nuclear powers the United Kingdom and France did not participate in the first gathering of the U.N. working group charged with discussing measures for nuclear disarmament, including legal provisions, which took place in February in line with a resolution made by the U.N. General Assembly. The nuclear nations have become wary of the non-nuclear nations and their urgings to start negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention.
In the interview, Mr. Kerry also stuck to the stance of phased disarmament. He said that progress on nuclear disarmament must be made in a way that reduces nuclear and security risks for the United States, its allies, and all of humanity.
(Originally published on April 10, 2016)
Do you support “a world without nuclear weapons?”
Yes, the United States has long been committed to global nuclear disarmament. President Obama has endorsed that goal and laid out a vision for a world without nuclear weapons and his agenda for reducing nuclear dangers. The President made clear that while global nuclear disarmament would not happen quickly, or even in his lifetime, that the United States had a special moral responsibility to take concrete steps and to lead in this global endeavor.
In support of this agenda, President Obama hosted the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, in which Prime Minister Abe and over fifty counterparts took part. These Summits have contributed many tangible and meaningful improvements in nuclear security to international security, spurring concrete actions to decrease highly enriched uranium and plutonium stocks, improve security measures for safeguarding nuclear facilities, and strengthen capacity to counter nuclear smuggling.
In pursuing nuclear disarmament, we embrace a realistic and practical approach. We can never separate disarmament from the global security environment or strategic stability considerations, or divorce it from our security commitments to friends and allies. Progress on nuclear disarmament must be made in a way that reduces nuclear and security risks for ourselves, our allies and all humankind.
What are your hopes for your visit to Hiroshima?
It’s always great to be in Japan and to spend time with the Japanese people, but this will be my first visit to Hiroshima. I am looking forward to learning more about its people and history.
What hopes do you have for the foreign ministers’ meeting?
Most of today’s global threats to international peace require collective action. Gatherings, such as this one, are important opportunities to help us address international political and security concerns and to speak with one, clear voice on concrete actions needed to address threats to peace and stability.
There are many challenges before us: the threat of extremism and terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change and the pervasive problem of corruption around the world, just to name a few. We may not be able to address all of these here, but it is important to keep looking for possible solutions together.
Do you have any suggestions as to what the youth of Hiroshima can do to promote peace?
Even though we may speak different languages or have different customs, we have a special obligation to keep talking to one another. Only by being willing to consider the perspectives of others can we build mutual understanding and find solutions for peace. It’s all about relationships.
(Originally published on April 10, 2016)
Read the full interview here.
Mr. Kerry said that U.S. President Barack Obama had endorsed the aim of a world without nuclear weapons and laid out an agenda for reducing nuclear dangers. He pointed to accomplishments made by President Obama, such as hosting the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, and referred to the president’s view that while global nuclear disarmament would not happen quickly, or even in his lifetime, the United States has a moral responsibility to take concrete steps to lead in this global endeavor.
However, the United States and nuclear powers the United Kingdom and France did not participate in the first gathering of the U.N. working group charged with discussing measures for nuclear disarmament, including legal provisions, which took place in February in line with a resolution made by the U.N. General Assembly. The nuclear nations have become wary of the non-nuclear nations and their urgings to start negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention.
In the interview, Mr. Kerry also stuck to the stance of phased disarmament. He said that progress on nuclear disarmament must be made in a way that reduces nuclear and security risks for the United States, its allies, and all of humanity.
(Originally published on April 10, 2016)
Do you support “a world without nuclear weapons?”
Yes, the United States has long been committed to global nuclear disarmament. President Obama has endorsed that goal and laid out a vision for a world without nuclear weapons and his agenda for reducing nuclear dangers. The President made clear that while global nuclear disarmament would not happen quickly, or even in his lifetime, that the United States had a special moral responsibility to take concrete steps and to lead in this global endeavor.
In support of this agenda, President Obama hosted the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, in which Prime Minister Abe and over fifty counterparts took part. These Summits have contributed many tangible and meaningful improvements in nuclear security to international security, spurring concrete actions to decrease highly enriched uranium and plutonium stocks, improve security measures for safeguarding nuclear facilities, and strengthen capacity to counter nuclear smuggling.
In pursuing nuclear disarmament, we embrace a realistic and practical approach. We can never separate disarmament from the global security environment or strategic stability considerations, or divorce it from our security commitments to friends and allies. Progress on nuclear disarmament must be made in a way that reduces nuclear and security risks for ourselves, our allies and all humankind.
What are your hopes for your visit to Hiroshima?
It’s always great to be in Japan and to spend time with the Japanese people, but this will be my first visit to Hiroshima. I am looking forward to learning more about its people and history.
What hopes do you have for the foreign ministers’ meeting?
Most of today’s global threats to international peace require collective action. Gatherings, such as this one, are important opportunities to help us address international political and security concerns and to speak with one, clear voice on concrete actions needed to address threats to peace and stability.
There are many challenges before us: the threat of extremism and terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change and the pervasive problem of corruption around the world, just to name a few. We may not be able to address all of these here, but it is important to keep looking for possible solutions together.
Do you have any suggestions as to what the youth of Hiroshima can do to promote peace?
Even though we may speak different languages or have different customs, we have a special obligation to keep talking to one another. Only by being willing to consider the perspectives of others can we build mutual understanding and find solutions for peace. It’s all about relationships.
(Originally published on April 10, 2016)
Read the full interview here.
