Japanese government turns down ICAN leader’s request to meet with prime minister
Jan. 16, 2018
On January 15, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) announced that the Japanese government had turned down its request to hold a meeting between its executive director Beatrice Fihn and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Since late December, ICAN had sent two letters to the prime minister’s official residence requesting a meeting with Mr. Abe during Ms. Fihn’s first visit to Japan. But ICAN was informed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that, as of January 14, the prime minister’s schedule would not permit a meeting with her, according to the group.
While visiting Hiroshima, Ms. Fihn told reporters on January 15 that she was very disappointed, adding that she had hoped to speak with him to discuss how to ensure that the world can avoid repeating the same tragedy suffered by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During a press conference held on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “It was difficult (for Mr. Abe to meet with the ICAN leader) because of the prime minister’s schedule. There is nothing more, nothing less.”
In her speech at the award ceremony for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, held in December, Ms. Fihn urged all nations to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. She arrived in Japan on January 12 and had hoped to speak directly to Mr. Abe to encourage Japan to join the treaty. On January 16, she will meet with leaders of political parties and exchange views in Tokyo.
(Originally published on January 16, 2018)
Since late December, ICAN had sent two letters to the prime minister’s official residence requesting a meeting with Mr. Abe during Ms. Fihn’s first visit to Japan. But ICAN was informed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that, as of January 14, the prime minister’s schedule would not permit a meeting with her, according to the group.
While visiting Hiroshima, Ms. Fihn told reporters on January 15 that she was very disappointed, adding that she had hoped to speak with him to discuss how to ensure that the world can avoid repeating the same tragedy suffered by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During a press conference held on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “It was difficult (for Mr. Abe to meet with the ICAN leader) because of the prime minister’s schedule. There is nothing more, nothing less.”
In her speech at the award ceremony for last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, held in December, Ms. Fihn urged all nations to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. She arrived in Japan on January 12 and had hoped to speak directly to Mr. Abe to encourage Japan to join the treaty. On January 16, she will meet with leaders of political parties and exchange views in Tokyo.
(Originally published on January 16, 2018)
