Chile’s foreign minister visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Sep. 17, 2018
(by Yusuke Egawa, Staff Writer)
On September 16, Roberto Ampuero Espinoza, the foreign minister of Chile, visited the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima and gained a deeper understanding of the true consequences of the atomic bombing. Chile is one of the nations that has signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations in July of last year. After completing his tour of the museum, Mr. Ampuero said that he would do his utmost to help realize a world without nuclear weapons.
Guided by Kenji Shiga, the museum’s director, Mr. Ampuero looked closely at the exhibits, including a computer graphics display that depicts the devastated city in the aftermath of the atomic bombing. In the museum’s guestbook, he wrote a message which stresses that such a tragedy must never be repeated. He later offered a wreath at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims.
Prior to laying the wreath at the cenotaph, Mr. Ampuero met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at the International Conference Center Hiroshima. Mr. Matsui asked that he help increase the number of Chilean cities participating in Mayors for Peace, an organization chaired by Mr. Matsui that currently has 22 member cities in Chile. Mr. Ampuero responded by saying that he would do his best by appealing to other cities in his nation to become members of the organization.
Regarding the nuclear weapons ban treaty, Mr. Ampuero responded to questions from the media and said that Chile is a nation which loves peace. He added that his nation was likely to ratify the treaty soon.
(Originally published on September 17, 2018)
On September 16, Roberto Ampuero Espinoza, the foreign minister of Chile, visited the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima and gained a deeper understanding of the true consequences of the atomic bombing. Chile is one of the nations that has signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations in July of last year. After completing his tour of the museum, Mr. Ampuero said that he would do his utmost to help realize a world without nuclear weapons.
Guided by Kenji Shiga, the museum’s director, Mr. Ampuero looked closely at the exhibits, including a computer graphics display that depicts the devastated city in the aftermath of the atomic bombing. In the museum’s guestbook, he wrote a message which stresses that such a tragedy must never be repeated. He later offered a wreath at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims.
Prior to laying the wreath at the cenotaph, Mr. Ampuero met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at the International Conference Center Hiroshima. Mr. Matsui asked that he help increase the number of Chilean cities participating in Mayors for Peace, an organization chaired by Mr. Matsui that currently has 22 member cities in Chile. Mr. Ampuero responded by saying that he would do his best by appealing to other cities in his nation to become members of the organization.
Regarding the nuclear weapons ban treaty, Mr. Ampuero responded to questions from the media and said that Chile is a nation which loves peace. He added that his nation was likely to ratify the treaty soon.
(Originally published on September 17, 2018)
