"OB Summit" ends in Hiroshima with 28 recommendations for nuclear abolition
Apr. 21, 2010
by Yoko Nitta, Staff Writer
The 28th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council ("OB Summit") held with the participation of 35 people from 20 countries, including former state leaders and experts, held its last-day session at a hotel in Hiroshima on April 20. The three-day meeting ended after the adoption of the Final Communiqué which contains 28 recommendations for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The Final Communiqué includes comments such as "This year our determination (for the abolition of nuclear weapons) was reinforced more than ever," and "The members of the Council met with the hibakusha…who demand that no one else shall suffer as they did...the Council is determined to make certain that the wishes of the hibakusha come true."
More concretely, as part of 28 recommendations to realize a world without nuclear weapons, the communiqué urges nuclear weapon states to "commit to a non first use of nuclear weapons," and to "remove their nuclear weapons from prompt launch posture." Also, it calls on the international community to conclude "a convention prohibiting nuclear weapons," to start negotiations "on a treaty prohibiting further production of fissile material for weapons and address the issue of existing stocks," and to "consider how states can manage their defense without nuclear weapons."
At the same time, while the communiqué urges world leaders to visit Hiroshima and supports the initiatives of Mayors for Peace, it does not refer to a timeframe for abolishing nuclear weapons. In this regard, Co-chairman Jean Chrétien, former prime minister of Canada, explained, "We intentionally did not set a timeframe so that the elimination of nuclear weapons can be achieved as early as possible" at the press conference held after the meeting.
Yasuo Fukuda, former prime minister of Japan, who was also present at the press conference, stated, "Our responsibility as the participants of this meeting is to urge all concerned parties to realize this goal."
The Final Communiqué also contains 13 recommendations regarding the current international situation, including recommendations for stabilizing the Middle East and ending the war in Afghanistan.
Along with the "Hiroshima Declaration," also adopted at the "OB Summit" on April 19, the communiqué will be sent to state leaders around the world, the United Nations and others. The documents will also be submitted at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference set to open in May.
(Originally published on April 21, 2010)
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
The Final Communiqué adopted at the "OB Summit" held in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, together with the "Hiroshima Declaration" adopted by the same group on April 19, uses clear language to propose a comprehensive path to the elimination of nuclear weapons.
For instance, the communiqué contends that "A convention prohibiting nuclear weapons should be concluded in the same manner as conventions prohibiting biological and chemical weapons." This language is stronger than that used in the final report complied by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) last year. This is because the participants of the meeting, including former state leaders, have incorporated the wishes of A-bomb survivors and civil society into the communiqué.
Furthermore, the communiqué suggests that dependence on nuclear weapons be decreased and urges states to depart from the paradigm of the nuclear deterrence doctrine. It also calls for visits of world leaders to Hiroshima.
Similarly, the "Hiroshima Declaration" adopted on April 19 promotes "a resolution by the UN General Assembly and Security Council declaring that uses of nuclear weapons would constitute a crime against humanity." It can be said that the contents of these two documents reflect the participants' keen awareness of the fact that the meeting was held in an A-bombed city in Japan, which relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Rebecca Johnson, one of the participants and a disarmament expert from the United Kingdom, commented, "Discussions at the meeting were considerably influenced by our experience of visiting Peace Memorial Museum and listening to the testimonies of A-bomb survivors."
Some of the former state leaders who attended the meeting are still very active in the political arena. We would like to see them display their determination and capability in the political decision making process in the areas of military affairs and peace.
(Originally published on April 21, 2010)
Related articles
Hiroshima Declaration adopted at "OB Summit" held in Hiroshima (April 20, 2010)
Former state leaders gather in Hiroshima to discuss path to eliminate nuclear weapons (April 19, 2010)
The 28th Annual Plenary Meeting of the InterAction Council ("OB Summit") held with the participation of 35 people from 20 countries, including former state leaders and experts, held its last-day session at a hotel in Hiroshima on April 20. The three-day meeting ended after the adoption of the Final Communiqué which contains 28 recommendations for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The Final Communiqué includes comments such as "This year our determination (for the abolition of nuclear weapons) was reinforced more than ever," and "The members of the Council met with the hibakusha…who demand that no one else shall suffer as they did...the Council is determined to make certain that the wishes of the hibakusha come true."
More concretely, as part of 28 recommendations to realize a world without nuclear weapons, the communiqué urges nuclear weapon states to "commit to a non first use of nuclear weapons," and to "remove their nuclear weapons from prompt launch posture." Also, it calls on the international community to conclude "a convention prohibiting nuclear weapons," to start negotiations "on a treaty prohibiting further production of fissile material for weapons and address the issue of existing stocks," and to "consider how states can manage their defense without nuclear weapons."
At the same time, while the communiqué urges world leaders to visit Hiroshima and supports the initiatives of Mayors for Peace, it does not refer to a timeframe for abolishing nuclear weapons. In this regard, Co-chairman Jean Chrétien, former prime minister of Canada, explained, "We intentionally did not set a timeframe so that the elimination of nuclear weapons can be achieved as early as possible" at the press conference held after the meeting.
Yasuo Fukuda, former prime minister of Japan, who was also present at the press conference, stated, "Our responsibility as the participants of this meeting is to urge all concerned parties to realize this goal."
The Final Communiqué also contains 13 recommendations regarding the current international situation, including recommendations for stabilizing the Middle East and ending the war in Afghanistan.
Along with the "Hiroshima Declaration," also adopted at the "OB Summit" on April 19, the communiqué will be sent to state leaders around the world, the United Nations and others. The documents will also be submitted at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference set to open in May.
(Originally published on April 21, 2010)
Commentary: Final Communiqué reflects wishes of A-bomb survivors and expresses hope for nuclear abolition
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
The Final Communiqué adopted at the "OB Summit" held in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, together with the "Hiroshima Declaration" adopted by the same group on April 19, uses clear language to propose a comprehensive path to the elimination of nuclear weapons.
For instance, the communiqué contends that "A convention prohibiting nuclear weapons should be concluded in the same manner as conventions prohibiting biological and chemical weapons." This language is stronger than that used in the final report complied by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) last year. This is because the participants of the meeting, including former state leaders, have incorporated the wishes of A-bomb survivors and civil society into the communiqué.
Furthermore, the communiqué suggests that dependence on nuclear weapons be decreased and urges states to depart from the paradigm of the nuclear deterrence doctrine. It also calls for visits of world leaders to Hiroshima.
Similarly, the "Hiroshima Declaration" adopted on April 19 promotes "a resolution by the UN General Assembly and Security Council declaring that uses of nuclear weapons would constitute a crime against humanity." It can be said that the contents of these two documents reflect the participants' keen awareness of the fact that the meeting was held in an A-bombed city in Japan, which relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
Rebecca Johnson, one of the participants and a disarmament expert from the United Kingdom, commented, "Discussions at the meeting were considerably influenced by our experience of visiting Peace Memorial Museum and listening to the testimonies of A-bomb survivors."
Some of the former state leaders who attended the meeting are still very active in the political arena. We would like to see them display their determination and capability in the political decision making process in the areas of military affairs and peace.
(Originally published on April 21, 2010)
Related articles
Hiroshima Declaration adopted at "OB Summit" held in Hiroshima (April 20, 2010)
Former state leaders gather in Hiroshima to discuss path to eliminate nuclear weapons (April 19, 2010)
