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Hiroshima mayor stresses cooperation in meetings with Red Cross official and state delegates

by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer

GENEVA--Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui met with senior officials of the United Nations and state delegates, one after another, in Geneva, Switzerland, where the Second Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is being held, to encourage stronger efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.

On April 23, Mr. Matsui, along with Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue and others, visited the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva to meet with Christine Beerli, vice-president of the ICRC. Mr. Matsui said, “Hiroshima’s prayer is the elimination of these inhumane weapons from the earth. We hope to act in concert with the ICRC, which cherishes humanity.” Ms. Beerli replied, “I would like to work together, from a practical level, toward the goal we share.”

On April 22, when the preparatory committee session opened, the Hiroshima mayor met with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, director general of U.N. Headquarters in Europe. The mayor handed him a letter of request addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The letter urges the United Nations to help spearhead the early realization of a nuclear weapons convention. The mayor will continue to meet with state delegates until April 25.

(Originally published on April 24, 2013)

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