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NPDI ministerial meeting: Call for world leaders to visit Hiroshima, Nagasaki

Hiroshima Declaration adopted: Refers to humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons

by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer

Held in Hiroshima, where a nuclear weapon was dropped on human beings for the first time, the ministerial meeting of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), came to a close on April 12. This was the first time the meeting was held in Japan.

Prior to the close of the two-day meeting, participants adopted a Hiroshima Declaration, issuing an invitation to the world’s political leaders, including those of nuclear powers, to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This also marked the first time that a declaration by NPDI, which comprises 12 non-nuclear states, referred to the “humanitarian impact” of nuclear weapons. The declaration stressed the “significance of spreading awareness of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons across borders and generations.”

The first part of the declaration notes that the participants “witnessed first-hand the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of an atomic bombing that last even to this present day.” It goes on to suggest that the world’s political leaders visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to “witness the consequences [of nuclear weapons] with their own eyes.” The declaration makes no mention, however, of outlawing nuclear weapons, apparently out of consideration for the member nations that depend on the nuclear umbrella of the United States.

With regard to disarmament, the declaration encourages the U.S. and Russia “to continue discussions on follow-on measures to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to achieve even deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals towards achieving the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.” It also emphasizes the need for “increasing the transparency of information about nuclear forces.” Apparently with China in mind, the declaration expresses concern about “the reported build-up of nuclear arsenals.” It also stresses “the need for a systematic and continued reduction of all types of nuclear weapons” and advocates “multilateral negotiations towards the ultimate elimination of all types of nuclear weapons.”

Rose Gottemoeller, U.S. Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security attended a working lunch that was held after the main meeting of the day, the first time a representative of a nuclear power has attended. Ms. Gottemoeller provided details on President Obama’s thoughts on further disarmament.

Prior to the meeting, the 12 ministers visited Peace Memorial Park where they were welcomed by about 700 local citizens. Led by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, the group laid flowers at the memorial cenotaph and paid their respects to the victims of the atomic bombing. After visiting the Peace Memorial Museum, they listened to Hiroshima resident Keiko Ogura, 76, an atomic bomb survivor, recount her experiences and gained a better understanding of the effects of the A-bombing.

At a joint press conference following the close of the meeting, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida (Hiroshima District No. 1), who chaired the meeting as the representative of the host nation, stressed the productivity of the meetings. “I think the experience of seeing the reality of the atomic bombing first hand influenced the discussions,” he said. “I would like people to realize the significance of this diverse group of people from various regions coming up with a declaration.” Based on what was agreed upon at the meeting, NPDI will make recommendations on nuclear disarmament at the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which will get underway in New York at the end of this month.

The full text of the Hiroshima Declaration in both Japanese and English can be found on this website.

Key Points of the Hiroshima Declaration

・ Expresses a “commitment to achieving the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons”
・ With China in mind, propounds the need for “multilateral negotiations towards the ultimate elimination of all types of nuclear weapons”
・ Issues an invitation to “the world’s political leaders to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to also witness the consequences [of nuclear weapons] with their own eyes”
・ With China in mind, expresses deep concern about “the reported build-up of nuclear arsenals, against the clear intent of the international community to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons”
・ States that “increasing the transparency of information about nuclear forces has also been an issue of great importance to the NPDI” and that “without transparency nuclear disarmament cannot be verified”
・ Urges North Korea to “cease all nuclear activities immediately”

(Originally published on April 13, 2014)

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