Japanese foreign minister stresses differences on nuclear abolition in connection with Austrian statement
Feb. 27, 2015
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
At a press conference held on February 20, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida discussed a document drafted by the Austrian government which calls for nations to pledge to make efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. Mr. Kishida said that “each nation has been pursuing a variety of activities,” and stressed that there are differences in the positions of the Austrian government and the Japanese government, which seeks nuclear disarmament on a step by step basis. The foreign minister did not clearly state whether or not Japan will support the document.
Referring to the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Treaty (NPT), held every five years, Mr. Kishida said that the document is “one undertaking that can help the conference succeed.” He also pointed to the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), comprised of 12 non-nuclear nations led by countries that include Japan, and said “our nation has been making efforts to contribute to the review conference.” He suggested that Japan would keep some distance from the Austrian position, which calls for all NPT members “to identify and pursue effective measures to fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.”
The document from Austria was distributed to all member nations of the United Nations in mid-January. With the possibility of further momentum for entering negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention if support for the document grows, the response of each nation has drawn attention. A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered that “Japan does not support it or oppose it,” indicating that the government is not inclined to endorse the document.
(Originally published on February 21, 2015)
At a press conference held on February 20, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida discussed a document drafted by the Austrian government which calls for nations to pledge to make efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. Mr. Kishida said that “each nation has been pursuing a variety of activities,” and stressed that there are differences in the positions of the Austrian government and the Japanese government, which seeks nuclear disarmament on a step by step basis. The foreign minister did not clearly state whether or not Japan will support the document.
Referring to the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Treaty (NPT), held every five years, Mr. Kishida said that the document is “one undertaking that can help the conference succeed.” He also pointed to the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), comprised of 12 non-nuclear nations led by countries that include Japan, and said “our nation has been making efforts to contribute to the review conference.” He suggested that Japan would keep some distance from the Austrian position, which calls for all NPT members “to identify and pursue effective measures to fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons.”
The document from Austria was distributed to all member nations of the United Nations in mid-January. With the possibility of further momentum for entering negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention if support for the document grows, the response of each nation has drawn attention. A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered that “Japan does not support it or oppose it,” indicating that the government is not inclined to endorse the document.
(Originally published on February 21, 2015)
