French ambassador visits Hiroshima, says French foreign minister will visit Peace Memorial Park
Jan. 18, 2016
by Kyosuke Mizukawa and Kyoji Matsumoto, Staff Writers
Thierry Dana, 59, the French ambassador to Japan, visited the cities of Hiroshima and Hatsukaichi on January 13 to inspect the planned sites for the meeting of foreign ministers scheduled to take place in Hiroshima Prefecture on April 10 and 11. Among the countries that will take part in the Group of Seven (G7) summit (Ise Shima summit), France is the first country, with the exception of Japan, to send its ambassador to these sites. Mr. Dana said that Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during his visit. France is a nuclear power.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui welcomed Mr. Dana at City Hall. Mr. Matsui expressed his hopes that the French foreign minister will learn about the damage caused by the atomic bomb and affirm his resolve to abolish nuclear weapons. Referring to the nuclear test recently carried out by North Korea, Mr. Dana said that it is vital to work in close cooperation with Japan and other nations. He also said that the foreign minister is looking forward to taking part in the meeting in Hiroshima, an important symbol of the nuclear age.
After meeting with the mayor, Mr. Dana spoke to reporters and said that Mr. Fabius will visit the Peace Memorial Park to remember the victims of the atomic bombing and also tour the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Though the City of Hiroshima has been calling on President François Hollande to come to Hiroshima when he visits Japan for the summit, Mr. Dana did not make a definitive statement about the president’s plans, saying that he does not have the detailed program of the summit or information on other participants.
Mr. Dana also met with Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki at the prefectural government office on the same day. Mr. Yuzaki said, “I hope the foreign minister will learn what happened in Hiroshima as well as enjoy the wonderful view of the Seto Inland Sea and the excellent local cuisine.” Mr. Dana also visited the island of Miyajima in Hatsukaichi. On January 14, he will offer flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and tour the Peace Memorial Museum.
According to the city government, a plan has been made for the ambassadors of other nations to jointly visit Hiroshima.
(Originally published on January 14, 2016)
Thierry Dana, 59, the French ambassador to Japan, visited the cities of Hiroshima and Hatsukaichi on January 13 to inspect the planned sites for the meeting of foreign ministers scheduled to take place in Hiroshima Prefecture on April 10 and 11. Among the countries that will take part in the Group of Seven (G7) summit (Ise Shima summit), France is the first country, with the exception of Japan, to send its ambassador to these sites. Mr. Dana said that Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during his visit. France is a nuclear power.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui welcomed Mr. Dana at City Hall. Mr. Matsui expressed his hopes that the French foreign minister will learn about the damage caused by the atomic bomb and affirm his resolve to abolish nuclear weapons. Referring to the nuclear test recently carried out by North Korea, Mr. Dana said that it is vital to work in close cooperation with Japan and other nations. He also said that the foreign minister is looking forward to taking part in the meeting in Hiroshima, an important symbol of the nuclear age.
After meeting with the mayor, Mr. Dana spoke to reporters and said that Mr. Fabius will visit the Peace Memorial Park to remember the victims of the atomic bombing and also tour the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Though the City of Hiroshima has been calling on President François Hollande to come to Hiroshima when he visits Japan for the summit, Mr. Dana did not make a definitive statement about the president’s plans, saying that he does not have the detailed program of the summit or information on other participants.
Mr. Dana also met with Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki at the prefectural government office on the same day. Mr. Yuzaki said, “I hope the foreign minister will learn what happened in Hiroshima as well as enjoy the wonderful view of the Seto Inland Sea and the excellent local cuisine.” Mr. Dana also visited the island of Miyajima in Hatsukaichi. On January 14, he will offer flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and tour the Peace Memorial Museum.
According to the city government, a plan has been made for the ambassadors of other nations to jointly visit Hiroshima.
(Originally published on January 14, 2016)
