Former U.N. ambassador from Costa Rica visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Mar. 11, 2017
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
On March 10, the former Costa Rican ambassador to the United Nations, Eduardo Ulibarri Bilbao, made his first visit to the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Costa Rica is one of the countries which openly supports and promotes the establishment of a treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. After observing the devastation caused by the atomic bombing, Mr. Ulibarri expressed his hopes for the upcoming treaty negotiations at the United Nations. These negotiations will begin in New York on March 27.
As he was guided through the Peace Memorial Museum by Yasuyoshi Komizo, the chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Mr. Ulibarri looked at a charred lunch box and various other exhibits. He also listened carefully to the A-bomb experience of Yoshiko Kajimoto, 86, an A-bomb survivor and a resident of Nishi Ward, while taking notes.
In the negotiations for a treaty to outlaw nuclear weapons, Elayne Whyte Gómez, an ambassador and permanent representative of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office in Geneva, will preside over the meeting. Mr. Ulibarri told reporters after his visit to the Peace Park that he was able to understand the tragedy wrought by the atomic bombing. He also said that the negotiations conference is the culmination of years of historical achievement and it would be wonderful if such a treaty could be created. He expects that Ms. Whyte, who is very motivated, will do a fine job in her role.
Mr. Ulibarri arrived in Japan on March 5 at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will stay in Japan until March 12. According to the ministry, Ms. Whyte also works as an editorial writer for a leading newspaper in Costa Rica.
(Originally published on March 11, 2017)
On March 10, the former Costa Rican ambassador to the United Nations, Eduardo Ulibarri Bilbao, made his first visit to the Peace Memorial Park in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Costa Rica is one of the countries which openly supports and promotes the establishment of a treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. After observing the devastation caused by the atomic bombing, Mr. Ulibarri expressed his hopes for the upcoming treaty negotiations at the United Nations. These negotiations will begin in New York on March 27.
As he was guided through the Peace Memorial Museum by Yasuyoshi Komizo, the chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Mr. Ulibarri looked at a charred lunch box and various other exhibits. He also listened carefully to the A-bomb experience of Yoshiko Kajimoto, 86, an A-bomb survivor and a resident of Nishi Ward, while taking notes.
In the negotiations for a treaty to outlaw nuclear weapons, Elayne Whyte Gómez, an ambassador and permanent representative of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office in Geneva, will preside over the meeting. Mr. Ulibarri told reporters after his visit to the Peace Park that he was able to understand the tragedy wrought by the atomic bombing. He also said that the negotiations conference is the culmination of years of historical achievement and it would be wonderful if such a treaty could be created. He expects that Ms. Whyte, who is very motivated, will do a fine job in her role.
Mr. Ulibarri arrived in Japan on March 5 at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will stay in Japan until March 12. According to the ministry, Ms. Whyte also works as an editorial writer for a leading newspaper in Costa Rica.
(Originally published on March 11, 2017)
