STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. KAZUO KODAMA
DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT AN INFORMAL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TEST
AND THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLOSURE OF THE
SEMIPALATINSK NUCLEAR TEST SITE

2 SEPTEMBER 2011

Mr. President,

I would like to join others in expressing our appreciation for this event commemorating the “International Day against Nuclear Tests.”

Promoting disarmament and non-proliferation, particularly that of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, is an important challenge that the world must address in order to improve the international security environment and create a peaceful world.

In order to achieve the long-term objective of a world without nuclear weapons, continuous and visible efforts must be made, including the early entry into force of the CTBT. Japan has made various efforts with strong determination never to allow the devastation of nuclear weapons to be repeated.

Japan believes it has an obligation to convey to the future generations the tragic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and attaches great importance to education on disarmament and non-proliferation.  Last year, the Government of Japan has appointed a number of atomic bomb survivors as Special Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons so that they can convey to the world the horrors associated with the use of nuclear weapons as well as the importance of peace.  These Special Communicators are now engaged in activities around the world, and we are currently planning to invite them to speak here in New York during this year’s General Assembly.

I sincerely hope that this meeting will contribute to raising public awareness of the importance of nuclear disarmament.

Thank you.