(Check Against Delivery)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Motohide Yoshikawa
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Special Solemn Meeting of the General Assembly
In Commemoration of all victims of
the Second World War
5 May 2015
Mr. President,
I would like to thank you for convening this special solemn meeting of the General Assembly.
Since this year marks the seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War—which brought about great sacrifices to mankind—I would like to pay a sincerest tribute to all the victims who died as a result of the war.
Mr. President,
As the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations stipulates, the United Nations was created seventy years ago in order “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind”, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and human dignity. It was also created in order “to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained”.
Throughout these seventy years, Japan has walked the path of a peace-loving nation, while consistently respecting freedom, democracy, fundamental human rights and the rule of law, based on feelings of deep remorse over the war. Our actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries. We must not avert our eyes from that.
Japan has also made assiduous efforts to contribute to world peace and prosperity through our efforts in areas such as, maintenance of peace and security, development and humanitarian assistance, protection and promotion of human rights, as well as disarmament and non-proliferation. Japan is making constructive contributions at the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which has been taking place since last week here at the United Nations.
Japan places particular importance on the principle stipulated in the Charter that international disputes shall be settled by peaceful means based on international law, and not by force or coercion. Japan has been making great efforts to fully comply with international law and we are proud of our record. Japan is committed to continuing our efforts to establish and universalize the rule of law.
Mr. President,
Japan expresses its highest appreciation for the work of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security of the international community. At the same time, when we look at the world’s current situation seventy years after the Second World War, people are still suffering from conflicts, poverty and human rights violations. Conflicts are not only among States but also ethnicities and religions. Moreover, the world is facing unprecedented crises posed by the expansion of extremism and terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This reminds us that there is an even greater need to be united in order to tackle threats common to us all.
In view of these circumstances and as we head towards the future, the United Nations must continue to play a central role in the maintenance of international peace and security and in respecting and promoting human rights and freedom.
Mr. President,
Freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law now constitute an inherent part of the identity of the Japanese people. The path we have taken so far as a peace-loving nation is the pride of Japanese people and it will never change, even as international circumstances change drastically.
I would like to end my statement by reaffirming Japan’s determination to make further positive contributions, under the policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation, in areas such as peacebuilding, the fight against terrorism, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, human security, education, health, development, global warming and women’s empowerment. We will do these together with the United Nations.
I thank you, Mr. President.
