Statement by Ambassador Mr. Kazuyuki HAMADA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the First Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference for the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the Government of Japan, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you on your assumption of the chairmanship of the First Session of the Preparatory Committee. My delegation appreciates on your leadership in the smooth adoption of the agenda on Monday. Let me assure you of my delegation's utmost support to your efforts.

Mr. Chairman,

Every year the international community continues to face new challenges in the areas of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In light of these challenges, the concerted efforts of the international community to maintain and strengthen the NPT regime are of ever increasing importance.

Going forward, we must continue to advance our efforts, building upon the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference. This new review cycle carries great significance for the maintenance and strengthening of the NPT regime. With this in mind, it is essential that at this First Session of the Preparatory Committee, all States Parties reaffirm their political commitment to working together to faithfully implement the action plan, which covers the three pillars of the NPT in a balanced manner.

Mr. Chairman,

In order to promote the faithful implementation of the 2010 Action Plan, Japan and nine other countries jointly established the Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, or NPDI. The NPDI aims to realize “a world of decreased nuclear risks” as a precursor to achieving the goal of “a world without nuclear weapons,” and is determined to actively contribute to the NPT Review Conference. This determination was confirmed at the recent Director General-level meeting, which took place on April 26 in Istanbul. To this end, at this First Preparatory Committee, the NPDI submitted four joint working papers on the subjects of the reporting form for greater transparency of nuclear weapons, the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT), the Additional Protocol (AP), and on disarmament and non-proliferation education.

Mr. Chairman,

Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings, maintains its Three Non-Nuclear Principles. And with a view to realizing a peaceful and safe world through nuclear disarmament, Japan will continue to spare no efforts in its diplomacy, such as with the submission of a resolution on nuclear disarmament to the UN General Assembly every year, and the promotion of the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Japan holds strong expectations that the nuclear-weapon States will further advance their nuclear disarmament efforts, and is paying particular attention to progress on disarmament between the United States and Russia. In this regard, we welcome last year’s entry into force of the New START Treaty and view in a positive light President Obama’s March 26 speech in Seoul. We welcome, as well, the renewed announcement on preparations to undertake further discussion on nuclear disarmament with Russia that will include non-strategic nuclear weapons.

We also have high hopes that current nuclear disarmament efforts will evolve to become a multilateral effort that includes all States possessing nuclear weapons. As a foundation for further progress in nuclear disarmament, transparency is essential, and thus we hope that the nuclear-weapon States will take further steps to increase transparency. The Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, the world’s only multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations, remains deadlocked, and this is a cause for great concern. In light of this, we must forge ahead in exploring various options for the early commencement of negotiations on an FMCT. I would also like to point out that progress in nuclear disarmament and FMCT mean a reduced number of nuclear weapons and a reduced amount of nuclear materials that need to be protected, and thus also represents a contribution to improved nuclear security.

Mr. Chairman,

Under the NPT, all States Parties have the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, but this right is premised on states sincerely carrying out their non-proliferation obligations. In this regard, as the most effective measure for nuclear non-proliferation, it is vital to strengthen and improve efficiency of IAEA safeguards. Comprehensive safeguards reinforced by the Additional Protocol should be the standard for today’s IAEA safeguards. In order to promote the universalization of the Additional Protocol, it is necessary to encourage assistance for the development of the required legal, technical, and human foundations, based on the needs of the countries concerned and in cooperation with the IAEA. Furthermore, in order to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons-related materials and technology, it is also important for every country to establish and implement a strict system of export controls.

Mr. Chairman,

It is crucial to deal with regional nuclear issues for the maintenance and strengthening of the NPT regime. The DPRK nuclear issue poses a serious challenge to the NPT regime. The DPRK must meet the commitments of the September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and comply with the obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and take concrete actions towards denuclearization. The missile launch by the DPRK on 13 April, which is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, is intolerable to Japan. Japan deplores the launch and welcomes the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council which strongly condemned the DPRK’s launch. Japan strongly urges the DPRK not to conduct any further provocation including nuclear tests or further launches.

With regard to Iran’s nuclear issue, Japan urges Iran to comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions as well as the requirements of IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and to fully cooperate with the IAEA in order to resolve all outstanding issues, including those related to possible military dimensions. We welcome the resumption of the talks between EU3+3 and Iran and hope for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the issue.

With respect to the international conference on establishing a WMD-free zone in the Middle East that is scheduled to take place in Finland later this year, Japan fully supports the facilitator in order to bring about a successful outcome.

Mr. Chairman,

We also continue to call upon those countries that have not yet acceded to the NPT to do so as non-nuclear-weapon States, recognizing the importance of realizing the universality of the NPT.

Mr. Chairman,

On the matter of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, ensuring the “3S” of safeguards, nuclear safety, and nuclear security is of the utmost importance, and countries that are presently involved in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy bear a great responsibility with regard to ensuring the “3S”. Upon the lessons learned from the accident at TEPCO’s  Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan is striving to promote the highest levels of safety for nuclear power plants worldwide and is working to advance the further strengthening of global nuclear safety. In this regard, the steady implementation of the IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety is of great importance. Additionally, this December Japan will organize the Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety in co-sponsorship with the IAEA.

Japan welcomes the success of the Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul at the end of March and will contribute to the improvement of nuclear security through the steady implementation of the various measures that we announced at the Seoul Summit.

Mr. Chairman,

The real horrors of nuclear weapons can sometimes seem remote. That is why, for the duration of this Preparatory Committee, survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or Hibakusha as they are also known, will be speaking on the disastrous humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons at events both inside and outside of this building. I hope you will all take the time to listen to their experiences.

Japan believes it has the responsibility to transmit to future generations the horrible realities of nuclear weapons, and will work with all States, international organizations, as well as civil society, to promote efforts in disarmament and non-proliferation education. With this in mind, Japan, in cooperation with the United Nations University, will be hosting the Global Forum on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education this year from August 10 to 11 in Nagasaki. The participation of everyone interested is warmly welcomed.

In closing Mr. Chairman, it is my sincere hope that the process leading to the 2015 Review Conference will get off to a smooth start here in Vienna. Japan, for our part, commits its full support towards making this a reality.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.