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The Third Preparatory Committee Session of the 2020 NPT Review Conference (April 29 – May10, 2019)

Mr. ABE Shinzo, Prime Minister
Mr. KONO Taro, Foreign Minister

April 12, 2019
Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo)

The 3rd Preparatory Committee session of the 2020 NPT Review Conference will soon start in New York.

Despite adamant resistance of the nuclear-armed countries, the NPT Review Conferences have achieved significant agreements leading to the total ban and elimination of nuclear weapons, including the “unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear weapon states to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals” as well as 13 practical steps for nuclear disarmament (May 2000) and the obligation to make “special efforts to establish the necessary framework” to “achieve the peace and security of  a world without nuclear weapons” (May 2010).

Also, regarding nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, the agreement on holding of an international conference on creating a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, reached in the NPT Review Conference, should be implemented without delay.

All these agreements were reached by consensus with the support of the five nuclear weapon states. It is clear that the focus of the 2020 NPT Review Conference will be the implementation of these agreements.

We take this opportunity to call on the Japanese government to take following actions, so that the 2020 NPT Review Conference should confirm the implementation of these agreements, thereby mark a decisive turn to literally “achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”.

1. To work for the implementation of the past consensus agreements, i.e., Article 6 of the NPT, the outcome of the 2000 Review Conference, including the “unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals” and the “special efforts” to establish the “necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons” agreed in 2010. Especially, Japan should urge the nuclear weapon states to fulfill these commitments and promote the convening of a “conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction.”

2. To support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted in the U.N. conference in July 2017 and start examining Japan’s signature and ratification of the treaty. Also, Japan should urge those states that have not signed or ratified the treaty to consider positively to do so.

3. To oppose any threat of force, especially nuclear threat, and pursue settling international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of the Constitution of Japan. Following the two-thirds of states in the world, which are promoting the prohibition of nuclear weapons, Japan should consider freeing itself from the “nuclear umbrella”, which regards nuclear weapons as the “guarantee of security”.