Japan submits nuclear disarmament resolution to UN General Assembly

October 18, 2007

The Government of Japan submitted on October 18 (Thu) (17, U.S. time) its draft resolution of nuclear disarmament (“Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons”) to the 62nd session of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Government of Japan has annually submitted draft resolutions on nuclear disarmament to the United Nations since 1994. The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the international community including nuclear-weapon states (the UK, France and Russia) last year. Japan, as the only nation in the world to have suffered atomic bombings, inspired by the strong national sentiment calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons, and based on its basic position that places great importance on aiming at a peaceful and safe world free from nuclear weapons through practical and progressive efforts, submitted this draft resolution.
The Government of Japan believes that there is the need for further efforts to maintain and consolidate the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime based on the NPT. The submission of this draft resolution represents one of Japan’s such concrete efforts. Based on such a standpoint, and considering changes in the international situation and the progress of nuclear disarmament, this year’s resolution calls upon the international community to cooperate for the 2010 NPT Review Conference, which will be held in three years from now.
This draft resolution is expected to be adopted at the First Committee on October 29 at the earliest, and at the General Assembly in mid December. The Government of Japan also submitted on October 18 its draft resolution concerning illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which Japan submits jointly with South Africa and Colombia (this year’s coordinating country) to the First Committee annually.

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