Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Adoption of the Draft Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament Submitted by Japan to the Plenary Session of the United Nations General Assembly

November 25, 2002

The Government of Japan welcomes the adoption on November 22 New York time (Japan time: November 23), by an overwhelming majority (156 in favour to 2 against, with 13 abstentions) of the draft resolution on "A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons", that it submitted to the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Government of Japan has annually submitted draft resolutions on nuclear disarmament since 1994 and has enjoyed overwhelming support from the international community. This year also, Japan submitted a draft resolution from the standpoint of public sentiment that strongly calls for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as the only nation in the world to have suffered atomic bombing, based on the fundamental principle that places great importance on steadily continuing a 'practical and progressive' approach toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and aiming at realizing a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons; this draft resolution was adopted with considerable support.
Following the adoption of its draft resolution, Japan intends to continue and intensify its diplomatic efforts in the area of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

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