Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Election of Mr. Yukio Takasu, Japanese Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, as the Chairperson Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

November 14, 2003

  1. At the 21st session of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) held on November 13 (Thu), Mr. Yukio Takasu, Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, was elected as the next Chairperson of the Preparatory Commission. He will assume the post for a year from January 2004. Ambassador Takasu's election resulted from the high appreciation of his contribution to and achievements for the Preparatory Commission. Japan welcomes and takes very seriously this election as a reflection of great expectations of the Commission for Japan's further contributions.

  2. As the only country in the world to have suffered the tragedy of atomic bombing, and to promote nuclear disarmament and improve Japan's security environment, Japan has been working for the CTBT's early entry into force and has therefore been consistently and strongly supporting the activities of the Preparatory Commission. Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended the 3rd Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty held in September and urged the importance of the early entry into force of the CTBT. Taking the opportunity of Ambassador Takasu's election, Japan intends to make further contributions.
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