Japan-Australia Consultation on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

August 25, 2008

The Japan-Australia Consultation on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation was held on August 25 (Mon) in Tokyo, Japan. The Consultation was attended on the Japanese side by Mr. Toshio Sano, Director-General of the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and others, and on the Australian side by Mr. Ian Biggs, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and others. The two sides exchanged views on various current issues related to disarmament and non-proliferation, such as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, regional issues, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and conventional weapons.
On nuclear disarmament, the Japanese side stated that Japan attaches importance to the maintenance and reinforcement of the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) regime and that it hopes to cooperate closely with Australia for the success of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
On non-proliferation, the two sides confirmed that North Korea’s nuclear issue constitutes a threat to the peace and stability of the international community and the importance for the international community to deliver a united message to achieve the abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs by North Korea through the Six-Party Talks. They also discussed the Iranian nuclear issue and confirmed the importance for the international community to act in concert for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the issue.
The two sides also exchanged views on the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament established jointly by Japan and Australia and agreed that the Governments of Japan and Australia would work together for the success of the Commission.

(END)