Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Signing of the new START Treaty

April 8, 2010
Japanese

On April 8 (Thu), the new START Treaty was signed by Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, and Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, at the U.S.-Russia Summit Meeting held in Prague.
Japan welcomes the singing of this treaty by the U.S and Russia, as a result of negotiations carried out by the both governments, indicating that important progress has been made towards disarmament by both countries, such as agreeing to standards for reducing nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles.
Japan highly values this treaty which is in line with the obligation for disarmament included in Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and was signed ahead of the Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT to be held in May making important contributions to this meeting.
Japan expects the early ratification of this Treaty by both countries. Japan will also continue to display even greater leadership in the international community towards the advancement of global nuclear disarmament, along with the participation of other countries possessing nuclear weapons, and towards realizing the goal of "a world without nuclear weapons."

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