Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

In the backdrop of the deterioration of international security environment and emerging of serious schism on approaches towards a world without nuclear weapons between nuclear-weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear-weapon states (N-NWS), and even among N-NWS. Based on these circumstances, Former FM Kishida announced the establishment of Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament (SAG) in his statement at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference in May, 2017.

This initiative aims for making a recommendation, which contributes to achieve substantive advancement of nuclear disarmament through inviting its experts from both of NWS and N-NWS to Japan by end of 2017 in order to rebuild trust among countries having differing approaches towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

SAG is consisted of a total of 17 experts; 7 Japanese experts including the chairperson, and 10 foreign experts from NWS and N-NWS including the States promoting Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The members are experts in nuclear disarmament & non-proliferation and the international security, and two experts from Hiroshima and Nagasaki are also included.

(1) Kick-off the initiative

• Remarks by Mr. Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the First Session of Preparatory Committee for the 2020 NPT Review Conference Review Conference (May 2, 2017) (PDF)

(2) 1st meeting of the Group in Hiroshima (November 27-28, 2017)

• The Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament (November 28, 2017)
• Overview on the discussions at the 1st meeting of Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament (December 8, 2017)

(3) 2nd meeting of the Group in Tokyo (March 26-27, 2018)

• Working Dinner with the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament hosted by Foreign Minister KONO (March 26, 2018)
• Dinner for the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament hosted by Mr. Mitsunari OKAMOTO, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (March 27, 2018)
• Overview of the Second Meeting of the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament (March 27, 2018)

(4) Submission of the Recommendations of the Group to Foreign Minister Kono

• Submission of the FY 2017 Recommendations of the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament to Foreign Minister Kono (March 29, 2018)

(5) Inputs to the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference

• Foreign Minister Taro Kono delivered a statement at the General Debate of the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference
• Opening Remarks by Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the side event of the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference on the“Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmaemnt (EPG)” (April 24, 2018)
• Meeting between Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Ambassador Adam Bugajski, Chair of the Second Session of the Prepatory Committee of the 2020 NPT Review Conference

(6) 3rd meeting of the Group in Nagasaki (November 14-15, 2018)

• The Third Meeting of the Group of Eminent Persons for Substantive Advancement of Nuclear Disarmament (EPG) (November 15, 2018)

April, 2019

• Kyoto Appeal (English (PDF) / Japanese (PDF))

March, 2018

• Building Bridges to Effective Nuclear Disarmament -Recommendations for the 2020 Review Process for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) - (PDF)