Message from Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
to the Tokyo Conference
on Anti-Personnel Landmines
Tokyo
March 6, 1997
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Permit me to express a most sincere welcome to all of you who have come to Japan to attend the Tokyo Conference on Anti-Personnel Landmines.
I regard the goal of foreign policy to be making the world a better place for future generations-that is, the creation of a world free from poverty and conflict. As I stated last year before the United Nations General Assembly, in order to realize this goal, efforts are required in three crucial areas: first, securing world peace and stability; second, promoting development which brings growth and stability to developing countries; and third, ensuring the well-being of each and every citizen throughout global society. In each of these areas, however, the problems posed by anti-personnel landmines create a wall confronting them. That is to say, anti-personnel landmines not only create enormous humanitarian problems by indiscriminately inflicting injury and each on civilians both during and after armed conflicts, they also constitute a huge impediment to recovery and development after conflicts have been resolved.
Recognizing that efforts by the international community to address the problem of anti-personnel landmines are indispensable, I called attention to the necessity for international cooperation on this issue at last year's Lyon Summit and at the United Nations General Assembly. Specifically, international support is required in four areas: (1) efforts towards achieving a global ban on anti-personnel landmines, (2) support for landmine clearance by the United Nations and other organizations, (3) development of new technology for mine detection and removal, and (4) assistance to the victims of landmines. I am convinced that comprehensive efforts are needed now so that progress and be made in all four areas.
Fortunately, many world leaders are deeply acknowledging the gravity of this issue, and they have resolved to address the problem in earnest as their own. Japan joins hands with these world leaders and, in partnership with those mine-infested countries and other countries providing assistance, as well as with United Nations and other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, fully intend to cooperate to the best of its ability, and on a long-term basis, in order to bring about a resolution of the anti-personnel landmine problem.
Finally, let me conclude these remarks by expressing the hope that the policy makers assembled here will use the Tokyo Conference on Anti-Personnel Landmines as an opportunity to discuss this intensively and to forge policies that will lead us to a better future.
Thank you.
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