Opening Address by Mr. Shuzen Tanigawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the Tokyo Seminar on the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons "Toward the 2005 Review Conference"

February 7, 2005

Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentleman,

Today, I am delighted that we are able to have the NPT Tokyo Seminar here with your attendance. I would like to extend my sincere welcome to you all from around the world.

The NPT, the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, is currently facing serious challenges such as DPRK and Iranian nuclear issues, and the nuclear proliferation through underground networks. In improving regional and global security environment, it is extremely important to maintain and strengthen the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime based on the NPT. In this sense, the NPT Review Conference in May is of pivotal importance for the international society to maintain and consolidate the credibility of the NPT regime. The 1995 NPT Review Conference adopted "Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament," and the 2000 NPT Review Conference did the Final Document including important steps toward future nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. Japan strongly hopes that based upon these important agreements, the international community will renew its confidence in the NPT and issue a robust message in order to strengthen functions of the NPT in the coming conference.

The purpose of this seminar is to contribute to the smooth operation of the Review Conference, and we have the attendance of Ambassador Duarte, President-designate of the Review Conference. The NPT regime consists of three pillars, namely, nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy. In order to make the NPT regime sustain its credibility and function well for the international peace and stability, progress should be made in these three aspects in a balanced manner. I would like to state Japan's basic policies on these three aspects.

First, I would like to emphasize the importance of nuclear disarmament. As the only country that has experienced nuclear devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan has the mission to advocate the elimination of nuclear weapons. Under the NPT regime, almost all countries have already committed to renounce the option of nuclear armament. Nuclear-weapon states should take seriously this fact and demonstrate tangible progresses in the nuclear disarmament. Japan considers it important to build up realistic and progressive measures toward a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons.

Second, the importance of nuclear non-proliferation has become strongly recognized. The revelation of the underground network last year has highlighted the increased threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related materials. To prevent nuclear proliferation to terrorists and states of concern is one of the most serious security agenda for the international community to address. As loopholes of nuclear non-proliferation regime have become apparent, it is our urgent task to close them and strengthen the non-proliferation regime. I believe that this view is shared by all of us.

Third, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which is the legitimate right of the NPT members, should be fully respected. At the same time, countries should secure the maximum transparency in their own nuclear activities. Japan supports the promotion of the legitimate peaceful use of nuclear energy with full transparency and guarantee for peaceful purpose through the NPT, the IAEA safeguards agreements and the additional protocols and bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreements.

This year marks the 60-year anniversary of the atomic bombings in Japan. I strongly hope that the NPT Review Conference to be held in this anniversary will be an opportunity for the international community to renew its commitment to the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and to make concerted efforts in issuing a robust message. I believe that it is of great value that delegates from governments and international organizations, and eminent experts get together and share their insights in this seminar. I wish we will have fruitful discussions.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.