Japan's Submission of a Draft Resolution on Nuclear Disarmament to the United Nations General Assembly

19 October 2001

1. On 18 October 2001 (New York time), the government of Japan submitted to the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly a draft resolution on nuclear disarmament entitled, "A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons." The voting on the draft resolution will be held from October 31 to November 9, after a series of discussions in the Committee.
2. Given the change in the international political situation concerning nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, it is of the greatest importance for Japan, the only country to have suffered from atomic bombings, to steadily continue her efforts towards the elimination of nuclear weapons through a progressive and practical approach as well as to strongly enunciate that goal, grounded in the fervent national desire to eliminate nuclear weapons. Based on this fundamental concept, Japan has proposed this draft resolution.