Press Releases

The Second Meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons

May 26, 2023
Japanese

On April 4 and 5, the second meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP) was held in Tokyo. A total of nine members attended the meeting in person, including Chair SHIRAISHI Takashi, Chancellor of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto, and two other Japanese members, as well as six foreign members including those from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States. In addition, five members participated virtually.

  1. In the first session on April 4, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated through a video message. In this video message, Minister HAYASHI stated that it was important to promote realistic and practical efforts without stopping moving forward toward a world without nuclear weapons, as the circumstances for advancing nuclear disarmament are becoming increasingly severe, and expressed his expectation for candid discussions at this meeting.
  2. At this meeting, the IGEP members had frank and in-depth discussions on the importance of maintaining and strengthening the NPT regime in light of the current extremely severe security environment as well as the situations surrounding the New START, with a view to making a positive contribution to the next NPT review process, which will start with the first session of the Preparatory Committee of the next NPT Review Conference to be held from the end of July this year.
  3. The IGEP members concurred that it would be meaningful to compile a concrete message based on the discussions at this meeting as to provide input to the first session of the Preparatory Committee. As a result of the lively discussions among the IGEP members, they decided on the basic pillars of the message as follows: (1) reinforcing and expanding norms, (2) taking concrete measures on nuclear disarmament, arms control, and confidence building measures, and (3) measures to strengthen the NPT review process. They also decided to continue discussions on specific wordings and other details of the message.
  4. The IGEP members who attended the meeting in person paid a courtesy call for Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio on April 4 and attended a dinner hosted by State Minister for Foreign Affairs TAKEI Shunsuke in the evening of the same day. Furthermore, on April 4, the IGEP members exchanged views with the Parliamentary' League on disarmament.
(Reference1) Attachment
(Reference2) International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP)
  • (1) Background and Objectives
    In January 2022, Prime Minister KISHIDA announced in his Policy Speech to the Diet that the IGEP will serve as an opportunity for participants from nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, as well as those from countries participating and not participating in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, to exchange ideas and thoughts beyond their respective national positions and engage in candid discussions concerning a concrete path towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. On December 10 and 11 2022, the first IGEP meeting was held in Hiroshima, and Prime Minister Kishida attended the second closing session which was held in the afternoon of December 11.
  • (2) 15 members of the IGEP
Shiraishi Takashi (Chair) Chancellor, Prefectural University of Kumamoto
Angela Kane Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations
Rose Gottemoeller Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
Takamizawa Nobushige Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo
George Perkovich Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Gustavo Zlauvinen President of the 10th NPT Review Conference
Ian Anthony Programme Director, European Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI
Bruno Tertrais Deputy Director, Foundation for Strategic Research (note: participated in the first meeting online)
Dina Kawar Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States
Raden Mohammad Marty
Muliana Natalegawa 		Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (note: participated in the first meeting through a video message)
Manpreet Sethi Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies
Akiyama Nobumasa Dean, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University
Tanya Ogilvie-White Research Director, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
Anton Khlopkov Director of Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
Tong Zhao Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Visiting Research Scholar, Princeton University
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