Willingness to attend Peace Memorial Ceremony "I would like to visit Hiroshima next year"

United Nations Secretary-General “I want to visit Hiroshima next year” Willingness to attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony 10:51 September 10

``I hope I can visit Hiroshima next year,'' UN Secretary-General Guterres said of his withdrawal from attending the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held in August to prevent infection with the new coronavirus. I once again showed my willingness to attend the ceremony.

Secretary-General Guterres held an online press conference for the Japanese media stationed in New York on the 9th.

First, Secretary-General Guterres said he was "very disappointed" that he canceled attendance at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held on the 6th of last month in order to prevent the infection of the new coronavirus by the Japanese and US governments. "I am hoping to be able to visit Hiroshima next year. That is to express my appreciation to the exposed people I have a lot of respect for," he renewed his willingness to attend the ceremony.

Regarding nuclear disarmament, he emphasized that it is essential for the United States and Russia to seriously work on and renew the negotiations on the US-Russia nuclear disarmament treaty "New START" = New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which will expire in February next year.

On the other hand, regarding Japan as a bridge between countries that possess nuclear weapons and those that do not, "I rely on Japan to play an active role. It is absolutely necessary to advance nuclear disarmament through dialogue with nuclear weapon states. It is necessary," and expressed strong hope that Japan, the only survivor of the war, would work on nuclear disarmament with the United States and other nuclear powers.