The first Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which bans the development and use of nuclear weapons, began in Austria just before Japan time.


As Russia's military invasion of Ukraine raises the threat to nuclear weapons, the focus will be on whether it can increase international momentum for nuclear disarmament, with survivors testifying on the first day.

The first Conference of the Parties to discuss the future operation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into effect in January last year, began in Vienna, the capital of Austria, on the morning of the 21st, after 5 pm on the 21st of Japan time.



At the beginning of the meeting on the first day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a video message, expressing a sense of crisis that the nuclear threat is increasing, saying, "Now the horrifying lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are being lost from memory." "Only through solidarity can we build a more peaceful world. Let us abolish nuclear weapons before they destroy us."



Subsequently, NGOs and representatives of each country participating in the treaty are giving speeches, after which the A-bomb survivors will also testify and reiterate the significance of the treaty.



The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been ratified by three new countries, and 65 countries and regions have been contracted so far. NATO = members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Japan are not participating.



In addition to the Parties, at least 29 NATO member countries such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, which are not participating in the treaty, will attend this meeting as observers, but the Government of Japan has not attended.



As Russia's military invasion of Ukraine raises concerns about the use of nuclear weapons, the three-day conference will ask whether it can increase international momentum for nuclear abolition.

UN Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu "Never allow the use of nuclear weapons"

Prior to the first Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Deputy Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, head of the United Nations Disarmament Division, responded to an independent interview with NHK.



In this, Deputy Secretary-General Nakamitsu said, "In response to the situation in Ukraine, the threat that nuclear weapons may be used has become clear, and Europe is in an environment where the threat is felt to be severe. At least in the short term. , Especially in Europe, it may be unavoidable to increase military costs and to rely on them to secure security. " He said that the Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty will be held in a difficult environment where the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is being discussed.



He also reaffirmed the principle that the use of nuclear weapons should never be allowed because of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, saying that the conference should focus on preventing the use of nuclear weapons. It is important to do so. One of the major goals is to refocus on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and to uphold the principle of non-use. "



Regarding the A-bomb survivors attending from Japan, "Only the A-bomb survivors can properly convey the devastating humanitarian effects of the use of nuclear weapons as a historical fact." I would like you to send a strong and realistic message that "it must not be". "



On top of that, regarding how to proceed with nuclear disarmament in the world in the future, "Nuclear disarmament is not a simple composition that can be achieved only with a ban treaty. Various tools are needed to ultimately realize the abolition of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons ban treaty We will also focus on how to enhance the complementarity between the NPT Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Proliferation and other frameworks for nuclear disarmament. "



Regarding the NPT, which imposes efforts on nuclear disarmament on nuclear-weapon states, a review meeting will be held in New York in August for the first time in seven years. I hope to push forward with nuclear disarmament as soon as possible in a way that pushes nuclear-weapon states. "

Aim of attending as a German observer

Germany is a major member of NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and while placing nuclear deterrence as the axis of security under the US nuclear umbrella, it also advocates the realization of a "world without nuclear weapons."



The Schortz administration, which was launched in December last year, emphasizes the center-left "Social Democratic Party" environmental policy and is composed of the "Green Party" that advocates the abolition of nuclear weapons. He announced his attendance as an observer at the Conference of the Parties.



Prior to the meeting, a spokesman for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "NATO's nuclear deterrence must be certain" and that he would like to listen to the debate over the ban on the development and use of nuclear weapons. rice field.



"Russia's military invasion of Ukraine has made unity with NATO even more important for Germany. The treaty is controversial within NATO," said Meyer, senior researcher at the Institute for Peace Studies and Security Policy, University of Hamburg, who is familiar with the issue of nuclear disarmament. It is difficult to realize a policy that does not get the support of member countries because it is a theme that we call, "he said, pointing out that Germany is faced with a difficult response due to the situation in Ukraine.



On the other hand, he said that if he participates in the conference, he can act as a bridge to convey the content of the discussion to other NATO member countries. "Open" and emphasized the significance of participation.