Nuclear Weapons Convention First Conference of the Parties Nuclear Threat Increases Feeling of Crisis

At the first meeting of the parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which began in Austria, on the first day, many parties expressed a strong sense of crisis about the growing threat of nuclear weapons due to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, and the treaty aims to eliminate nuclear weapons. Emphasized the significance of.

On the second day, NATO = members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, who are attending as observers, will also make a speech, and the remarks will be watched.

The first meeting of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which bans the possession and use of nuclear weapons, began in Vienna, the capital of Austria, on the afternoon of the 21st of Japan time.

At the beginning, the chairman of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kument, said, "Every debate over nuclear weapons is going in the wrong direction," and is wary of the threat of nuclear weapons and the growing debate over nuclear deterrence in each country. I showed a feeling.

Following the speeches of the Parties, most countries said that New Zealand's representative said, "President Putin's threat to use nuclear weapons is pushing us back to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe." He expressed a sense of crisis about the growing threat of nuclear weapons due to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, and emphasized the significance of the treaty aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons.

According to Chairman Kument, 33 non-participating countries have announced their attendance at the conference as observers, and at the second day of the meeting from the afternoon of the 22nd of Japan time, NATO's major countries Germany and the Netherlands Etc. will give a speech.

In addition, on the second day, the A-bomb survivors attending from Nagasaki will give testimony, and ▽ procedures for involving nuclear-weapon states in the treaty in the future, ▽ support for victims of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, etc. will be discussed. Will be done.

Chairman Kument "We should discuss the ban on nuclear weapons"

Mr. Kument, Director General of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria, who chairs the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, responded to an interview with NHK prior to the conference.

Mr. Kument has been working on the issue of disarmament at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for about 20 years, and in 2014 he also chaired an international conference focusing on the inhumanity of nuclear weapons, and is central to the realization of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Has played a major role.

Mr. Kument welcomed the fact that the conference could be held even though it was repeatedly postponed due to the spread of the new corona infection. Did.

Also, regarding the current situation where there is widespread concern about the actual use of nuclear weapons following Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, "If the world understands the humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons and the extremely serious risks of possessing nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons You will find that the idea of ​​deterrence is just an illusion. Now is the time to discuss the ban on nuclear weapons, "he reiterated the significance of the treaty.

Meanwhile, the ICAN = International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, an international NGO that contributed to the establishment of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, held a rally on the 20th, the day before the Conference of the Parties, inviting members from all over the world. rice field.

Members of the national affairs from more than 10 countries participated in the rally, including members of Japan who did not participate in the treaty and members of Germany and Belgium who are members of the NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Among them, a German ruling party member said, "It is very important to be able to discuss and share information with members of other countries," and a Belgian ruling party member also said, "Belgium, a NATO member, has a nuclear weapons ban treaty. I'm under strong pressure not to participate in the event. I don't know when it will be, and it may be difficult, but I hope that one day I will be able to sign and ratify the treaty. " ..

ICAN Secretary-General Finn said, "The biggest challenge is to turn the fierce anger of nuclear threats and the anxieties people have about nuclear weapons into political power. We must not allow the tone of "solving the problem with nuclear weapons." He pointed out that now that the use of nuclear weapons is becoming a reality, it is necessary to accelerate discussions at the citizen level on how to deal with nuclear weapons. ..

Mayor of Hiroshima "Making the Treaty Effective"

The first meeting of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which came into effect in January last year, began in Belgium, the capital of Austria, on the 21st. Germany and Belgium are attending as observers.

On the 21st of the first day, Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima City and Mayor Tagami of Nagasaki City gave speeches.

Of these, Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima City said, "The earnest feelings of the A-bomb survivors,'Don't let anyone feel this way,' are common to those who are now suffering from the tragic war. Although it is a steep road to respond to that desire, there is only the progress of nuclear disarmament and the abolition of nuclear weapons beyond that. "

He also argued that in order to make the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons effective, it is urgent to increase the number of ratifying countries and raise awareness of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and the uncertainty of nuclear weapons management among nuclear-weapon states. rice field.

After the speech, Mayor Matsui said about the Japanese government, which did not participate in the conference, "I would like to confirm the ideas of the countries that are participating as observers in a situation similar to Japan and create an environment where Japan can participate." talked.

Mayor of Nagasaki "Making Nagasaki the Last A-bombed Area"

Mayor Tagami of Nagasaki said, "The significance of this nuclear weapons ban treaty is very significant now that we are exposed to the'crisis of the use of nuclear weapons', keeping in mind the situation in Ukraine where Russia is concerned about the use of nuclear weapons. I feel. Now that we are feeling the crisis, preventing the use of nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear weapons is a principle of action that can be shared by countries that do not agree with the treaty. " I appealed that it should be lively.

On top of that, "Please break open the memories you want to keep in the depths of your heart, remember the voices of the A-bomb survivors who continued to speak, and change your courage. We cannot share the experience of the A-bomb survivors, which is the origin of the treaty, The thoughts of the A-bomb survivors can be shared. Now that the danger of creating a third war-bombed area is increasing, we will work together under the slogan "Make Nagasaki the last A-bombed area" that the A-bomb survivors have complained about. Let's spread the chain of sympathy that "never use nuclear weapons" all over the world. "

After the speech by Mayor Taue, applause was sent from the representatives of each country.

After giving a speech, Mayor Tagami was asked by the press about the fact that the Government of Japan did not participate as an observer. "I am sorry that the Government of Japan did not participate this time. The Conference of the Parties is held regularly. I would like you to consider it from the participation of observers. "

A-bomb survivors complained locally that "nuclear and humankind cannot coexist"

At the venue, in parallel with the conference, the "Mayors for Peace" and NGOs created by local governments in Japan and overseas aiming to abolish nuclear weapons held events, and the atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki appealed to the actual situation of the atomic bombing.

In this, Masashi Iejima (80), who was bombed in Hiroshima, explained that a piece of window glass scattered by the blast pierced the mother's body in an instant. , Leading to the ruin of humankind. Nuclear weapons and humankind cannot coexist. "

In addition, Ryoka Nakamura, a third-year university student whose grandmother was bombed in Nagasaki, said, "This treaty not only bans nuclear weapons, but also helps to share a humanitarian spirit around the world to protect human dignity. I strongly believe that it will be. "

A woman from Croatia who attended the event said, "I was very sad to hear the story of the A-bomb survivors, but I'm glad I could hear it. I hope there will be no war or nuclear weapons because there was a war in my own country."