Greetings by a Guest Chinami Nishimura Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Governor Kaneko, Mayor Taue, Chairman Tsuchiyama of the Organizing Committee, representatives of NGOs, ladies and gentlemen: It is my great pleasure and honor to be here with you today. Thank you very much for inviting me to this Assembly. At the opening of the 4th Nagasaki Global Citizens'Assembly for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, I would like to pay my tribute to members of the Organizing Committee, Nagasaki Prefectural Government, Nagasaki City Government and other related organizations for their efforts and dedication to preparing this event. It is truly significant that this international assembly, aimed at realizing a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons, is being held under the partnerships between the residents of Nagasaki and members of NGOs here in Nagasaki, a city that was A-bombed 65 years ago. I believe that this year will be epochal in the movement toward realizing a "world without nuclear weapons."In April 2009, President Obama gave a historic speech in Prague, in which he said, "As the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act,"and stated his resolution to "seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons."This speech significantly changed the direction of global politics into nuclear disarmament. I was truly impressed and inspired by that speech. In such a heightened atmosphere, the Global Nuclear Security Summit and the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will be held in April and May 2010, respectively. So this year will be extremely important; both Japan and international society must make steady efforts to develop the emerging trends toward nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament into solid practices. Although the Hatoyama administration was inaugurated only a few months ago, we are committed to take the initiative in driving global politics in the direction of nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. You may remember that at the UN Security Council Summit, held in New York in September 2009, Prime Minister Hatoyama expressed Japan's firm resolution to exert its leadership in abolishing nuclear weapons. In October 2009, the Japanese government submitted to the UN General Assembly a resolution titled the "renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons,"which passed with an overwhelming majority (171 votes in favor of resolution). That resolution was particularly meaningful since the United States, which had repeatedly voted against the resolution since 2001, became a cosponsor for the first time. Japan's Foreign Minister, Vice Foreign Minister, and I believe that this year we should place the utmost priority on promoting nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, along with mitigating the effects of global climate change. Over the past month or so, Foreign Minister Okada has been appealing to foreign ministers of various other countries to make all-out efforts in promoting nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, so as to realize a world without nuclear weapons. We are also committed to resolving various urgent problems facing international society, most notably the nuclear development by North Korea and Iran. Regarding North Korea, by maintaining close contact with other related parties, Japan will continue to call for early resumption of the six-party talks and abolition of the nuclear weapons possessed by North Korea. At the same time, Japan will take various measures against North Korea, including those in compliance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and Japan's original measures. Concerning the nuclear development by Iran, at various high-level meetings, we tell the Iranian government that we oppose their development of nuclear weapons. We will continue our efforts to resolve these pressing issues so as to halt nuclear proliferation. With some other countries, the Japanese government is currently preparing a new policy recommendation on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, by referring to the report issued by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND). At the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to be held in May, the Japanese government will exert its leadership in fostering cooperation instead of opposition between nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states, and in facilitating talks regarding nuclear nonproliferation, disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear energy, so that participating countries will reach proactive agreements on these issues. To realize the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, however, it is crucial that the government and civil society work hand in hand. In this sense, I truly believe that efforts of a broad range of citizens are essential, such as the efforts you are currently making in this Assembly. I am particularly expecting that participants in this Assembly will share the experiences of bomb survivors so as to pass them on to succeeding generations. I sincerely hope that throughout the coming three days, you will hold lively discussions and that the Assembly will be truly rewarding. Since 1983, the Japanese government has been inviting young diplomats to Hiroshima and Nagasaki from around the world as part of the government's efforts to promote disarmament through the UN Disarmament Fellowship Program. Under this program, the Japanese government has invited at least 700 young diplomats, who visited Nagasaki and received warm hospitality from its residents. On this occasion, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the people of Nagasaki for their cooperation with this program. I would like to close my address with my very best wishes for the great success of this Assembly. Thank you very much.