Media Release
NGO statement and meeting between NGOs and ICNND Co-chairs Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi
Tokyo, December 15: The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), a joint initiative of the Australian and Japanese governments, today released its report in Tokyo. The report, entitled Eliminating Nuclear Threats is available on ICNND's web site:
http://www.icnnd.org/
After handing the report to the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, ICNND Co-chairs Gareth Evans and Yoriko Kawaguchi held discussions with Japanese NGOs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Immediately after meeting with the ICNND Co-chairs, Japanese NGOs held a press conference in which they released a statement signed by Japanese, Australian and other international NGOs.
Masayoshi Naito (Board Member of Japan Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms and Co-chair of ICNND Japan NGO Network) and Akira Kawasaki (Executive Committee Member of Peace Boat and NGO Advisor to ICNND Co-Chairs) welcomed comments by Gareth Evans to the effect that the government of Japan should communicate to the US government that it would support a reduction in the role of nuclear weapons in US security policy. Evans said that Japan should communicate its support for the adoption of a policy in which the "sole purpose" of nuclear weapons is deterrence of nuclear attack. He stressed that the next two months are crucial, so that a "sole purpose" policy can be adopted in the US's Nuclear Posture Review, due to be released early next year. Evans urged NGOs to lobby the Japanese government strongly on this point.
ICNND Japan NGO Network web site:
http://icnndngojapan.wordpress.com/
Background information about the ICNND report:
http://icnndngojapan.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/pre-launchalert/
Contact details
Akira Kawasaki (Peace Boat, NGO Advisor to ICNND Co-Chairs)
81-3-3363-7561
Philip White (International Liaison Officer, Citizens' Nuclear Information Center)
81-3-3357-3800
ICNND Japan NGO Network Secretariat (c/- Peace Depot)
81-45-563-5101
