Request for Leader Cities for Mayors for Peace
Trip to Europe
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In June and July 2014, Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Secretary-General of Mayors for Peace (Chairperson of this Foundation) visited Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Vienna in Austria, and Rome in Italy, where he held discussions and asked each city to assume the position of Leader City in Mayors for Peace.
Discussions were also held on the expansion of Mayors for Peace activities in each of the regions.
Mr. Komizo participated in the events held in Sarajevo commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I, and gave a speech at an international conference held in Paris, France, on the reality of the damage from the atomic bomb and Mayors for Peace initiatives.
Mr. Komizo also went to Japan's diplomatic missions in the countries he visited, and asked for support for the initiatives being implemented by the Mayors for Peace member cities in each of the respective regions.
Mr. Komizo's main activities are as described below.
June 27
Mr. Komizo attended the International Conference for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World held in Paris by the France branch of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), and appeared on stage together with Mr. Des Browne, former British Minister of Defense, and Mr. Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, Secretary-General of the Pugwash Conferences.
Mr. Komizo gave a presentation on the reality of the damage from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the Mayors of Peace activities, attracting great interest from the other presenters and the audience.
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June 28
Mr. Komizo was invited to attend the events held in Sarajevo commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I, as representative of the Mayor of Hiroshima City.
This day marked 100 years since the assassination at Sarajevo that triggered the start of World War I.
The first event held was a tree-planting ceremony of a gingko sapling (tree that survived the atomic bombing) brought from Hiroshima.
At the ceremony, the atomic bomb survivor trees were presented from Hiroshima as a symbol of peace, reconciliation and recovery.
The trees were planted together with Mr. Ivo Komšić, the Mayor of Sarajevo, who was also presented with paper cranes that had been dedicated to the Children's Peace Monument in Peace Memorial Park.
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Planting of the atomic bomb survivor tree (gingko) together with Sarajevo Mayor (right)
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The Mayor seemed very moved, and said that they would look after the sapling as a symbol of friendship between the two cities and the whole of the European Union, as well as world peace.
Discussions were also held regarding assuming the position of Leader City.
The Mayor responded that Sarajevo would accept the position, and he expressed his gratitude for Hiroshima City and Mayors for Peace.
June 30
Mr. Komizo then traveled to Vienna, where he held discussions with Mr. Toshiro Ozawa, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, on setting up a new permanent atomic bombing exhibition in the Vienna office of the United Nations.
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Meeting with Mr. Alexander Kmennt, Director for Disarmament in the Austrian Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs
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Mr. Komizo then met with Mr. Alexander Kmennt, the Director for Disarmament in the Austrian Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs.
They held a discussion in preparation for the 3rd International Conference (Vienna Conference) on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons (held in Vienna, December 8-9, 2014).
Mr. Kmennt said that Austria has been seriously addressing the abolition of nuclear weapons, and said that as this will be a place for discussions with nuclear weapons nations as well as other nations, he would like to hold proactive negotiations with the relevant nations and maintain transparency in the discussions and produce significant results.
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July 1
Mr. Komizo met with Mr. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.
They discussed setting up a permanent atomic bomb exhibition in the Vienna office of the United Nations, and Mr. Komizo also met with Mr. Genxin Li, Director of CTBTO's Legal and External Relations Division and Ms. Tomiko Ichikawa, minister of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, and asked for their support for the establishment of a permanent atomic bomb exhibition.
This was followed by a meeting with Ms. Nadja Schmidt, representative of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Austria.
She provided information on events that her organization is planning in line with the 3rd International Conference (Vienna Conference) on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons.
They also discussed involvement by Mayors for Peace.
July 2
Mr. Komizo visited Vienna city hall, where he met with Mr. Thomas Resch, Vienna City's Chief Executive for European and International Affairs, and asked Vienna to take on the role of Leading City in Austria.
Mr. Resch stated that he is well aware of the important role that Mayors for Peace plays, and said that he would report to the mayor and consider the request.
Mr. Komizo next met with Ms. Elena Sokova, Executive Director of the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.
As the Center is focusing on training of young people in nuclear disarmament, the two held a discussion on the possibility for future cooperation between the two organizations.
July 3
Mr. Komizo traveled to Rome, where he met with Mr. Masaharu Kono, Japan's Ambassador to Italy.
He explained to Ambassador Kono the aims of his visit to Rome and provided an outline on Mayors for Peace.
Ambassador Kono provided valuable information for Mr. Komizo's stay in Rome, and they had a meaningful discussion, based on the fact that the ambassador himself is a second-generation atomic bomb survivor.
Next, Mr.Komizo visited Ms. Lisa Clark, a 2020 Vision campaigner.
He thanked her for her proactive campaign activities in Italy and other places, and they discussed future prospects for activities in Italy.
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Mr. Komizo then visited Rome city hall and met with acting Mayor of Rome, Mr. Silvio Di Francia.
He asked Rome to assume the post of Leader City.
Mr. Di Francia replied that they would proactively consider the request.
Mr. Komizo used the opportunity of this trip to present paper cranes that had been dedicated to the Children's Peace Monument to the heads of member cities of Mayors for Peace.
By doing so, he shared the wishes for peace that are incorporated in the paper cranes, and communicated the message from Hiroshima for the need to achieve a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons. |
At Rome city hall, asking that Rome becomes a Leader City and presenting paper cranes
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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