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Secretary General Komizo's Visit to Russia and Switzerland to strengthen cooperation between Mayors for Peace member cities
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In October 2017, Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Secretary General of Mayors for Peace, visited Volgograd, Russia and Geneva, Switzerland.
He visited Volgograd, a Vice President and Lead City of Mayors for Peace, to further promote Mayors for Peace activities in Russia based on the newly adopted Action Plan.
In Geneva, he met with key figures in nuclear disarmament and discussed their possible collaboration with Mayors for Peace member cities and other organizations in order to encourage all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Visit to Volgograd State University
Mr. Komizo gave an introduction about the "Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Course", and expressed his hope that Volgograd State University will start offering the course in the near future.
Rector Tarakanov showed a positive attitude to it and mentioned that his university is committed to preserving memories of the past, and conveying them to future generations.
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Meeting with Mayor Kosolapov of Volgograd
Mr. Komizo expressed his strong hope to continue working with the City of Volgograd to achieve our common goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
He also asked for Volgograd's help in expanding Mayors for Peace membership in Russia.
Lastly, Mr. Komizo presented Mayor Kosolapov with a wreath of paper cranes.
Meeting with Mr. Bernard, Head of the Office of External Affairs, the City of Geneva
Mr. Komizo visited the City Hall of Geneva, a member city of Mayors for Peace to meet with Mr. Steve Bernard, who is in charge of the City's external affairs.
Mr. Komizo asked the City of Geneva for further support of Mayors for Peace activities.
Visit to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Mr. Komizo visited UNIDIR, a UN research institute which provides objective research and creative thinking on
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Meeting with Mayor Kosolapov of
Volgograd (right)
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disarmament and security, and introduced the work of Mayors for Peace and expressed his hope for future collaboration between UNIDIR and Mayors for Peace.
Meeting with Ms. Fihn, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Mr. Komizo visited the headquarters of ICAN, the Nobel Peace Prize 2017 winner, and presented Ms. Fihn with a letter of congratulations from Hiroshima Mayor Matsui and a wreath of paper cranes.
Mr. Komizo discussed which steps must be taken now that the prohibition treaty has been adopted, and stressed the importance of continued efforts to overcome mutual distrust through dialogue.
Ms. Fihn mentioned that ICAN is already on its way to developing new plans and will continue to reach out to the general public to convey in an easily understood manner the risks that we currently face, and the civil society initiatives currently being undertaken.
Meeting with Ms. Lawand, Head of Arms Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Ms. Lawand said that the one of the priorities after the adoption of the prohibition treaty is reducing the risk of the use of nuclear weapons through encouraging dialogue with nuclear-armed states and other key actors.
Mr. Komizo agreed and mentioned that Mayors for Peace will seize opportunities, such as the meeting of a group of eminent people to be hosted by Japan in 2017, to facilitate dialogue with nuclear-armed states.
Meeting with Mr. Moller, Director-General of United Nations Office at Geneva
Mr. Komizo briefed Mr. Moller about the decision of Mayors for Peace to seek solutions to disarmament and security challenges comprehensively, while encouraging Lead Cities in each region to address regional issues such as terrorism, refugees, etc.
Mr. Moller commented that good news like the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and ICAN's receiving of the Nobel Peace Prize can change the course of nuclear disarmament favorably, and the role of Mayors for Peace will become increasingly important.
Meeting with Ms. Whyte Gómez, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Ms. Whyte pointed out the lack of knowledge on nuclear weapons among young generations and stressed the need for education.
Mr. Komizo said that he would like the aging hibakusha to see the global nuclear disarmament moving forward by the year 2020 and give them a sense of confidence and peace of mind.
Meeting with Mr. Volker Türk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Mr. Komizo introduced Mr. Türk to Mayors for Peace and spoke about the new objective, the "Realization of safe and resilient cities", under which each regional group seeks to address regional issues such as the refugee crisis.
Mr. Türk mentioned the importance of utilizing networks of cities and mayors, like Mayors for Peace does, in addressing the major refugee crisis.
Through this visit
Volgograd City has the historical background of being the site of Russia's bloodiest battle during World War II, and we found during this visit that Volgograd has a strong awareness of the importance of peace and high aspirations as a Mayors for Peace Leader City.
Meetings with various dignitaries in Geneva became precious opportunities to help strengthen connections with international peace research bodies and build networks with international peace organizations and NGOs.
At the meetings with Ms. Fihn, Executive Director of ICAN, and Costa Rica's Ambassador White, Mr. Komizo had fruitful discussions regarding initiatives after the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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