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New York Visit by Mayors for Peace Delegation at same time as NPT Review Conference Preparatory Committee
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In conjunction with the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) Review Conference Preparatory Committee held in New York City in April 2014, Mayors for Peace (President: Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui) sent a delegation to New York.
This time, for the first time, eight high school students also travelled together with the delegation, to promote the "No More Nuclear Weapons! Petition Campaign by Hiroshima High School Students".
Mayor Matsui made a speech at the NGO session of the Preparatory Committee, where he spoke to the representatives of national governments about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and the need for actions to achieve the prompt realization of a treaty banning nuclear weapons.
He also submitted to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, a document calling for his leadership in starting concrete negotiations on the prompt realization of such a treaty.
Mayor Matsui also attended a related event where he gave a speech, and met with representatives of national governments and asked for their further efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
He also held discussions on the global situation regarding nuclear disarmament.
Mayor Matsui's main activities were as follows:
April 27
Mayor Matsui presented flowers at Ground Zero, the site where the World Trade Center was previously located prior to the 9.11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
He paid his respects to the approximately 3,000 people who lost their lives there.
April 28
Mayor Matsui gave a speech at the discussion session between the Hiroshima petition campaign high school students and the students of New York City's Stuyvesant High School.
He gave an explanation of the actual damage from the tragic bombing of Hiroshima, and helped the students to understand the heartfelt wishes of the atomic bomb survivors, who hope for the abolition of the absolute evil that is nuclear weapons, as well as the message of Hiroshima.
He also encouraged the students to share their thoughts on how to build a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons, and to develop friendships with each other.
Mayor Matsui then met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
After handing him the request from Mayors for Peace and a list of approximately 210,000 signatures from Hiroshima citizens, he then requested that the Secretary-General make efforts to develop momentum for the immediate abolition of nuclear weapons, including the start of concrete negotiations on the prompt realization of a treaty banning nuclear weapons.
He also asked that the Secretary-General visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki next year in line with the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Mayor Matsui also attended the reception held by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, attended by Ms. Angela Kane, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Roman Morey, Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee, and ambassadors from other national missions.
In a speech at the reception, the high school students from the petition campaign expressed their determination to communicate to the people of the world the wishes of people in the A-bombed cities, and do what they can, as young people who will lead the next generation, to achieve a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.
They received a warm round of applause.
April 29
The Youth Forum was held by Mayors for Peace, on the theme of "Aiming for a Peaceful World Free of Nuclear Weapons".
First Mayor Matsui gave a speech.
He spoke about the current concerns about the fading memory of the A-bomb experience, and spoke of the importance of young people leading the way to communicate the A-bomb experience to the people of the world and to future generations.
The mayor also encouraged the participants to lead future movements to abolish nuclear weapons and to achieve world peace.
The coordinator of this Forum was Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, Chairperson of Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and Secretary-General of Mayors for Peace.
Presentations were made by the eight high school students from the petition campaign, two university students from the Nagasaki youth delegation, and an American university student who is working as an intern in the 2020 Vision Campaign Association.
They spoke about their respective peace activities, their wishes for peace, and expressed their determination for initiatives to abolish nuclear weapons.
The Forum was held at the same time as the NPT Review Conference Preparatory Committee.
Even so, around 80 people attended and the venue was full, with some participants standing.
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Youth Forum held by Mayors for Peace
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Next was the NPT Review Conference 3rd Preparatory Committee NGO session, at where Mayor Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue gave speeches.
Mayor Matsui used data to explain the tragic state of Hiroshima 69 years ago.
He also spoke about the lives of the survivors after the bombing, emphasizing the inhumanity and absolute evil of nuclear weapons.
The mayor also stated that, as international discussions proceed focusing on the inhumane aspect of nuclear weapons, he would work together with Mayors for Peace member cities, the United Nations and NGOs aiming for the prompt realization of a treaty banning nuclear weapons.
The mayor also called for United States President Obama to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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Speech at the NPT Review Conference 3rd Preparatory Committee NGO Session
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April 30
Mayor Matsui gave a speech at a side event held by Hiroshima Prefecture.
The theme of the event was "Making the Most of the Hiroshima Experience".
He explained initiatives that are based on the detailed action plan to achieve 2020 Vision, and stated that Hiroshima City and Mayors for Peace will make the utmost efforts coordinate the wishes of a wide range of civic societies crossing borders and generations toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.
He also called for participants to act together for the abolition of nuclear weapons, an absolute evil.
This event was also attended by Ms. Angela Kane, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.
In her speech, she said that she greatly values the efforts of Mayors for Peace, and emphasized the importance of activities by young people, mentioning the activities of the signing petition by high school students as a good example.
This was followed by a forum held by the NGO Peace Depot and others, on the theme "Now is the time to act for the establishment of a North-East Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone".
In his speech, Mayor Matsui said that the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone has an important role to play as one system for the abolishment of nuclear weapons.
Mayor Matsui also met with Mr. Jorge Lomonaco, Mexican Ambassador for Disarmament to the United Nations, as well as other national government representatives.
In meeting with them, the mayor asked that they make further efforts for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and discussed the global situation regarding nuclear disarmament.
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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