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U.N. confab on nuclear disarmament held in Hiroshima

August 26, 2015

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150826p2g00m0dm072000c.html

HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) -- Some 80 government officials and experts from around the world gathered in Hiroshima on Wednesday to discuss nuclear disarmament, following up on discussions at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference earlier in the year.

Hiroshima, which this year marked the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, is hosting the 25th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues. The meeting has been held annually in Japan since 1989.

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said in his opening remark, "I would like people to give thought to the horror of nuclear weapons as an absolute evil and to the preciousness of maintaining peace."

In a statement read at the conference, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said discussions at the Hiroshima meeting will be important for efforts toward the 2015-2020 NPT review cycle.

"I look forward to the active exchange of views from a wide range of perspectives from countries around the world," Kishida said in the statement.

The conference provides "an informal setting for frank and open discussion on critical issues of disarmament and security," according to the United Nations.

The conference continues through Friday.