Photo/Illutration Former U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a video message at the opening session of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons on Dec. 10. (Jun Ueda)

HIROSHIMA--Former U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a video message calling for a world without nuclear weapons at the start of an international nuclear disarmament conference that kicked off here Dec. 10.

The first meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons brings together three delegates from Japan and 12 from overseas, including from the United States and Russia.

The two-day conference, organized by the government, is intended as a forum for a frank exchange of views between experts from the nuclear powers as well as non-nuclear nations.

In his message Obama recalled his historic visit to Hiroshima in 2016, a first for a sitting U.S. president, and said, “It strengthened my own resolve to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide.”

But pointing to the lack of progress in nuclear arms disarmament, he added: “There have been some frustrating setbacks in recent years. We’ve learned that even modest progress requires extraordinary effort. But we have also learned that this effort is worth it.”

Obama said, “We owe it to our children to pursue a world without nuclear weapons.”

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents a Lower House district in the western Japan city that was leveled in the world’s first atomic bombing in 1945, plans to attend the closing session on Dec. 11. His message at the opening session was read by Shunsuke Takei, a senior vice foreign minister.

Kishida said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had raised the risk from the use of nuclear weapons to a level comparable to the worst period of the Cold War. But he added that no matter how difficult, the course toward a world without nuclear weapons had to be pursued at all costs.

In addition to discussions among the conference participants, atomic bomb survivors will talk about their experiences. Exchanges of views with nonprofit organizations are also slated.

Participants plan to lay flowers at the Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on Dec. 11.

* * *

The following is a transcript of former U.S. President Barack Obama’s video message as provided by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo:

I will never forget my first visit to Hiroshima. It was a moment that strengthened my own resolve to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide, and it is this same commitment that brings you all here today.

As you know, this is an extremely difficult task. But the good news is that we have made progress before. Just look at how much we’ve reduced global stockpiles from their Cold War peak.

Now, there have been some frustrating setbacks in recent years. And we’ve learned that even modest progress requires extraordinary effort. But we have also learned that this effort is worth it.

We owe it to our children to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. And this group of international leaders represents exactly the kind of cooperation we need to get there.

So thank you to Prime Minister Kishida, and to all of you gathered in Hiroshima, for bringing us closer to realizing this vision.

Related News