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Japan for nuclear disarmament

RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: The Japanese consuls general, at Karachi Kazumi Dekiba has expressed the hope that the Pakistan will understand the Japanese point of view on (CTBT).

He said his country was working for a free nuclear regime and called upon the world community including Pakistan and India to sign CTBT as a first step towards nuclear non-proliferation.

He was delivering a lecture on the subject of "post nuclear relations" between Japan and Pakistan at the Sindh University Jamshoro on Wednesday.

The vice-chancellor, Sindh university, Dr R A Shah, presided over the function. A large number of teachers and students attended the lecture.

He said Japan has continued cooperation with Pakistan even after its going nuclear.

Kazumi, however, said that nuclear tests both by India and Pakistan was a big blow as both the government and people of Japan believed in total elimination of nuclear weapons as Japan was the only sufferer nuclearisation.

He referred to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in this context.

He said the Japanese nation could never forget the agony of the nuclear bombs that were dropped on its two major cities in 1945. He said even after half a century thousands of people continue to suffer physically and psychologically due to what happened in 1945.

He said this nightmare should be a lesson to the international community.

The consul-general recalled that Pakistan had supported Japan's entry in the United Nations in 1954.

In the economic field, Kazumi said, many a joint ventures had been set up in Pakistan and added that for the promotion of cultural and academic activities, Japan had set up centres in major cities of Pakistan. Referring to the "official development assistance" (ODA) he said Japan was also providing economic and technical assistance to Pakistan.

He said the Japanese nation believed in building a stronger and prosperous Asia.

Since April 28, 1952, when both the countries began, Pakistan, Japan enjoy cordial relations especially in the cultural field.

He said the two countries has signed cultural agreement in 1957 which was followed by exchange of visits by prominent personalities in the field of culture.

He said in 1983, Japan-Pakistan joint commission was set up to promote bilateral relations especially in the field of culture. He said Japan gave great importance to the preservation of cultural heritage in Pakistan and added that in furtherance of this objective, his country had provided regular financial assistance for the preservation of Moen-jo-Daro.