Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan has condemned Russia’s decision on Thursday to revoke ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). 

Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko issued a statement on Friday that said: “Japan condemns Russia’s decision and urges Russia to continue to respect the international norm banning nuclear testing stipulated in the CTBT and to show its commitment to maintaining and strengthening the international monitoring system and to the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.”

Kamikawa noted that Russia ratified the CTBT in 2000 and has shown a commitment to banning nuclear testing. 

“The international community has witnessed a steady increase in the number of countries that have signed and ratified the CTBT,” Kamikawa stated. “Such history has great significance for the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. In the current severe international situation, it is becoming increasingly important to promote the entry into force and to universalize the CTBT.”

The Foreign Minister said Japan is the only country to have ever been attacked with atomic bombs and that Russia is the largest nuclear-weapon state among the signatories of the CTBT. “Russia’s decision to revoke its ratification of the CTBT goes against the international community’s longstanding efforts,” she added. 

“As the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan will continue to work tenaciously with the international community toward the achievement of a world without nuclear weapons through realistic and practical efforts, including the early entry into force and universalization of the CTBT.”