Hibakusha Groups Urge Abe to Sign Nuke Ban Treaty

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Hibakusha atomic bomb survivors in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Thursday urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to sign a nuclear weapons ban treaty adopted at the United Nations last year. In their meeting in the city of Nagasaki, five hibakusha groups told Abe that they want the Japanese government to lead efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons. Abe replied, "Although our approach is different, Japan does share the treaty's goal of eliminating nuclear weapons," reiterating the government's refusal to sign the pact. He said that what Japan should do to promote nuclear disarmament is "to be a bridge among countries with different standpoints." Japan will "contribute to forming a common basis on which the international community can act toward the elimination of nuclear weapons," Abe said. Koichi Kawano, 78, who leads a hibakusha group, criticized Abe's stance, saying that his approach is short on specifics and "can't be appreciated at all." Earlier on Thursday, Abe attended a ceremony to mark the 73rd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city. END