Holding G-7 summit in Hiroshima 'message to world': Japan's UN envoy

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Holding the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima is a clear message to the world, especially to Russia, as the summit is addressing concerns over nuclear armament, Japan's ambassador to the UN said on Thursday.

Kazuyuki Yamazaki, answering a question by Anadolu, said: "The fact that the summit is being held in Hiroshima, we directly provide the world that it is addressing the nuclear armament."

The remarks of Yamazaki, the permanent representative of Japan to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, came during a briefing at the mission with members of the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the UN (ACANU).

"They (nuclear weapons) are the threat to the entire world, not only for the Ukrainian people but also to the surrounding region," Yamazaki said. "It's very, very dangerous and should be avoided by all means."

"So, that is our government's determination that we send out that message to the world, especially to Russia," he added.

On Russia's decision to deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus, he said Japan is "seriously concerned" about the matter.

"It is beyond our tolerance," he said about the use of a nuclear threat, both militarily and politically.

The G-7 summit will take place this year in Hiroshima on May 19-21 with the attendance of Italy, Canada, France, the US, the UK, Germany, and the EU.

Australia, Brazil, the Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, and Vietnam will also participate in the summit as invitees.

Two priority agendas will be discussed under the Japanese presidency, Yamazaki said, explaining them as upholding the international order based on the rule of law and the outreach to the Global South.

"The international community is now at a historic turning point, having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and being faced with Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which has shaken the very foundation of the international order," he added.

Other important topics which will be discussed during the three-day summit are Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and non-proliferation, Indo-Pacific, economic security, climate, energy, food, health, development, gender, and digitalization, he noted.

On the Moscow-Kyiv war, he said that under his country's presidency, the G-7 will "continue to strongly promote" sanctions against Moscow and support for Ukraine.

He underlined that a total of 15 ministerial meetings will take place in Japan from April 15 to Dec. 10.

Last year, the G-7 countries gathered in Germany for a summit on June 26-28, under the theme Progress Towards an Equitable World.