Ten nations form new group to promote N-disarmament

Japan along with nine other non-nuclear nations have launched a group to promote global nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.

Japan,the only victim of atomic bombing,along with nine other non-nuclear nations have launched a group to promote global nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.

Foreign ministers and other representatives from the 10 countries expressed their resolve in a joint statement to 8220;work together on concrete and practical measures for a world of decreased nuclear risk as a milestone on our path toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons.8221;

The meeting of the new group,co-hosted by Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd,drew participants from Canada,Chile,Germany,Mexico,the Netherlands,Poland,Turkey and the United Arab Emirates,Kyodo newsagency reported.

The gathering was held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings here.

Maehara,whose country is the only victim of atomic bombing by the US in 1945,told a joint press conference following the inaugural meeting that the 10 members will appeal to nuclear states to further reduce their nuclear arsenals.

8220;Through such efforts,we can maintain the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime,which has been weakened. We will tenaciously work toward our ultimate goal8221; of abolishing nuclear weapons,he said.

Rudd said there are an estimated 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world and that the members of the new group 8220;all want an immediate reduction of the world8217;s nuclear arsenals8221; and 8220;measures to ensure no more countries acquire nuclear weapons.8221;

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The Australian minister also said he believes the group,with its wide representation,can use its 8220;common voice8221; to put pressure on countries such as North Korea and Iran,which have been under fire for their nuclear programmes.

He said membership is open and that any country sharing the goal of the group can join. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said his country is willing to host the next meeting of the new body in Berlin next year.