In addition, Japan believes it important to ensure these reductions by the nuclear weapon states are irreversible. Third, as long as the U.S.-Russia nuclear disarmament process continues, the other nuclear weapon states should further reduce or at least refrain from building up their nuclear arsenals. I strongly hope that the five nuclear weapon states will build upon the progress that has been made so far and enter into nuclear disarmament talks at an early date. Japan has also urged like-minded countries to take concerted actions on this issue. Global efforts on this matter have been rewarded with the recent ratifications by Lithuania, Turkey, Bangladesh, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Chile, and, in addition, the Russian Duma's adoption of the bill for the CTBT ratification last week.
Japan highly appreciates their decisions.
Though it is already more than three and a half years since the CTBT was opened for signature, key countries, including the United States and China, have not yet ratified it. Early ratification by those countries is crucial. Inasmuch as a Cut-Off Treaty is expected to become another important pillar of the NPT regime, it is extremely regrettable that there is little prospect for the commencement of negotiations on it, despite the agreement at the Conference on Disarmament in 1995. All the countries concerned are required to show maximum flexibility and a spirit of cooperation and compromise so that the negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament can begin without further delay. I also devoutly hope that all the nuclear weapon states and the countries that have not accepted the IAEA full-scope safeguards will observe a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.