Swedish Prime Minister sends message to 2001 World Conference against A&H Bombs

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson wished "the best of luck" in the "efforts promoting a nuclear-weapons-free world, the prevention of a nuclear war and solidarity with the Hibakusha and nuclear victims."

This was in a message the Swedish prime minister sent to the 2001 World Conference against A&H Bombs, which will be held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from August 3.

Persson expressed his "fullest respect" to "men and women who have experienced the suffering caused by nuclear weapons" and are "devoting their lives to ridding the world of this scourge."

Introducing the Swedish Government's firm belief that "nuclear disarmament is in the best interest of all mankind," he said, "it is the dedicated work of people like yourself that gives us hope for success in the global quest for nuclear disarmament."

On the recent activity of Sweden as a New Agenda Group member, he said, "The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs recently wrote to all the five Nuclear-
Weapons States on behalf of the New Agenda Group underlining the importance of them honouring their commitments from last year's NPT Review Conference" and "also invited them to enter into a dialogue on nuclear disarmament."

"Sweden and the New Agenda countries aim to pursue an active and constructive dialogue with the Nuclear-Weapons States, with a view to making further progress on the implementation of their commitments leading towards total nuclear disarmament," he said. (end)