United Nations, Sep 20 (AP) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed Tuesday night to lead the effort to put the struggling global nuclear disarmament effort back on track, proposing to encourage nuclear weapons states to engage in discussions with non-nuclear weapons states.

Kishida proposed reactivating discussion of the 1993 Fissile Materials Cutoff Treaty, or FMCT, which has never entered negotiations at the United Nations, but its significance remains unchanged.

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Earlier Tuesday, he co-hosted FMCT high-level talks with non-nuclear weapons defence partners Australia and the Philippines, in hopes of gaining broad support from the so-called Global South nations for the cause.

Japan will contribute 3 billion yen (USD 20 million) fund to establish Japan Chairs toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons at overseas research institutions and think tanks. The aim, Kishida said: to energise the debate that would overcome a polarized choices between deterrence and disarmament.

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As a lawmaker representing Hiroshima, the world's first victim of nuclear attacks, nuclear disarmament is his “life work,” Kishida said. “Japan, as non-permanent member, will cooperate with the UN and other involved nations to promote discussion between nuclear and non-nuclear states," he said.

Kishida also condemned Russia's violation of the rule of law and called for further effort to stop human rights violations and nuclear threats.

He said use of the UN Security Council veto power is “worsening divisions and contentions” of the organisation as part of a broader reform of the United Nations. “We need a UN Security Council that reflects today's world.” (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)