Australia's Prime Minister takes initiative towards nuclear ban

June 10, 2008

By AFP and ICAN

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called Monday for an end to nuclear weapons as he toured a memorial to the horror of the world's first atomic bombing.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced plans for an International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, to be co-chaired by former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans.

Visiting Japan, Kevin Rudd became the first acting Prime Minister to visit the Hiroshima memorial, at which he lay a wreath for the many victims and wrote: "Let the world resolve afresh from the ashes of this city - to work together for the common mission of peace for this Asia-Pacific century, and for a world where one day nuclear weapons are no more."

Rudd started a visit to Japan, aimed at easing doubts about his commitment to the two countries' alliance, with a tour of Hiroshima, where a partially destroyed dome lies as a memorial to the nuclear attack.

Rudd has taken a harder line on nuclear issues since taking office last year, reversing a decision to sell uranium to India because New Delhi has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

His commitment on nuclear issues will likely be welcomed in Japan, where the election of Rudd's Labor Party was received with some unease last year.

ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, welcomes this move by Prime Minister Rudd and Gareth Evans to eliminate nuclear weapons, following on from the 1995 Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.