ID :
68008
Sat, 06/27/2009 - 18:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/68008
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G-8 urges N. Korea to abandon nukes, expresses concern about Iran
TRIESTE, Italy, June 26 Kyodo -
Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight countries on Friday condemned ''in
the strongest terms'' North Korea's second nuclear test, urging the country to
abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In addressing Iran in the chairman's statement, the ministers said they were
''concerned'' about the situation in Tehran, adding that ''we deplore
post-electoral violence'' -- a reference to the Iranian authorities' violent
crackdown on protests over the disputed presidential election earlier this
month.
The statement was issued on the second day of the G-8 foreign ministerial
talks, held in the northern city of Trieste, to discuss both global and
regional issues, particularly Iran, which has figured prominently in recent
weeks.
In the talks, host Italy has placed priority on discussing Afghanistan,
especially ways to bring greater stability to the country and its neighbor
Pakistan in light of the Afghan presidential election in August and Pakistan's
offensive against the Taliban and its support for internal refugees.
In the chairman's statement, the G-8 countries -- Britain, Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- expressed their support
for the two countries in strengthening their ''institutional capacity and
increasing the effectiveness of government.''
Japan led discussions on North Korea during Friday's working session, and in
the presidential statement, the G-8 members called on the international
community to ''fully and transparently implement their obligations'' stipulated
in the new U.N. Security Council resolution punishing the North for its nuclear
and missile activities.
The G-8 also urged Pyongyang to abandon all of its existing nuclear and
ballistic missile programs following its rocket launch on April 5 and
underground nuclear test on May 25 and demanded that North Korea return to the
stalled six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs.
On the North's human rights and humanitarian issues, including Pyongyang's past
abductions of Japanese and other foreign nationals, the ministers called on
North Korea to take ''prompt action'' to address them.
''It is important for the international community to put pressure on North
Korea toward denuclearization while keeping the door open for a dialogue with
North Korea,'' Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told a joint news
conference after the morning session.
Meanwhile, Iran loomed large on this year's G-8 agenda, and the G-8 ministers
called for Tehran to ''respect fundamental human rights, including freedom of
expression'' and for the crisis to ''be settled soon through democratic
dialogue and peaceful means.''
The ministers also expressed a sense of solidarity with those who have suffered
''repression'' during the demonstrations.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, they committed themselves to a diplomatic
solution to its nuclear program, while urging Iran to fully comply with a
series of Security Council resolutions requiring it to halt uranium enrichment.
Nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament ranked high on the agenda, thanks in
part to U.S. President Barack Obama's speech in April in Prague calling for a
nuclear-free world, and the G-8 ministers urged all nuclear-weapon states to
take further steps toward nuclear disarmament.
They also pledged efforts to bring into force the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty, while striving to ensure that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conference reaches a successful conclusion when it is held next year.
The ministers also turned their attention to piracy, which is particularly
creating havoc for shipping off Somalia.
Welcoming the ongoing antipiracy efforts of the international community, the
ministers affirmed the need for a tougher commitment to tackling the root
causes of it, such as by supporting measures to alleviate poverty and
instability in Somalia.
The G-8 foreign ministerial meeting is a preparatory session for the annual G-8
summit to be held in L'Aquila, Italy, on July 8 to 10.
==Kyodo
Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight countries on Friday condemned ''in
the strongest terms'' North Korea's second nuclear test, urging the country to
abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In addressing Iran in the chairman's statement, the ministers said they were
''concerned'' about the situation in Tehran, adding that ''we deplore
post-electoral violence'' -- a reference to the Iranian authorities' violent
crackdown on protests over the disputed presidential election earlier this
month.
The statement was issued on the second day of the G-8 foreign ministerial
talks, held in the northern city of Trieste, to discuss both global and
regional issues, particularly Iran, which has figured prominently in recent
weeks.
In the talks, host Italy has placed priority on discussing Afghanistan,
especially ways to bring greater stability to the country and its neighbor
Pakistan in light of the Afghan presidential election in August and Pakistan's
offensive against the Taliban and its support for internal refugees.
In the chairman's statement, the G-8 countries -- Britain, Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- expressed their support
for the two countries in strengthening their ''institutional capacity and
increasing the effectiveness of government.''
Japan led discussions on North Korea during Friday's working session, and in
the presidential statement, the G-8 members called on the international
community to ''fully and transparently implement their obligations'' stipulated
in the new U.N. Security Council resolution punishing the North for its nuclear
and missile activities.
The G-8 also urged Pyongyang to abandon all of its existing nuclear and
ballistic missile programs following its rocket launch on April 5 and
underground nuclear test on May 25 and demanded that North Korea return to the
stalled six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs.
On the North's human rights and humanitarian issues, including Pyongyang's past
abductions of Japanese and other foreign nationals, the ministers called on
North Korea to take ''prompt action'' to address them.
''It is important for the international community to put pressure on North
Korea toward denuclearization while keeping the door open for a dialogue with
North Korea,'' Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told a joint news
conference after the morning session.
Meanwhile, Iran loomed large on this year's G-8 agenda, and the G-8 ministers
called for Tehran to ''respect fundamental human rights, including freedom of
expression'' and for the crisis to ''be settled soon through democratic
dialogue and peaceful means.''
The ministers also expressed a sense of solidarity with those who have suffered
''repression'' during the demonstrations.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, they committed themselves to a diplomatic
solution to its nuclear program, while urging Iran to fully comply with a
series of Security Council resolutions requiring it to halt uranium enrichment.
Nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament ranked high on the agenda, thanks in
part to U.S. President Barack Obama's speech in April in Prague calling for a
nuclear-free world, and the G-8 ministers urged all nuclear-weapon states to
take further steps toward nuclear disarmament.
They also pledged efforts to bring into force the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty, while striving to ensure that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conference reaches a successful conclusion when it is held next year.
The ministers also turned their attention to piracy, which is particularly
creating havoc for shipping off Somalia.
Welcoming the ongoing antipiracy efforts of the international community, the
ministers affirmed the need for a tougher commitment to tackling the root
causes of it, such as by supporting measures to alleviate poverty and
instability in Somalia.
The G-8 foreign ministerial meeting is a preparatory session for the annual G-8
summit to be held in L'Aquila, Italy, on July 8 to 10.
==Kyodo
