Highlights of chairman`s statement at G-8 foreign ministers talks

TRIESTE, Italy, June 26 Kyodo -
The following are the highlights of a chairman's statement issued Friday at a
Group of Eight foreign ministers' meeting in Trieste, Italy.
The G-8 foreign ministers:
-- condemn in the strongest terms North Korea's nuclear test conducted on May
25 and its April 5 rocket launch.
-- urge the North to fulfill its obligations under U.N. Security Council
resolutions to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs as
well as ballistic missile programs.
-- demand that North Korea resume its participation in the six-party talks and
urge it to take prompt action to address the concerns of the international
community on humanitarian matters, including the abduction issue.
-- call upon the international community to fully and transparently implement
their obligations pursuant to a new UNSC resolution, including the prevention
of transfer of proliferation-related materials to and from North Korea.
-- call upon all nuclear-weapon states to undertake further nuclear disarmament
steps.
-- will strive for a successful outcome of the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference.
-- deplore the violence following the Iranian presidential election and urge
Iran to respect fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression.
-- remain committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue of Iran's
nuclear program and support renewed efforts to that effect, such as the
readiness of the United States to enter into direct talks.
-- are committed to enhancing coordination and information sharing to fight
piracy off Somalia.
-- remain firmly committed to supporting the democratically elected governments
of Afghanistan and Pakistan as they confront grave security, humanitarian,
counter-narcotics, terrorism and economic challenges.
==Kyodo