On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the bombings in Hiroshima (6 August 1945) and Nagasaki (9 August 1945): Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini

EU News 221/2015

6 August 2015
150806_01_en

Seventy years later, we don't forget. We can't forget. Seventy years later, the images of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are one of the strongest reminders of the atrocities of war. Our fathers and grandfathers said collectively at that time: never again. And collectively, we still bear a responsibility to ensure that the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the last of atomic bombings.

From the end of the Second World War on, there have been many efforts to contain the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, even in the tensest period of our history. The 70th anniversary of the tragedies in Japan represents a new appeal to the whole world to continue to pursue effective non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; to pursue the implementation and universalisation of the existing disarmament and non-proliferation norms; to universalize and strengthen the existing prohibitions and moratoria on nuclear explosions; and to strive for a peaceful, stable and prosperous world.

Achieving these goals drives much of our work today, be it through the recent deal with Iran, or working with our partners in the ASEAN Regional Forum, with whom we are meeting just this week in Kuala Lumpur, to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear proliferation program.

As Europeans, we know that our history - the memories of war and those of integration - reinforces the vow to ensure the inhumanity of war is not repeated. And we want to pay a special tribute to the city of Hiroshima and to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum for continuing to deliver worldwide its message of peace. We Europeans know very well that keeping the memory alive is the most powerful way to avoid tragedies in our common future.

Source and additional information:
http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150806_01_en.htm

Hiroshima Peace Memorial. 70th anniversary Ceremony. EU, JH, 2015/08/06 URL

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