New York ¨C Jiro Hamasumi, secretary-general of Japan¡¯s leading group of atomic bomb survivors, called?for the abolition of nuclear weapons at the United Nations on Friday, saying?the bombs are ¡°weapons of the devil that cannot coexist with humanity.¡±

Hamasumi, 80, is a member of?Nihon Hidankyo, also known as the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. He?was exposed to the atomic bomb that hit the city of Hiroshima while still in his mother¡¯s womb.

¡°No more war, no more hibakusha,¡± he cited a phrase from the landmark speech by then-Hidankyo official Senji Yamaguchi at the 1982 U.N. special session on disarmament.

¡°Nuclear weapons were used because we went to war,¡± Hamasumi stressed at the 2026 review conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. ¡°We must not wage war.¡±

At the ongoing conference, the mayors of the atomic-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as representatives from the namesake prefectures, also delivered speeches.

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki described nuclear weapons as ¡°absolute evil,¡± adding, ¡°Their total abolition is the only path for humanity to preserve life on Earth for future generations.¡± He called for fulfilling obligations to ¡°pursue negotiations on nuclear disarmament in good faith.¡±

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui called for advancing nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation ¡°through diplomatic efforts based on dialogue.¡±

Hiroshima Gov. Mika Yokota gave her first speech at the review conference. ¡°It is the responsibility of all of us to reinforce the nuclear taboo, moving away from the risk of nuclear use,¡± Yokota stressed. ¡°We need security policies that do not rely on nuclear deterrence,¡± she also said.

After his speech, Hamasumi told reporters that he wanted countries to face the issue with a sense of urgency. ¡°If no agreement is made this time, the existence of the NPT will be questioned,¡± he said.

?

?

?