(Mainichi: February 13, 2015 – p. 5)

 In his foreign policy speech at the plenary sessions of the two Diet houses on Feb. 12, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida sharply criticized the abductions of Japanese nationals by the militant group “Islamic State” (IS) and stated that his ministry’s review team will swiftly compile concrete measures for the safety of Japanese nationals overseas. He also stated that Japan will further expand its humanitarian assistance to the Middle East and Africa where the terrorist threat has been growing.

 Moreover, Kishida stated that Japan as the only atomic-bombed country will lead discussions at the 2015 Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which will be held this spring in New York. He said, “Japan will promote diplomacy, aiming at creating “a world free of nuclear weapons.”