June 20, 2010
Daisaku Ikeda Calls for Nuclear Abolition Treaty in an Interview with IDN-InDepthNews and Inter Press Service
In a recent interview by Ramesh Jaura for IDN-InDepthNews, providing in-depth news and information on a wide range of global issues, and Inter Press Service, a news agency specializing in development and human rights issues, Daisaku Ikeda, SGI president, renewed his call for negotiations for a global treaty to abolish nuclear weapons.
In the article "Buddhist Leader Pushes for Nuclear Abolition Treaty," Mr. Ikeda reiterated his belief that the effort to abolish all weapons of mass destruction must be led by ordinary citizens. "More than anything, we need to bring together the force of popular will and international public opinion," he stated. "When ordinary people join together in solidarity, they have the power to close the gap between reality and ideals."
He also commented on a conference proposed for 2012 to establish a Middle East nuclear weapons free zone. While acknowledging the difficulties in securing a denuclearization agreement from the parties in the region, given its history of tensions and bloodshed, Mr. Ikeda insisted that "conflict does not make dialogue impossible, it makes it necessary."
[Reprinted in Japanese in the June 23 and 24, 2010, issues of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
