António Guterres: "dialogue over division, co-operation over confrontation and common security…"

Speaking in a written statement released for Hiroshima’s 81st anniversary commemoration, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the city’s recovery and appealed for a future in which the menace or use of nuclear weapons is unthinkable. He urged nations to settle differences through negotiation, work together, and prioritize collective security over self-interest. The memorial at Peace Memorial Park drew about 50,000 people, including envoys from some 120 countries. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui used his peace address to criticize major powers for relying on nuclear deterrence, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending for the first time as premier, said Japan would take a realistic approach while keeping its non-nuclear principles. The anniversary comes amid debate over deterrence and Japan’s postwar nuclear policy.