Meeting with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs before NPT Review Conference

April 24, 2015 [Mayors for Peace Netherlands]

Report by Dr. Herman Spanjaard, on behalf of the Secretariaat Mayors for Peace-Nederland

On April 24, 2015, the day before Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Bert Koenders travelled to New York for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (NPT-RevCon) about nuclear weapons, he met with Mayor Jan Hoekema of Wassenaar, Chair Mayors for Peace- The Netherlands, and Doctor Herman Spanjaard, Chair of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Netherlands (IPPNW), to discuss their views on nuclear weapons and the necessity of abolition.

They urged the Minister to take into account that ensuring safety for civilians is an important task of mayors worldwide and that doctors have no cure for the effects of nuclear weapons, once used. Prevention is the only responsible way forward so there is a very strong urgency to make the NPT-RevCon a success. One thousand paper cranes made by Hibakusha and Japanese students were handed to Minister Koenders, conveying everyone’s wishes for the Minister’s health, longevity, and wisdom in the negotiations.

Left to Right: Dr. Spanjaard, Minister Koenders and Mayor Hoekema
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Herman Spanjaard)