Mori hails accord on nuclear nonproliferation

TOKYO, May 22 Kyodo - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Monday hailed the adoption of a document at the U.N. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference in which the five declared nuclear powers pledged an ''unequivocal undertaking'' to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

''The overall trend is in a good direction, with countries including Russia taking a positive attitude,'' Mori told reporters at his official residence. ''This is a good thing.''

Mori also emphasized that credit should also be given to Japan's diplomatic efforts.

Japan is in the best position to voice an opinion on the issue because it is the only country which has experienced atomic bomb attacks, Mori said, adding that he thinks Japan's calls for nonproliferation and the abolition of nuclear arms ''is becoming world opinion.''

The 187 nations that signed the 1968 NPT unanimously adopted the document Saturday at the end of a four-week New York meeting to review the treaty.
==Kyodo

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