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Sharon Nanau reported from Tokyo, Japan
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the Pacific region’s reliance on the ocean and the lack of scientific capacity in countries and regions to understand the impact of the Fukushima nuclear wastewater discharge have created uncertainty.
The prime minister told SIBC News in Tokyo that Pacific Island nations have taken a hard line on the emissions process, claiming a lack of scientific reports to win the region’s trust.
“We have a firm stance on this because we attach great importance to the oceans and Japan has taken scientific measures to build confidence and trust in the region, but the challenge we face is that we lack scientific reports from our own countries and regions, which creates a vacuum so we cannot better inform our people.”
MP Manel explained that the nuclear legacy in the Pacific prompted the Solomon Islands to sign the 1985 Treaty of Rarotonga.
Like Japan, the Solomon Islands seeks a world free of nuclear weapons and all forms of nuclear threats.
“We use the opportunity provided by the PALM event to call on all parties to the Treaty of Rarotonga and similar conventions to recommit to making the Pacific a nuclear-weapon-free zone, and for non-parties to fulfil their treaty obligations.”
Despite Japan’s opposition to Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water discharges, Mr Manele welcomed Japan’s efforts to ensure Pacific region confidence in ALPS water discharges.
“We appreciate Japan’s commitment to taking measures. This demonstrates its commitment to considering the concerns of Pacific people. It is good that Japan continues to reassure the region that the measures taken are working and that monitoring is in place.”
Meanwhile, Japan’s deputy director-general for international affairs, Takahiko Shiba, said Japan is closely monitoring the discharge of ALPS treated water.
“A monitoring website has been set up, which is accessible to anyone, and the IAEA has been thoroughly reviewing the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea.”
He said that so far, no complaints have been received regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water.
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have recognised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the authority on nuclear safety.
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders acknowledged the dialogue with Japan and recalled the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Communiqué, which included the importance of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (the Rarotonga Treaty).
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida explained that the discharge was in compliance with relevant international safety standards and practices, and pledged to continue to work closely with the IAEA.
The issue of the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima ALPS nuclear power plant was one of the topics discussed at the 10th Pacific Leaders’ Meeting held in Tokyo.
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