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MALAYSIAN DIPLOMATS: OUR STORIES

1945, should not befall any other city or any other country. T e calamities
were unthinkably inhumane for the humanity to endure again. In fact, we
cannot begin to even imagine the hardship and dif culties suf ered by those
who lived in both cities, in that particular period of time. As shared by the
hibakushas, the physical pain does not subside, and the trauma is not healed
by time, even more than 70 years after the bombings.

I thought to myself, that at the very least, those who are directly involved
in the deliberation of nuclear weapons disarmament and non-proliferation
should visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to witness f rsthand the kind of
destruction and aftermath brought by atomic bombings.

T e Path Forward
My personal recollection suddenly halted. A member of the UN Secretariat
leaned in and whispered in my ear “What do you plan to do next, Mr.
Chair?”

I looked around the Trusteeship Council Chamber. Faces of delegates were
still gazing directly at me. My dilemma remained, on whether to proceed
with the issuance of a Chair’s Summary or adjourn the meeting without
producing any tangible outcome. To be on the safe side and not wanting to
trigger any reactions from countries, I could simply adjourn the meeting.
In other words, all delegations would be equally unhappy, a common
eventuality in a complex multilateral negotiation. But somehow, I could not
muster enough strength to just proceed in that direction. My conscience
reminded me of the memorable trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the
precious lessons it taught me.

T at nuclear weapons possess inf nite threats and destructive powers against
any civilisation.

T at nuclear weapons should no longer threaten our lives or that of our
children and grandchildren.

And that the voice of the international community yearning for eternal
peace in a world rid of nuclear weapons, once and for all, should be given its
due recognition and well heeded.

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