Nagasaki issues plea to mark fateful day in '45

Mayor laments 'lack of sincere commitment'

NAGASAKI (Kyodo) Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue appealed Monday for the world to work toward the elimination of nuclear weapons and for the central government to demonstrate its leadership on the issue on the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of his city.

In this year's Peace Declaration during a ceremony in the city's Peace Park attended by representatives of a record 32 countries, including for the first time nuclear weapons states Britain and France, Taue said people have the "responsibility to realize a world without the fear of nuclear weapons."

The ceremony followed the first-ever visit to Nagasaki by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon last Thursday and was held three days after a ceremony to mark the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which was attended by a U.S. ambassador for the first time. The United States did not send a representative to Nagasaki.

The U.S. Embassy issued a comment after the memorial, saying Ambassador John Roos did not attend the service due to scheduling conflicts, but he hopes to attend the Nagasaki ceremony in the future.

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Nagasaki marks A-bombing / Britain, France attend 65th anniversary, but U.S. skips event http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T100809003968.htm