Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Francois Hollande have agreed to pursue a UN Security Council resolution that ensures Syria hands over its chemical arsenal.

Abe and Hollande met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Abe said Syria's actions could influence other countries with weapons of mass destruction, such as North Korea. He said the issue is not someone else's problem.

Abe said a strong UN resolution and close monitoring is needed to reinforce a plan by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to take over Syria's chemical arsenal.
Hollande said he understands Abe's viewpoint. He said the US-Russia agreement on Syria's chemical weapons must be implemented.

The 2 leaders also confirmed that their governments will work together to help Syrian refugees.

On the subject of the Fukushima nuclear accident, Abe said Japan will work to resolve the problem in an open manner, by consolidating knowledge and technologies.

He said Japanese officials are encouraged by France's cooperation in managing the problem and want to continue to work closely together.

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This news was published on September 25, 2013.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130925_24.html

Source of picture: http://www.nippon.com/en/column/g00108/