24/06/2013 Ambassador Fatimie meets with former JICA President Madame Ogata

June 24, 2013: 
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie met with former JICA President Madame Sadako Ogata

Last week, it was announced that the fifth phase of Afghanistan's Security Transition was set to begin. This is the final stage in the transition of full security to the Afghan people. With the security transition nearly complete, the Government of Afghanistan will redouble its efforts to empower Afghan women.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed his deep appreciation for the important role that Madame Ogata has played in JICA and her efforts to promote peace in Afghanistan. As such, she has earned tremendous respect within the Afghan community. The Ambassador discussed the many Afghan students who have been able to study in Japan through JICA's support. These students have gone on to do great things, including work in university education and high government office,

Madame Ogata expressed her gratutude to the Afghan people and government for their friendship and cooperation, and shared her warm feelings for the country. She reiterated that agriculture is crucial for Afghanistan's development, and recommended further industrialization.

24/06/2013 Ambassador Fatimie attends meeting with JICA President Tanaka

June 24, 2013: 
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a meeting at the offices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with JICA President Akihiko Tanaka.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed his appreciation, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, for JICA’s cooperation. Cooperation from the International Community and JICA’s contributions in health and education have been crucial for the development and the peace spreading in Afghanistan. The Ambassador expressed his hope that JICA will continue its cooperation in the future.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie believes that Afghanistan will consolidate its young democracy through this help of International Community and JICA’s cooperation.

President Tanaka made assurnaces, on behalf of JICA, that cooperation in development and the peace process in Afghanistan will continue.

14/06/2013 Ambassador Fatimie meets with Mr. Suda of NHK

June 14, 2013: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie met with Mr. Masaki Suda of NHK, welcoming him warmly to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo. Mr. Basir Hamdard, Second Secretary and Consul; and Mr. Jason Pratt, Public Affairs Officer; were also in attendance.

Mr. Suda will soon begin serving as NHK’s bureau chief in charge of Afghanistan’s coverage. Ambassador Fatimie expressed gratitude for the attention that Afghanistan has been given by NHK. Ambassador Fatimie wished Mr. Suda the best of luck in his assignment and requested that he show the true beauty and peace-loving nature of the nation.

05/06/2013 Ambassador Fatimie attends Reception for Japanese Mayors hosted by H.E. Foreign Minister Kishida

June 5, 2013: 

Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a reception for the Mayors of the Municipalities of Japan, hosted by H.E. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the Iikura House. The regularly organized reception allows for the international community and key Japanese figures to meet with the leaders and representatives of municipalities from throughout Japan.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to meet with the head of the Mayors’ Association, Hon. Mayor Tamio Morii of Nagaoka city. As the Ambassador prioritizes relations between with Japan’s prefectures and municipalities, he expressed, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, deepest gratitude for the warm reception that he has been given by local leaders and for the role of these esteemed leaders and their respective communities in Japan’s overall life-bettering support to development and peace in Afghanistan. 

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had then the honor to greet a number of the Honorable Mayors in attendance, including, in alphabetical order of city names, Hon. Mayor Shigemitsu Hosoe of Gifu, Hon. Mayor Koji Nomura of Hagi, Hon. Mayor Eikoh Tsuya of Kitaakita, Hon. Mayor Hiroaki Yamamoto of Masuda, Hon. Mayor Tamio Mori of Nagaoka, Hon. Mayor Tomihisa Taue of Nagasaki, Hon. Mayor Tooru Umino of Naka, Hon. Mayor Isoo Sasako of Natori, Hon. Mayor Akinari Takehisa of Setouchi, Hon. Mayor Norihiko Kataoka of Tokoname, and Hon. Mayor Takeuchi Isao of Tottori. The Ambassador furthermore had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the cities of Chikuma, Hamada, Hiroshima, Hita, Kitakyushu, Moriyama, Niigata, Sakai, Shizuoka, and Takamatsu.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was also fortunate enough to meet with representatives of Japan's central government, including Hon. Representative Katsutoshi Kaneda and from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Parliamentary Senior Vice-Ministers for Foreign Affairs Masaji Matsuyama (pictured above); H.E. Ambassador Sumio Kusaka (pictured below), Chief of Protocol; and Ms. Kanako Kobayashi of the Local Partnership Cooperation Division. To these friends, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to renew the sincerest appreciation of the Afghan people and Government for the impact-generating, generous cooperation that Japan overall and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within has extended to Afghanistan.

16/05/2013 Ambassador Fatimie greets Governor Kuroiwa of Kanagawa

May 16, 2013: 
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie received a warm welcome from Hon. Governor Yuji Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture upon his visit to the latter’s office. Mr. Jason Pratt, Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was also in attendance. Ambassador Fatimie has made it a priority to further strengthen the bonds between Afghanistan and the prefectures of Japan. Kanagawa holds significance within this initiative.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie first of all expressed, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, deepest gratitude for the generous and effect-generating cooperation extended by Japan to the Afghan development and peace process. Within this, the Ambassador expressed that the people of Kanagawa’s kind efforts were also highly critical in the overall Japanese and international efforts that have contributed to real achievements. Later, the Ambassador would add that with great leaders such as leaders like Hon. Governor Kuroiwa as friends, the future of Afghanistan’s peace and development would be without concern. The Hon. Governor in turn welcomed sincerely the Ambassador and praised the accomplishments of Afghanistan, stating that he is eager to work closely with the Afghan residents of Kanagawa to build more mutual friendship and understanding.

With overlapping interests and goals, such as the health of their respective citizens and love of nature, the two enjoyed fruitful conversation on a number of topics. In closing, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie invited investment in Afghanistan’s natural resources by Kanagawa-based groups.

After departing from the Hon. Governor's office, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie paid a short visit to the historic city of Kamakura.

16/05/2013 Ambassador Fatimie receives Mr. Hirose of NHK

 

May 16, 2013: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie received Mr. Hiromi Hirose, a producer with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). Mr. Jason Pratt, Public Affairs Officer, was also in attendance. The visit was in order to get acquainted and talk about topics of interest for possible future interviews.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie firstly expressed that the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan feel deepest gratitude to Japan for its life-bettering, peace-enhancing cooperation. The Ambassador then stated that NHK has been a valuable partner in keeping the Japanese public informed about the developments in Afghanistan and fostering mutual understanding. A number of matters of interest were discussed and it was promised that the two would meet again in the future.

07/05/2013 Ambassador Fatimie attends event hosted by Hon. Representative Nikai, meets with H.E. Prime Minister Abe

May 7, 2013: 
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a reception hosted by Hon. Representative Toshihiro Nikai (pictured above, shaking hands with the Ambassador), a member of the Afghan-Japanese Parliamentary Friendship League. The event brought together an estimated more than 3,000 members of the Liberal Democratic Party, supporters, and friends of this respected politician and ally of peace.

Prominent among the guests in attendance was H.E. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was afforded the great honor of speaking with H.E., expressing deepest gratitude for the crucial facilitation of life-bettering development that Japan has extended, calling particular attention to the role that H.E. has played both now and in the past. H.E. the Prime Minister graciously reacted positively to the remarks and conveyed best wishes to H.E. President Hamid Karzai.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was extremely fortunate to meet with Chancellor Kenshiro Matsunami of Nippon Sport Science University and Mrs. Matsunami, close personal friends and friends to all Afghan people. Mr. Matsunami was characteristically kind and cordial and was instrumental in bringing the Ambassador and H.E. the Prime Minister together. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the honor to reiterate sincerest appreciation for the invaluable role played by Mr. Matsunami and his distinguished wife. Another key friend met was Mr. Dan Harada, a man of great insight and vision. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed best regards to this gentleman.


Prominent among other key guests met by Ambassador Dr. Fatimie were Hon. Councillor Satsuki Katayama; Hon. Councillor Seichi Eto; Hon. Representative Arata Takebe; Hon. Representative Moto Hayashi; Mr. Kusaka, the secretary to Hon. Councillor Yasuhiro Oe; renowned artist Koji Kinuka; Chairman Eisuke Asai of Asai Corporation; and President Han Xiao Qing of Info China.