September 24, 2013:
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and the diplomats and staff of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan hosted a reception in honor of the participants of the 2nd Training for Kabul Municipality in Japan. Trainings have been focused on the following: land use zoning, building control mechanism, district plans, development plans, participatory approach, urban renewal/redevelopment, consensus building process and implementation, lead readjustment methodologies and planning process, land readjustment, and more. Some 20 persons from Kabul Municipality were said to have been involved.
Joining the Embassy and the Afghan participants of the program at the reception were Japanese program leaders, including Mr. Naomichi Murooka, Adcisor of the Peace Building and Urban and Regional Development Department at JICA; and a group of prominent Afghans residing in Japan.
Opening the event with a speech, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie first and foremost offered sincerest gratitude to Japan and JICA for this latest initiative in a legacy of cooperation that has bettered lives, spurred development, and helped in the spread of peace. The Ambassador also encouraged the participants to take their new knowledge and skills back to Afghanistan to further benefit the people and to contribute to the reawakening of glorious development and culture.
Speeches of encouragement were also delivered by Mr. Murooka of JICA and, in closing, Mr. Poya Faryabi, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy. Small tokens of encouragement were also provided to those in attendance.
The Afghan participants of the program who were present at the event are as follows:
- Mr. Wahid Shahaby
- Mr. Qian Shenwary
- Mr. Nazifullah Omarkhil
- Mr. Atiqullah Hamidi
- Mr. Abdul Hameed Mojaddidy
- Mr. Faridoon Afshari
- Mr. Masoud Ahmad Sediqi
- Mr. Nangialay Yousufzai
- Mr. Ahmad Samir Ehsan
- Mr. Ekramuddin Shahab
September 13, 2013:
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended, along with Mr. Sayed Ali Asghar Amiri, Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the closing ceremony of “On-Farm Water Management for Afghanistan” FY2013 training course organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and the Agriculture Development Consultants Association (ADCA).
Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the opportunity to address the participants, following speeches by Director Yukiharu Harada of ADCA and Deputy Director Isao Yamashita of the Ministry’s International Cooperation Division. In his speech, the Ambassador firstly expressed greatest gratitude in general to Japan for its selfless, life-bettering cooperation in Afghanistan’s development and peace, and specifically to the Ministry and its partner the ADCA for supporting the core sector of agriculture in Afghanistan. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie further congratulated the graduates for their successful studies and encouraged them to apply what they have learned in Afghanistan.
The participants of the course were as follows
- Mr. Abdul Qahar
- Mr. Mohammad Qasim
- Mr. Sultan Ahmad of Kabul
- Mr. Abdul Manan
- Mr. Ahmad Hossin
- Mr. Sultan Ahmad of Herat
- Mr. Abdul Hamid
- Mr. Najibullah
- Mr. Khan Aqa
- Mr. Mohammad Hussain
Special thanks are also necessary to Mr. Jiharu Tanakozawa, who was of great importance to the event.
September 11-12, 2013:
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie made an official visit to Fukuoka prefecture. An important partner in Afghanistan’s development both on a people to people level and a Government to Government level, this visit was highly significant.
Ambassador Dr. Fatimie firstly was extended an extremely warm welcome from Hon. Vice-Governor Etsuko Ebii (pictured above) at Her office, with the Afghan flag flying outside. Ambassador Fatimie expressed deepest gratitude, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, for the enlightened and impact-generating support that Japan, and within this Fukuoka, has provided to socio-economic areas and to the peace process.
Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was then received very cordially by Hon. Mayor Soichiro Takashima (pictured above) of Fukuoka city. Ambassador Fatimie had the pleasure of also being able to express to His Honor sincerest appreciation, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, for the selfless and life-bettering partnership extended by Japan and Fukuoka city in specific.
On the following day, the Ambassador had the great pleasure of attending a gathering with Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino. The gathering was held in commemoration of the awarding of the Fukuoka Prize. This year, the top award of the Fukuoka Prize was awarded to Dr. Tetsu Nakamura (who can also be seen in the top photo to the side)of Peshawar-kai. Dr. Nakamura has been active in assisting vulnerable Afghan populations both within Afghanistan and in refuge in Pakistan. Following the gathering, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Their Imperial Highnesses both attended the ceremony to award the Fukuoka Prize. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was given the opportunity to deliver a toast in honor of all recipients after. The speech accompanying the toast can be read by clicking here.
At the event, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to meet with a number of key dignitaries, including H.E. Ambassador Smt. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa and First Secretary Abbagani Ramu of India, Hon. Consul-General Tom Yates of Australia, Director-General Minoru Saruwatari of the International Relations Bureau of Fukuoka Prefecture, Executive Director Takanori Hyakutake and Mr. Akihisa Sakamoto of the International Affairs Department of Fukuoka City, Chairman Norio Sueyoshi of the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Director Shinichi Baba of the Lifelong Learning Section of the Board of Education of Fukuoka City, Chairman Tetsuya Goto and Secretary-General Mitsuji Fukumoto of Peshhawar-kai, Chairman Michisada Kamata of Yokatopia Foundation, and President Setsuo Arikawa of Kyushu University,
To read the media coverage of the Ambassador’s visit, click here.
September 10, 2013:
Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo hosted a ceremony to mark the successful completion of studies of several members of the PEACE scholarship program. The PEACE program is an initiative through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bring to Japan Afghan officials for higher education. By its conclusion, it is scheduled to provide scholarships to 500 participants.
Ambassador Dr. Fatimie opened the event by greeting all in attendance. He expressed, on behalf of the people and the Government of Afghanistan, deepest gratitude to the noble Government of Japan and JICA for this future-oriented program, praising it is an investment in great developments. The Ambassador also commended the participants on their drive to complete meaningful studies, encouraging them to go back to Afghanistan empowered and as forces for further betterment of the nation.
The event also featured presentations on the research of the students being recognized. The students’ names are as follows:
- Mr. Habib Abdul Hasib
- Mr. Yaser Mohammad Ali
- Mr. Sayed Sadr u Din Hasimi
- Mr. Farid Ahmad Darmal
- Mr. Jawerd Ahmad Haqbeen
- Mr. Sayed Shabirullah
- Mr. Mohammad Rashid
September 24, 2013: 
