19/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie, Mr. Karimi attends Café Democrats meeting

February 19, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and Mr. Mohammad Yasir Karimi, Second Secretary, attended the Democratic Party of Japan’s “Café Democrats” meeting, hosted by Hon. Director-General Kaname Tajima of the party’s International Department. Participants included Hon. President Banri Kaieda, Hon. Secretary General Akihiro Ohata, Hon. Director-General Satoshi Arai, Hon. Vice Director-General Eiichiro Washio, Hon. Vice Director-General Soichiro Okuno, Hon. Vice Director-General Yuichi Goto; Hon. Vice Director-General Michihiro Ishibashi, Hon. Vice Director-General Motohiro Oono, and Hon. Vice Director-General Misako Yasui. The event served as an opportunity to learn of the proceedings of the DPJ Annual Convention and issues relating to the current Diet session.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the opportunity to speak with Hon. President Kaieda and several of the aforementioned participants, conveying the deepest gratitude of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the party’s kind solidarity and cooperation in Afghanistan’s peace and development.

Also in attendance were a number of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of missions in Tokyo, including H.E. Ambassador Luc Liebaut of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium and H.E. Dr. Yusron Ihza Mahendra, LL.M of the Embassy of Indonesia, along with other Embassy officials such as Mr. Mohammad Nore-Alam, Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

17/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie, Embassy warmly host H.E. Minister Ishihara, Hon. Mr. Hirasawa, Hon. Mr. Tanose, Mr. Harada

February 17, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie, supported by his team of diplomats and staff, offered the warmest welcome to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to H.E. Mr. Nobuteru Ishihara, Minister of the Environment and Minister of State for the Corporation in Nuclear Emergency Preparedness; Hon. Representative Katsue Hirasawa; Hon. Representative Taizo Tanose; and Mr. Dan Harada, head of Nagatacho Forum. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie has a warm and long-standing friendship with Mr. Harada who kindly helped to create the new bonds of friendship with the other esteemed members of this visit.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie firstly expressed deepest appreciation for the noble guests’ visit despite very busy schedules. Furthermore, the Ambassador expressed deepest gratitude for the life-bettering and selfless partnership that Japan has extended to Afghanistan, stating that not only has it resulted in longer and freer Afghan lives, it has also resulted in even deeper friendship between the nations and respect for Japanese from all Afghans.

The guests and hosts shared a meal of Afghan cuisine and engaged in warm and open discussion over various issues. H.E. Minister Ishihara kindly within reaffirmed Japanese commitment to continued partnership and overtures of the deepening of friendship between the guests, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie, the Embassy, and Afghanistan in general were expressed.

2014.13.02 Ambassador Fatimie commends Dr. Mohabbat on his esteemed family’s work to raise awareness of Afghanistan

Ambassador Fatimie commends Dr. Mohabbat on his esteemed family’s work to raise awareness of Afghanistan

February 13, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie welcomed to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo Dr. Bashir Mohabbat, a prominent individual who formerly served at the Embassy and remains involved in Afghan-Japanese relations. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie expressed deepest gratitude for the continuing efforts of Dr. Mohabbat and his esteemed family to build bonds in terms of public and private sector partnership between the nations and to build greater awareness of Afghanistan particularly in the Gifu prefecture of Japan. In particular, the Ambassador commended the Mohabbat family’s work at an important event on January 28th in which many elementary school children learned of Afghan culture (the image above is from this event).

To view the article in Japanese national and local government officials, click here, or on the banner below. 

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10/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie attends reception hosted by Deputy Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Koshikawa in conjunction with local governments’ seminar

February 10, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a reception hosted by Deputy Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuhiko Koshikawa at Mita Kaigisho. The reception was organized in conjunction with a seminar held for officials of local governments.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the opportunity to greet Deputy Vice-Minister Koshikawa (pictured above), expressing deepest gratitude for the generous and life-bettering support that has been provided to Afghanistan by Japan and specifically through the kind partnership of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador further hailed the event’s purpose of helping to forge even-closer bonds between the diplomatic community and the local governments, as this is one of Ambassador Dr. Fatimie’s personal prioritized initiatives.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to meet with many notable guests at the reception, including Director Shuichi Akamatsu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Economic Policy Division; Director Tetsuya Toyota of the Japan External Trade Organization’s Regional Industry Tie-up Program; H.E. Ambassador Francis Mariur Matsutaro of the Republic of Palau; and Mr. Timur Chonmurunov, Third Secretary, of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic; along with many of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of missions to Japan. From the Japanese local governments, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was able to meet representatives from a number of localities, including from Akita prefecture, Chiba city, Gifu city, Hamamatsu, Kasukabe, Kobe, Mie prefecture, Niigata prefecture, Niigata city, Oita prefecture, Sagamihara, Sapporo, Shizuoka prefecture, Shizuoka city, Tokorozawa, Tokyo, Tottori prefecture, and Wakayama prefecture.

5/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie accompanies H.E. Minister Zakhilwal on meeting with H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Aso

February 5, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and Mr. Mohammad Yasir Karimi, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, accompanied H.E. Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance, who was visiting Japan, to a meetings with H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Mr. Musa Kawami, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was also present in the meeting.

H.E. Minister Zakhilwal and H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Aso discussed the opportunities and challenges that Afghanistan will have in 2014 and beyond. It was also noted that Afghanistan has been declared to have the 4th most transparent budget system in Asia.

5/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie accompanies H.E. Minister Zakhilwal on meeting with H.E. Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishi

February 5, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie, together with Mr. Mohammad Yasir Karimi, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, accompanied visiting H.E. Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance, on a meeting with H.E. Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Senior Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Musa Kawami, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was also present.

H.E. Minister Zakhilwal and H.E. Mr. Kishi spoke on the progress being made within the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, the continuing Japanese commitment to partnering with Afghanistan, and the dedication to the safety of Japanese in Afghanistan.

2014.05.02 Ambassador Fatimie accompanies H.E. Minister Zakhilwal on meeting with President Tanaka of JICA

Ambassador Fatimie accompanies H.E. Minister Zakhilwal on meeting with President Tanaka of JICA

February 5, 2014: During the meeting between H.E. Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance and Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA, Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and Mr. Mohammad Yasir Karimi, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan, were in accompaniment. Mr. Musa Kawami, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was also present in the meetings.

During the warm conversation, H.E. the Minister expressed deepest gratitude for JICA’s efforts in the Japanese cooperation in Afghanistan, which has resulted in great socio-economic strides. The gentlemen also discussed the safety of JICA’s staff in Afghanistan.

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2014.05.02 Ambassador Fatimie, Embassy host reception to commemorate JICA program on natural disasters and disaster management

Ambassador Fatimie, Embassy host reception to commemorate JICA program on natural disasters and disaster management

February 5, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo hosted a reception in honor of the visit of H.E. Dr. Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of Finance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. H.E. Minister Zakhilwal, accompanied by Mr. Musa Kamawi, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Finance, had been in Japan on an important visit at the invitation of UNITAR, where he also met with key Japanese figures such as H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; H.E. Mr. Nobuo Kishi, Senior Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; and President Akihiko Tanaka of JICA.

The reception was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Mr. Tsukasa Uemura, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau; Mr. and Mrs. Kenshiro Matsunami of Nippon Sport Science University; Hon. President Masayuki Inoue of Japan Educational Exchanges and Services; Executive Vice President Eiji Taguchi of the Japan Foundation; President Otohiko Endo of the Institute of Global Business Strategies; and Director Han-Deog Cho of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie made opening remarks in which he discussed the significance of H.E. the Minister’s visit in the overall context of the warm Afghan-Japanese relations. The full text of the Ambassador’s speech can be read by clicking here.

Remarks were also shared by H.E. Minister Zakhilwal (pictured below), Mr. and Mrs. Matsunami, Director General Uemura, and Director Cho. The following are highlights from their respective remarks in order of delivery. First, Mr. Matsunami spoke on the efforts of he and his associates to support Afghanistan thus far and the motivation to continue. He mentioned his University had been able to bestow an honorary doctorate on H.E. President Hamid Karzai in 2012. Director Uemura welcomed H.E. the Minister and vowed to continue in his role in partnering with Afghanistan. Director Cho also extended a welcome, and shared of JICA’s PEACE scholarship program, which has been successfully bringing Afghan officials to Japan to receive higher education. Mrs. Matsunami introduced individuals who have been working to support Afghanistan, sharing of each person’s individual roles.

In His remarks, H.E. Minister Zakhilwal firstly expressed gratitude to Ambassador Fatimie and those who have supported this successful 4th visit to Japan; He would later award some certificates of appreciation in regards. H.E. the Minister also expressed sincerest gratitude for Japan’s key role as a leading supporter in Afghanistan’s development. Expressing the natural brotherly bond between the nations, he mentioned cultural similarities as well as the 1971 visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, then the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, to Afghanistan. Sharing of the progress that has been realized since 2001, H.E. spoke of optimism of continued future gains.

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4/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie attends reception in support of reconstruction of Tohoku region at the invitation of H.E. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara

February 4, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended a reception at Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa upon the invitation of H.E. Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara. The reception was dedicated to supporting the reconstruction of the Prefectural Governments of the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The event featured speeches and words of encouragement by key participants.

At the event, Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the honor of meeting with Their Honors the Vice-Governors of represented prefectures and a number of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of missions located in Japan.

3/02/2014 Ambassador Fatimie, Embassy host reception to commemorate JICA program on natural disasters and disaster management

 

February 3, 2014: Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo hosted a reception to commemorate a Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) program on natural disasters and disaster management. The program brought together key figures from Afghanistan, Japan, and regional nations including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey. From Afghanistan, esteemed participants included Dr. Mohammad Daim Kakar, Director General of ADMA; General Jalander Shah Behnam, Director of Emergency and Disaster at the Ministry of Defense; General Mahboob Amiri, Director of Disaster Management at the Ministry of Interior Affairs; Dr. Amir Badshah Mangal, Director of AJCDH; and Mr. Abdi Abed of Jam Co., Ltd. Other attendees of the reception included Director Hiroe Ono and Mr. Haruyuki Shimada of JICA; Director Tsutomu Kurihara of Earth Systems Science; Mr. Ali Jared, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; and Mr. Ibrahim Çetinkayaya, First Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey.

Ambassador Dr. Fatimie welcomed all participants, lauding the focus put on protecting lives. He expressed deepest gratitude, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, to JICA and Japanese partners for organizing this program in particular, and for the generous and life-bettering support that in general has been extended towards Afghanistan’s peace and development. Furthermore, the Ambassador offered heartfelt gratitude for the dedicated and selfless service of the esteemed Afghan participants. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie also emphasized the key role of regional cooperation, speaking of commitments made through the Istanbul Process.

To read the English version of the Ambassador’s speech, click here.