05.06.2016 Dr. Mohabbat Attends Silk Road Seminar

Dr. Mohabat Speaks at JSRCC’s 73rd Public Lecture

June 5, 2016: Dr. Bashir Mohabbat, Minister-Counsellor, attended the 73rd Silk Road Seminar, a study session organized by Japan Silk Road Culture Center for public, as a keynote speaker. JSRCC has organized such sessions for a decade, and this time, Afghanistan was featured in relation with the Hidden Treasures Exhibition being held in Japan this year, at Kyushu National Museum in January and February, and at Tokyo National Museum since April to June.

Dr. Mohabbat briefed some 70 attendees on a Sunday afternoon the 5000 year history of Afghanistan, and its long time friendship with Japan. It was followed by Soka University Professor Toshio Hayashi’s lecture on findings and uniqueness of artifacts found in Afghanistan, and the relation with the Silk Road. As most of the attendees had been to the Hidden Treasures Exhibition, both presentations were widely received very positively, and the questions to speakers were endless due to everyone’s enthusiasm to their interest in Afghanistan.

The article of the event by Japan Silk Road Culture Center:

http://blog.silkroad-j.lomo.jp/?day=20160609

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10/11/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Delivers Speech and Hosts Luncheon for the Press Conference regarding "Hidden Treasures" Exhibition

November 10, 2015: 
Artifacts stored at the National Museum, Kabul in Afghanistan have been on the world tour, and they are to be exhibited in Japan next year. The exhibition starts on January 1st, 2016 at Kyushu National Museum in Fukuoka until February 14th. Then from April 12th to June 19th, Tokyo National Museum will hold the exhibition titled “Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul.”

The ancient artifacts, once believed to be lost forever due to the chaotic state of conflicts, had been hidden by the courageous National Museum staffs. They were “re-discovered” in 2004, after the establishment of the current Afghan government. Such artifacts and some of those had been kept in Japan in order to maintain the collection will reunite for the exhibition in Fukuoka and Tokyo next year, and eventually will be returned to their mother home, Afghanistan.

To widely publicize such a rare and precious occasion to enhance fully of the relationship and friendship between Afghanistan and Japan, a press conference was held at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Japan, organized by the sponsors of the exhibition tour, Fuji Television and Sankei Shimbun. The press conference was opened by His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatimie’s remarks that it is such a great opportunity to display that prove Afghanistan’s rich cultural and historical background.

Following H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie, Mr. Masami Zeniya, Executive Director of Tokyo National Museum, made a remark by thanking all the sponsors and supporters of the upcoming event possible to happen in Japan, and introduced how attractive the collections that the cultural history of Afghanistan -crossroad of Silk Road- reflects even after 4000 years since their creation.

After the demonstration of video footage briefly explaining the fate of “Hidden Treasures” what they have been through, Mr. Yoichi Inoue, Director of Curational Planning of Tokyo National Museum, briefed the attended media the overview of the artifacts planned to be displayed at the exhibition based on 4 excavation sites.

(Photo credit: Exhibition’s facebook page, see link below)
Mr. Ryohei Suzuki, one of the most emerging, well-known and talented Japanese actor, was assigned to be a “Special Navigator” –an icon to represent the event on the media. He will also be the narrator of the listening guide device at the exhibition museums. Based on his knowledge as a holder of the class-A World Heritage Exam certification, he expressed his excitement and willingness to widely spread the news and background story of the “Hidden Treasures” of Afghanistan.

Before closing, H.E. Dr. Fatimie made an additional remark regarding the realization of the event, and expressed his deep gratitude to all supporters and contributors, namely the Honorable Mr. and Mrs. Matsunami of Japan-Afghanistan Friendship Association who were in attendance. The time dates back to 2012, when Tokyo Conference for Afghanistan was held in Japan, the Honorable Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami spoke with then-president of Afghanistan H.E. Hamid Karzai that the exhibition of the “Hidden Treasures” be held in Japan. After the instruction from H.E. then-president Karzai to H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie at that time, once what seemed like a dream idea, becoming the actual event in 2016. Therefore His Excellency expressed his deep appreciation and gratefulness for all those dedicated to this event happening for further solidifying the friendship of Afghanistan and Japan. The remark was received by a room full of applause by attendees of distinguished guests and media staffers, in addition to the embassy staffs.

The conference was attended by nearly 150 media personels and journalists, including TV coverage. The news were reported subsequently on multiple articles all over Japan. The event came to a closure with a fruitful publication, then the entire visitors enjoyed Afghan cuisine prepared and served by the embassy.

Prior to the press conference, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had a pleasure of communicating with the key guests and participants including the executives of Fuji/Sankei group at His Excellency’s office.

For the detail of the Special Exhibition “Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul” in Japan (Fukuoka and Tokyo) please refer to the following links:
Exhibition's Official website (Japaneese)
Tokyo National Museum (English/Japanese)
Fuji Television (Japanese)
Exhibition facebook page (Japanese)

20/08/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Mr. Karimi meet with the Honorable Member of the House of Representative Mr. Toshihiro Nikai

August 20, 2015:

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie, and Second Secretary M. Yasir Karimi, had the honor of meeting with the Honorable Member of the House of Representative Mr. Toshihiro Nikai, Chairman of General Council of Liberal Democratic Party, at the party headquarter. It was a pleasure to be accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Matsunami, president of Japan-Afghanistan Friendship Association. H.E. Ambassador and the Honorable Mr. Nikai communicated mutual interests of both countries, such as World Tsunami Day proposal of Japan to the next session of the United Nation General Assembly, and “Afghan Hidden Treasure Exhibition” in Japan scheduled early next year.

5/08/2015 Press Conference for the Announcement of Displaced Afghan Cultural Properties to be Returned

August 5, 2015:

A Press Conference was held at the Tokyo Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCCJ) to announce the return of Afghan cultural properties that were under the custody of the Japan Committee for the Protection of Displaced Cultural Properties. For this event in which can be seen as a prequel to the exhibition of Afghan hidden Treasures at the Kyushu and Tokyo National Museums, several Afghan diplomats and embassy staff were present.

As H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie was in the city of Hiroshima to attend the 2015 Peace Memorial Ceremony, his message was delivered by Mr. Ahmad Bashir Ghafoori, First Secretary of the Afghan Embassy in Tokyo. By his sides were three experts, heads of organizations which played an important role in this cultural recovery by their knowledge and their action: Mr. Yoichi Inoue, Director of Curatorial Planning at the Tokyo National Museum; Mr. Noburo Noguchi, Director-General of the National Federation of Unesco Associations in Japan; Pr. Ryohei Miyata, President of Tokyo University of the Arts.

In his speech, Mr. Ahmad Bashir Ghafoori stressed the importance of Japan’s help to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in order to protect these “cultural refugees”. Tribute has also been paid to the late Pr. Ikuo Hirayama, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO at this time, who initiated the activity of protecting displaced Afghan properties.

In the framework of an international campaign, a few months ago, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie delivered a speech named after the campaign: “Do Not Forget Afghanistan”. As the people of Afghanistan does not want to be forgotten, and the recent meaningful changes in the country not to be eclipsed, Afghans will never forget the help brought, being brought and to be brought by Japan and its citizens. This press conference was another occasion to spread this message.

Indeed, many journalists were presents – more than forty – representing various media, newspapers and TV companies. After the information given by the talented speakers, a question and answer session was held.

16/05/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Welcomes Director of National Museum of Afghanistan Mr. Massoudi

May 16, 2015: His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the great pleasure, along with First Secretary and Consul Mrs. Farima Orya Afzali and Third Secretary Mr. Sayed Ali Asghar Amiri, in wecoming the Director of the National Museum of Afghanistan, the esteemed Mr. Omara Khan Massoudi, to the Embassy. Logistics and other issues relating to the upcoming "Hidden Treasures From The National Museum of Afghanistan" exhibition at the Kyushu National Museum and the Tokyo National Museum in 2016 were discussed.

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23/07/2014 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Receives Ms. Matsunami

July 23, 2014: 

His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie had the pleasure of receiving the Executive Director of the Japan Afghanistan Friendship Association and long time friend of Afghanistan Mrs. Kuniko Matsunami at the Embassy. Topics of discussion included the upcoming Afghan Hidden Treasures Exhibition, the Afghan Kite Festival and the JATA Tourism EXPO Japan, which H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie communicated were all utmost priorities of the Embassy. On behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie extended his deep appreciation to Ms. Matsunami and to The Honorable Mr. Kenshiro Matsunami, President of the Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University Group, for their ongoing invaluable contributions toward facilitating ever closer ties between Afghanistan and Japan.