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)

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.

22-23/03/2011 Ambassador Fatimie attends press conferences on the Fukushima nuclear incident

March 22-23, 2011: In order to become fully aware of the latest developments and to directly receive complete information, Ambassador Dr. Sayed M. Amin Fatimie attended press conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday in regards to the ongoing developments of the Fukushima nuclear incident.

The Fukushima Daiichi (number one) Nuclear Power Plant suffered damage due to the tsunami that resulted from March 11th’s massive earthquake in northeastern Japan. Since the incident, radiation has been released and the public has been concerned about the effects, both short-term and long-term.

On Tuesday, Ambassador Fatimie attended a talk by Professor Shunichi Yamashita of Nagasaki University’s Department of Molecular Medicine and Department of International Health and Radiation Research, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute on nuclear power and radiation exposure. Professor Yamashita, who is serving as an advisor on the Fukushima situation, expressed confidence in the safety of Japan at present, assuring people that even those in a close proximity to the nuclear facility, citing 31 kilometers from the facility as an example, are as safe from the effects of radiation as those outside of Japan.

On Wednesday, Ambassador Fatimie, accompanied by Mr. Jason Pratt, Public Affairs Officer of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, attended visiting-nuclear expert Dr. Robert Peter Gale’s press conference in Tokyo. Dr. Gale has worked on the Chernobyl incident as well as others worldwide. Dr. Gale also reassured of the current safety of Japan and those living in Japan. Comparing the situations of Chernobyl and Fukushima, he noted that the reactor types and the environments are very different. While Fukushima has been declared to be the same level of threat as Three Mile Island in the United States, Dr. Gale stated that there have been no noticeable health problems, including no cancer problems, resulting from Three Mile Island, and has said that the Japanese government is taking adequate steps to address the situation and providing proper support and care to those that need it.

Both conferences were positive indicators that currently, the proper steps are being done to protect those in Japan and to improve the situation.

The Ambassador and diplomats from the Embassy have also been meeting with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a daily basis to keep updated on the developments and to hear of the Japanese government’s official position.

(Photo: Professor Yamashita speaks on the realities of radiation.)

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