12/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Attends MOFA Japan and Fukushima Prefecture Organized Seminar

March 12, 2015: The efforts of the virtuous people of Fukushima are a shining example to the world and it was with great anticipation that His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie attended the "Messages to the World from Revitalizing Fukushima" seminar which was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fukushima Prefecture.

 

 

Hosted at Iikura House and with speeches by the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs The Honorable Mr. Kentaro Sonoura and Governor of Fukushima Prefecture The Honorable Mr. Masao Uchibori, the seminar conveyed information regarding the revitalization processes that have occurred as well as the current safety situation.

 

Representing the esteemed Ambassadors in attendance, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie rose and delivered an important speech which thanked and congratulated the Government of Japan and The Hon. Governor Mr. Uchibori for the excellent results that have been achieved so far in the on going process of physically, socially and economically revitalizing the region, despite enormous obstacles. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie said that, "I am confidant that the problems will be overcome due to the work at the local, prefecture and national levels of government". He added that, "My prayers and thoughts are with the victims of this disaster and with the entire noble nation of Japan". Such genuine support and leadership by a foreign representative is deeply appreciated by both the people and also the government of Japan.

 

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12/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Welcomes Students From Sarubashi Middle School

March 12, 2015: Afghanistan has a young population which gives hope to the country for a bright future and Japan's youth will also determine their country and the international community's direction in the decades to come. It was with this in mind that His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie warmly welcomed students from Niigata Prefecture's Sarubashi Middle School to the Embassy.

 

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie communicated to Haruka-san, Yuki-san, Nina-san, Reiya-san and Ousuke-san that they will become Japan's future leaders in their respective fields and encouraged them to learn more about Afghanistan and its people so that they can work to further unite the peoples of Afghanistan and Japan in a future based on mutual partnership.

 

Coming from the beautiful city of Shibata, the students performed an excellent and highly interesting group presentation which promoted the charms and delights of Shibata after enjoying a presentation by the Public Affairs Officer on the life and culture of Afghanistan, similarities shared between Afghanistan and Japan and about the important relations of the two countries.

 

 

 

 

 

The Embassy looks forward to greeting Ousuke-san, Reiya-san, Nina-san, Yuki-san, Haruka-san and other students and teachers from Sarubashi Middle School again in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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11/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Attends Great Japan East Earthquake Memorial

March 11, 2015: It was with a heavy heart that His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie attended a sombre memorial and tribute in recognition of the suffering, devastation and loss of life caused by the Great Japan East Earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The memorial was attended by Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, His Excellency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and 1,200 other esteemed participants who all observed a moment of silence at 2:46 PM, the time of the quake four years ago. His Imperial Majesty The Emperor of Japan gave a speech which reflected on the great difficulties that the people in affected regions have overcome and that the lessons of the disaster should never be forgotten.

His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie lay a wreath of flowers at the ceremony on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He feels great anguish on reflecting on the tragic events which occurred on March the 11th 2011. At the time of the earthquake, H.E. Ambassador Dr Fatimie was working in His office and shared the same fear and distress that was experienced by people across Japan. Throughout Afghanistan, people were in shock and dismay. This is because the noble people of Japan have been so incredibly benevolent to the people of Afghanistan in ensuring sustainable development in the country that when Japan suffers and feels pain, Afghans also experience pain.

Subsequently, Afghans both in Afghanistan and in Japan raised money to assist the victims of the disaster. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and other Embassy staff travelled to Ibaraki Prefecture and went to peoples’ homes to meet with families and to distribute necessities to the needy. On this fourth anniversary of the tragedy, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie, on behalf of the people and Government of Afghanistan, again extends His most heartfelt commiserations to all those who have been adversely affected and reaffirms that today is not only a day of reflection, remembrance and sorrow in Japan but also in Afghanistan.

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10/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Attends Tokyo Metropolitan Peace Memorial Ceremony

March 10, 2015: Applicable to both Afghanistan and Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Peace Day is an annual memorial ceremony which seeks to increase public awareness of the need for peace and to reflect on the suffering caused by war. Surrounded by powerful people from around the world, including being seated next to Ambassador of the United States Her Excellency Mrs. Caroline Kennedy, His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie took this valuable opportunity to represent Afghanistan at the very center of a setting which not only promoted peace but demanded it as a standard to which all governments around the world should strive to achieve.

Specifically, connecting with the government leaders of Japan, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie met and spoke with the Governor of Tokyo The Honorable Mr. Yoichi Masuzoe, Vice-Governor of Tokyo The Honorable Mr. Nobuhiro Maeda, Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly The Honorable Mr. Toshiaki Yoshino, and many other esteemed political figures.

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10/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Attends Ministry of Finance Reception

March 10, 2015: Many of Japan's former Prime Ministers had previous careers in the Ministry of Finance and it was with a great sense of responsibility that His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Second Secretary Mr. Mohammad Yasir Karimi attended a Ministry of Finance reception on the invitation of Director-General of the Ministry's International Bureau Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa. During the evening, relations between Afghanistan and Japan were further strengthened through personal communication and interactions among participants who may go on to be future Prime Ministers of Japan.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie met with Director-General of the International Bureau Ministry of Finance The Honorable Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, Director of Development Institutions Division International Bureau Ministry of Finance The Honorable Mr. Tadashi Yokoyama, and Deputy Director Development Institutions Division International Bureau Ministry of Finance Mr. Hideaki Hamada, and deep appreciation for Japan's selfless support for Afghanistan, for the crucial role that the Ministry of Finance played in helping to build Afghanistan's Embassy in Tokyo and for the vital support that Japan has given to the World Bank in relation to their efforts to promote health and education in Afghanistan was communicated.

Afghanistan's extraction industries have great potential to substantially contribute to the self-reliant development of the country and H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie took advantage of the opportunity to achieve this vision by greeting and speaking with Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation Deputy Director General Coal Development Department Mr. Tsuguyo Takahashi.

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8/03/2015 H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie Attends Friendship Through Art Exhibition

 

March 08, 2015: It was a great pleasure for His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Ambassadress Fatimie to attend the opening of the Friendship Through Art Exhibition at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie held discussions of mutual interest with many esteemed Ambassadors and in particular congratulated Ambassador of Oman His Excellency Mr. Khalid bin Hashil bin Mohammed Al-Muslahi for the highly innovative and successful exhibition and Palestinian Ambassador His Excellency Waleed Siam for his new leadership role in the Arab League. Of particular importance for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Fatimie during the event was to further enhance the strong working relations the Embassy enjoys with MoFA Japan's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Director General Mr. Tsukasa Uemura and with Chief Protocol Officer Mr. Jun Yamazaki which was successfully achieved.

 

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7/03/2015 H.E. Takes Center Stage at the Minato-ku World Carnival

March 7, 2015: In what was the climax of the six-week long Minato-ku World Carnival, SL Square at Shimbashi Station hosted the final Carnival in which fifteen Embassy's participated. On this special occasion of cross-cultural interaction with the people of Japan, His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Ambassadress Fatimie took center stage as He delivered an impassioned speech emphasizing the importance of the Afghan-Japan friendship and the reality that more similarities than differences are shared by the people of the world.

The Afghan Embassy booth received some four-hundred visitors, including the Chairman of the Minato-ku Council Assembly The Honorable Mr. Jun Shichinohe, who enjoyed gift bags of nuts and sultanas, which are one of Afghanistan's largest exports, while enjoying the Afghan jewelry, clothes, posters and language material that was on display. The event received wide coverage and the Embassy's Public Affairs Officer was interviewed by Tokyo News reporter Ms. Yuko Matsumura.

His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Fatimie and Ambassadress Fatimie interacted with members of the Japanese community for about one hour and the Embassy greatly appreciates the many Japanese who, became friends of the Embassy during the Stamp Rally and the Embassy's Minato-ku World Carnival events, and came to Shimbashi station and warmly participated in the March 7th event. Third Secretary Mr. Sayed Ali Asghar Amiri was also present at the event.

Afghan musical group "Chalpasa" played a vital role in the event and in the Embassy's public relations campaign. Chalpasa's beautifully mesmerizing music added to the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere and they were crowd favorites.

Over the six-week duration of the Minato-ku World Carnival, many participants were deeply moved by the Afghan Embassy's warm hospitality, friendship and serious intent to treat each and every participant like a VIP. Members of Minato-ku Council provided feedback to the Embassy that out of the fifteen participating embassys, it was the Afghan Embassy which had the highest reputation and received the most positive feedback from particpants.

The Embassy extends its sincere gratitude to Minato-ku Council, JTB and in particular to the extraordinary Mr. Takayuki Shimane who provided the foundations for what has been a highly successful six-weeks.

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