2018. 20. 09 Visit to the Afghanistan Culture Association on the Occasion of Ashura.

Visit to the Afghanistan Culture Association on the Occasion of Ashura.

September 20, 2018: With much respect and on the occasion of Ashura, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat made a visit to the Afghanistan Culture Association (Afghanistan Bunka Kyokai) in Chiba Prefecture’s town of Yotsukaido. Also in Attendance were Mr. Basir Ahmad Hamdard, First Secretary, and Dr. Rahim Azimi, First Secretary, for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan.

While at the Afghanistan Culture Association’s site in Chiba, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat gave his remarks to all those present wherein he extended his greetings to the association members and thanked them for asking him to speak on the occasion. Further, he expressed condolences to the audience as well as to all Muslims around the world, and for those who were martyred at Holy Karbala. He thanked the organizers for providing a event such as this for sharing the traditions and culture of Afghanistan and to express solemn respect on occasions such as this. Additionally he spoke on the significance of the occasion of Ashura, the Ashura movement in society, and mentioned that the tragedy of Ashura goes past just the historical incident but out through the Islamic world - that there are things to be learned still from Ashura such as the importance in acknowledging those striving for freedom & being sacrificed in the promotion of Islam; and the fight against cruelty and oppression must continue. H.E. Dr. Mohabbat concluded by encouraging all present to continue to serve as a bridges for goodwill between all Muslims, the Afghan community and the residents of Japan, and again thanked the organizers for their hospitality.

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2018. 19. 09 Meeting with H.E. Ambassador of Yemen.

Meeting with H.E. Ambassador of Yemen.

September 19, 2018: It was an honor for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to receive H.E. Mr. Samir Mohamed Hamud Khamis, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen in Japan, for a meeting at the Afghan Embassy in Tokyo. Also in attendance was Mr. Basir Ahmad Hamdard, First Secretary for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat welcomed H.E. Ambassador Mr. Khamis to the embassy and expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to meet. Further H.E. Dr. Mohabbat expressed his hopes for a strengthening of good relations between both Afghanistan and Yemen, as well as between their respective embassies. In return, H.E. Mr. Khamis thanked H.E. Dr. Mohabbat for meeting with him today as well as for his kind words. He assured him that Yemen would continue to stand by Afghanistan to ensure further progress and prosperity for their respective countries, as well as work together with them and the international community to help further global peace. Both of Their Excellencies the Ambassadors further discussed topic regarding human rights concerning the people of both their countries and agreed to work together in the future to strengthen their bilateral ties.

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2018. 19. 09 Meeting with Mr. Yuji Mori of the Nippon Foundation.

Meeting with Mr. Yuji Mori of the Nippon Foundation.

September 19, 2018: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to meet with the Hon. Mr. Yuji Mori, Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation at the Nippon Foundation Building in Tokyo. Also in attendance was Mr. Asif Agah, Second Secretary for the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan and Mr. Makoto Wada, Program Director for the Social Innovation Program’s International Project Team of the Nippon Foundation.

Established in 1962, The Nippon Foundation is a globally active, nonprofit philanthropic organization that has a mission of providing social innovation – to give all humanity the chance to participate in the future. “Through this innovation we aim to achieve a society where all people support one another, reducing the burdens and challenges they face together.”

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat thanked Hon. Mr. Mori for making the time to meet with him and thanked him, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, for the steadfast and benevolent support of the noble nation of Japan over the years while in pursuit of progress, peace, and prosperity. In return, Hon. Mr. Mori thanked H.E. Dr. Mohabbat for meeting with him as well as for his kind words. Further, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat expressed his strong wishes that the Nippon Foundation provide more scholarship opportunities to Afghan students at the Master's level in order to increase the human capacity development and promulgate more self-sustainability and hope for the future of Afghanistan. As education is the foundation on which the future will be built, offering scholarships for promising young Afghan minds to come study in Japan through the Foundation, when brought to fruition, can help to further improve the lives and contributions of the Afghan people. Mr. Mori agreed to endeavor to explore options to bring about more scholarship opportunities to help enhance human capacity development and progress towards peace and prosperity for Afghanistan.

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2018. 18. 09 Visit by Ms. Junko Katano of NHK.

Visit by Ms. Junko Katano of NHK.

September 18, 2018: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to receive a visit by Ms. Junko Katano from NHK’s culture center, at the embassy in Tokyo.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat warmly welcomed Ms. Katano into the Ambassador’s office for a meeting. Ms. Katano expressed her gratitude to H.E. Dr. Mohabbat for making the time in his schedule to receive her and for the warm welcome. In return, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat thanked Ms. Katano for her kind words and expressed his sincere gratitude, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, for the continuous benevolent support by the true friendly nation of Japan over the years. Further he thanked NHK for covering the news and culture stories of Afghanistan over the many years in its programs. Their meeting continued discussions on a proposed a joint-collaborative event between NHK and the embassy, tentatively planned next year.

Additionally, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat expressed his sincerest hopes for positive relations and collaborations between Afghanistan and the media in order to open the frame to include the great progress and positive strides that have been occurring, especially since the formation of the National Unity Government, in Afghanistan. In the very amicable environment, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat and Ms. Katano were able to discuss various topics that could potentially serve to help bridge the gap in understanding of Afghanistan’s culture to a Japanese audience.

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2018. 15. 09 Attendance at Chukyo University Alumni “Networking Event”.

Attendance at Chukyo University Alumni “Networking Event”.

September 15, 2017: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to attend the “Networking Event” reception celebration by Alumni of Chukyo University at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo.

As an alumnus of Chukyo University, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat was again invited to the reception. The university, established 64 years ago, initially had only one department – Commerce. But currently has 11 undergraduate departments and 11 graduate level research courses, including professional schools of law and business. H.E. Dr. Mohabbat had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Kiyohide Umemura, Chancellor Chairman of Chukyo University to whom he extended his thanks to for hosting the successful event. He thanked the event planner for his kind and very thorough welcoming and the care he received when he was student at Chukyo as the first foreign student of the university. Moreover, he intimated just how proud he was of the invaluable education he received for the institution that holds so dear a place in his heart, which through their all-encompassing, high-caliber training he is certain it helped to bring him to where he is in life. In return, Dr. Uemura thanked him for his attendance and for giving his kind words, further remarking how proud they were of H.E. Dr. Mohabbat as the university’s first Ambassador Alumnus. While at the event, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat also had the pleasure of speaking with many of his fellow alumni of the university who were in attendance to network with former classmates at the event.

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2018. 14. 09 Dinner at Embassy for Visiting Afghan Delegation.

Dinner at Embassy for Visiting Afghan Delegation.

September 14, 2018: It was an honor for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat to host a dinner meeting with the members of a visiting Afghan delegation, consisting of the Honorable Director Generals from several Ministries in Kabul, at the Ambassador’s Residence within the Embassy building in Tokyo. Also in attendance were all the diplomats of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Japan.

The Honorable members of the Afghan delegation are in Japan through the kind hosting of JICA for expanding relations, touring facilities, and learning enrichment. H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat warmly greeted all of the guests as they arrived and conveyed them to his residence. He extended his heartfelt welcome to everyone to the embassy and expressed his sincerest thanks, on behalf of the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the friendly nation of Japan and notably JICA for their continuous and benevolent support of Afghanistan over the years. He remarked that through their generous support and comprehensive programs, which supports the development and rebuilding of social, political, and economic foundations, Afghanistan has achieved tremendous momentum. In addition, JICA has actively assisted in developing our nation’s human capacity. Further he expressed his hopes that their amicably close relations and collaborations in these endeavors would continue well into the future.

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2018. 14. 09 Courtesy Call by Mr. Kazutaka Sato of the Japan Press.

Courtesy Call by Mr. Kazutaka Sato of the Japan Press.

September 14, 2018: It was a pleasure for H.E. Ambassador Dr. Bashir Mohabbat receive a courtesy call by Mr. Kazutaka Sato, President of the independent news agency, the Japan Press, and an old friend of the Ambassador as well as a friend of Afghanistan, at the embassy in Tokyo.

After being welcomed and escorted into the office of the Ambassador, Mr. Sato thanked H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohabbat for making time in his schedule to meet and for receiving him so warmly. In return, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat sincerely thanked Mr. Sato for his kind words and for coming to visit the Embassy on this courtesy call. Mr. Sato then recounted for H.E. Dr. Mohabbat of all his memories of Afghanistan and the many experience he had in his time reporting from there, beginning in 1982, while he covered the Afghan people's struggle for freedom. H.E. Dr. Mohabbat remarked on the great and many memories and experiences Mr. Sato had during his time in Afghanistan and encouraged him to one day visit again and see how much progress has been made since his last visit. Further, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat expressed his appreciation for the arrangement of this unique meeting and added his wishes for positive relations and collaborations between Afghanistan and the media well into the future. Moreover, he reiterated his sincerest and most heartfelt thanks on behalf of the people and Government of Afghanistan to the people and Government of Japan for their benevolent assistance, tireless support, and interest in establishing peace and prosperity for Afghanistan. In the very amicable environment, H.E. Dr. Mohabbat and Mr. Sato were able to discuss various topics that could potentially serve to help bridge the gap in understanding of Afghanistan’s culture to a Japanese audience.

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