In his article just published by China Daily on September 23, Director of the Research Center for United Nations and International Organizations of Fudan University, Professor Zhang Guihong, who is member of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan, recognizes the UN has a unique advantage in promoting universal values as well as global norms and ethics. Please click here for his full article.
“International Day of Peace” was held in temples, churches, and parks throughout Japan on September 21st from 12:00a.m., and in Tokyo, Princess Akiko took part in Zojyoji Temple (21/09/2020)
In Tokyo, Princess Akiko struck the peace bell at the ceremony held at Zojoji Temple. After the bell-beating ceremony, Sukehiro Hasegawa, chairman of the Japan Committee for International Peace Day, explained the purpose of the event. Then, Sen Genshitsu, president of the United Nations Association of Japan and the head of Urasenke, and Yoshiko Higashikuni, Chairman of the World Federation Culture and Education Promotion Council, gave a speech, and Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government, gave a congratulatory address. Actress Mikako Yoshida then read a message from Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. Please clickhere. (Reporter: Yuuki Watanabe)
Farewell Lunch for Former Vice President Mio Sato (20/09/2020)
GPAJ Vice President Mio Sato will be appointed as IOM Office Director in Pakistan next month, and her successor, GPAJ Vice President Kumagai, organized a farewell lunch. It was most enjoyable to have eight members get together at the restaurant for the first time in a long time and talk to each other directly. Yumiko Kaneko, a UNDP staff in the Philippines and a GPAJ member, joined us. From right: Ken Inoue, Vice President of GPAJ, Mio Sato, Director of IOM, Takaaki Mizuno, Professor of Kanda University of International Studies, Keiichi Tanabe, Professor of Tokai University, Yumiko Kaneko, UNDP staff, Sukehiro Hasegawa, GPAJ President, and Naoko Kumagai, Vice President and Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University.
“Turkey under the Erdogan regime” By Akio Miyajima, Japanese Ambassador to Turkey (12/09/2020)
Akio Miyajima, Japanese Ambassador to Turkey explained Turkey as a “rising power” with “volatility” and “resilience” in the turbulent Middle East region and beyond from various aspects including its diplomacy, military, domestic affairs, and economy. He emphasized that Turkey, a nation of 83 million people with tremendous potential holds the key to regional stability and global peacebuilding as the influence and commitment of the United States wanes and declines.
The 45th GPAJ Online Seminar “Turkey under the Erdoğan administration” (12/09/2020)
Those who wish to participate, please pre-register at ”tanimoto[@]gpaj.org” by Monday, September 7. We’ll send you a return Zoom account.
With Grandchildren, Kenji and Alisah (01/08/2020)
Last week flying from Narita to Zurich, I successfully entered Switzerland. Visited my son, Stefan Hiroshi, and his family in Geneva. Later this week, my wife and I will try to enter Germany to meet our second daughter, Corinne, who has lost her husband recently and her two children. Here is a photo of my grandchildren Kenji and Alisah.
Kosovo Diplomats explain the Impact of the UN Intervention on Contemporary Kosovo (29/07/2020)
Moderated by Ms. Arbenita SOPAJ of GPAJ, Ambassador Leon Malazogu based in Japan and his colleagues Ambassador Hajdin Abazi in Australia, Ambassador Qendrim Gashi in France and Ms. Merdiana Leci, Department for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the contemporary Kosovo. Please click here for the full report of the seminar.
Online Conversations with Former President and Nobel Prize Laureate, José Ramos-Horta and Former Under-Secretary-General and UNMIT Head, Ameerah Haq on Saturday, 5th of September from 10:00 -12:00 Tokyo Time. (05/09/2020)
The conversation topic will center on “Global Governance in the Post-Corona Era: The Role of the United Nations, the United States and East Asian Countries.” This seminar will be conducted in English. Please click here to learn more about the program details. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with your name and updated email address to Ms. Elizabeth Gamarra via egamarra15[@]yahoo.com. You will receive the official Zoom link prior to the event.
First online book review will be held on Spirit of Peacebuilding on 22nd August.(22/08/2020)
Mr. Koji SAKANE, JICA Senior Director for Peacebuilding Office, Professor Takaaki MIZUNO and Professor Katsumi ISHIZUKA will make general comments while GPAJ Vice President Professor KUMAGAI, Ambassador Motoo NOGUCHI、Mr. Ken INOUE, Professor AI KIHARA-HUNT and Ms. Arbenita SOPAJ will analyze reconciliation and transitional justice issues.
Ambassador Leon MALAZOGU of the Republic of Kosovo to Japan will speak on the impact of the UN intervention in contemporary Kosovo at an online ZOOM conference on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 from 16:00 to 17:30.
Ambassador MALAZOGU will also discuss the implication of the advisory opinion of 22 July 2010 of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) entitled “Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo” and its relevant orders. For details, please click here.
Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa Explains via Online Lecture to Graduate Students at Kwansei Gakuin University Lessons learned from Peacebuilding in Timor-Leste (08/07/2020)
Please click here for the recording of the lecture.
Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan makes public its Statement on the Pandemic of New Coronavirus (COVID-19) (25/06/2020)
The spread and unprecedented impact of the new coronavirus has revealed a wide range of vulnerabilities that human society should overcome as a human community. We are concerned that this pandemic poses a threat to the peace and security of humankind, and in order to overcome it, we need to aim at restoring multilateralism and building new global governance for conflict and disaster prevention.
Four new members elected for the Board of Directors and two new Vice Presidents appointed. (22/06/2020)
Online Extraordinary Meeting of the GPAJ General Assembly elected Mr. Ken INOUE, former Senior Advisor on Democratic Governance, Ambassador Motoo NOGUCHI and Ambassador Yasuyoshi KOMIZO as new members of the Board of Directors which in turn appointed Mr. Ken INOUE and Professor KUMAGAI Vice Presidents.
Japan will contribute $300 million to support vaccines production for developing countries (04/06/2020)
In a video message to a meeting of international organizations working on the spread of vaccines, Prime Minister Abe pledged $300 million in support of the development of vaccines for developing countries.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s view on COVID-19 and the role of WHO (25/05/2020)
(日本語) 安倍総理大臣は、新型コロナウイルスへの対応をめぐり、米中関係の対立が深まっているなか、日本は、ＷＨＯの総会において、公平で独立した包括的な検証を行うべきであるという決議案をＥＵや豪州等と協力をして提出をし、米国や中国も合意したと述べた。そして、日本は自由、民主主義、基本的人権、法の支配といった普遍的な価値を共有する国々と手を携えながら、国際社会での重要な役割、責任を果たしていく意向を示した。（記者会見に関しては、首相官邸のウエッブサイトを参照して下さい。）
The Japanese Diet Committee for the World Federalist Movement held its annual meeting on May 12 at the International Conference Hall of the Diet Members` First Building and reviewed the recommendations of the Commission on Global Governance concerning global issues. (12/05/2020)
All major political parties sent their representatives to the annual meeting. Please click here for the report of the meeting.
At the General Assembly of the Japanese Diet Committee for World Federalist Movement, Dr. Keizo TAKEMI, adviser of the LDP’s Corona Countermeasures Headquarters, and the UHC Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed his views on the importance of international cooperation. (12/05/2020)
Dr. TAKEMI who is also Chairman of the Federation of Western Pacific Parliamentarians said that all nations must work together on issues common interest to the international community such as infectious diseases, and to establish an institutional framework for collaboration in order to contribute to global governance in the future.
Japan Diet Committee for World Federalist Movement, chaired by Secretary-General Masaharu Nakagawa, approves the action plan for Year 2020. (12/05/2020)
Three events proposed and approved by the Diet Committee for World Federalist Movement are (1) Tokyo Peacebuilding Forum (co-sponsored by the Diet Committee and the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan), (2) the Commission on Global Governance continues to address global issues, e.g. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and gender empowerment, and (3) a signature movement to establish the United Nations Parliamentary Assembly.