Government of Japan to Send Observers to Attend the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit)

January 28, 2005

As observers from the Government of Japan, Mr. Masaharu Kohno, Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for Africa and Director-General for Sub-Saharan Affairs, Mr. Kenzo Oshima, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, and Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in Charge of Conflict and Refugee-related Issues in Africa, will attend the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit) to be held on January 30 (Sun) and 31 (Mon) in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Summit, which will be attended by the leaders of 53 African countries and region, will deal with various issues including peace and security, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) program, infectious diseases, food security, and possibly the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Japanese observers will meet African leaders attending the Summit to exchange views on bilateral relations, Japan's policy on cooperation for Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process, cooperation in multilateral fora such as one for the UNSC reform, and others.

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