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Courtesy Call on Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

May 24, 2012
Japanese

(Photo)Courtesy Call on Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-1
(Photo)Courtesy Call on Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)-2

On Thursday, May 24, commencing at 4:20 p.m. for around 30 minutes, Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba received a courtesy call from Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who was visiting Japan to attend an ICRC Donor Support Group (DSG) meeting held in Tokyo on Thursday, May 24, and Friday, May 25. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

  1. Minister Gemba praised the ICRC highly for its undertaking of humanitarian aid work in dangerous conflict areas. Minister Gemba also stated that ICRC's aid efforts were in line with the concept of human security promoted by Japan, and that Japan intended to further strengthen cooperation with the ICRC going forward. He also expressed his gratitude for ICRC's support at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and extended his condolences with regard to the ICRC personnel killed in Pakistan last month. Furthermore, Minister Gemba stated that he hoped for the early release of the ICRC personnel currently missing in Yemen.

  2. President Kellenberger expressed gratitude for the cooperative relationship between Japan and the ICRC, including the contribution of a record amount by Japan to the ICRC last year despite the Great East Japan Earthquake and a severe fiscal situation. He also noted that the number of Japanese staff members working at the ICRC increased from 3 to 18 in the past six years, and that a Japan office was opened in 2009.

  3. The two parties also exchanged opinions concerning the situation in Afghanistan.
    • (*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
(END)

Related Information (Visit to Japan by Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (May 17, 2012))
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