Dispatch of Special Envoy to the Inauguration Ceremony of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

May 20, 1999

1. The Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister, to the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, which will take place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29 (Sat.).
   
   
2. Nigeria's transition to a civilian regime which started last year will be completed with the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on May 29, whereby a civilian President will take office for the first time in 20 years. The Government of Japan has therefore decided to dispatch a special envoy with a view to supporting Nigeria's democratization.
   
   
3. After staying in Nigeria from May 27 (Thu.) to May 30 (Sun.), Mr. Hashimoto will visit the Republic of Ghana to have talks with President Jerry John Rawlings and others. This visit is in response to an invitation that was extended to Mr. Hashimoto (then Prime Minister) when President Rawlings paid an official visit to Japan in December 1997.
   
   

Related Information (Japan-Nigeria Relations)