Commemorative Ceremony of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Japan's Admission to the United Nations

December 11, 2006

The year 2006 has marked the 50th anniversary since Japan joined the United Nations in 1956. On December 18 (Mon), the day on which Japan was admitted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the Commemorative Ceremony of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Japan's Admission to the United Nations in the presence of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan at Kudan Kaikan under the joint auspices of the United Nations Association of Japan (President Genshitsu Sen). The Ministry will invite the Prime Minister of Japan, cabinet ministers, Diet Members, leaders of local governments with UN-related organizations in their municipalities, vice ministers of governmental ministries, the diplomatic corps, members of the United Nations Association of Japan, and others.
In the first part of the Ceremony, His Majesty The Emperor of Japan and the Prime Minister of Japan will give congratulatory messages and a representative of the UN Secretary General will read a message from him. The second part will include a speech by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and an award presentation to members of the United Nations Association of Japan for outstanding achievements. In the evening, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will host a reception at Iikura House.
Japan has been actively promoting international cooperation through the United Nations since joining the organization, and is now making efforts to further advance UN reforms including that of the Security Council. The Government of Japan will take this opportunity to confirm Japan's basic stance on the United Nations, and reaffirm its determination to further contribute to peace and prosperity in the world through the United Nations.
For a related event, the Foreign Ministry will invite the presidents of the United Nations Association of China, the Republic of Korea, Finland, Ghana, and others, who will attend the Ceremony, to hold the UNA Symposium on "The Civilian Agenda: Toward Further UN Reform" on December 19 under the joint auspices of the Foreign Ministry and the United Nations Association of Japan.

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