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Visit to Japan by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

November 12, 2009
Japanese

  1. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will visit Japan from November 19 (Thu) to 20 (Fri) with the intent of holding talks relating to refugee policies and strengthening cooperation between Japan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
     
  2. During his stay in Japan, High Commissioner Guterres will meet with Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and other government officials. He will also hold talks with members of the Diet and will engage in events including the holding of a press conference at the Japan National Press Club.
     
  3. In cooperation with UNHCR, Japan has been extending humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons in the world. It is expected that the forthcoming visit to Japan by High Commissioner Guterres will further strengthen cooperative relations between Japan and the UNHCR.

(Reference)

  1. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

    2. UNHCR began its operations in 1951 with the aim of protecting refugees and achieving durable solutions for refugee issues. Its fundamental operations are as follows: (1) the granting of international protection to refugees around the world, (2) live-saving assistance including the provision of water, food, shelter, and education, (3) durable solutions for refugee issues, and (4) the promotion of accession to treaties on refugee protection by states. As of July 2009, there were a total of 330 UNHCR offices in 119 different countries.

  1. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

    2. High Commissioner Guterres is a former prime minister of Portugal and is the tenth person to hold the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He is serving a five year term which began on June 15, 2005 and will continue until June 14, 2010. This visit to Japan will be his sixth visit as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. His last visit was in December 2008.

  1. Press Conference at the Japan National Press Club

    2. High Commissioner Guterres plans to hold a press conference at the Japan National Press Club on November 20 (Fri) starting at 4pm.

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