Press Conferences
Press Conference by Deputy Press Secretary OHTAKA Masato
Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 4:35 p.m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japanese
Opening Remarks
(1) Adoption of a UNSC Resolution on Landmine Countermeasures (No. 2365)
Deputy Press Secretary Masato Otaka: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a resolution on mine action on June 30 (NY time).
This is the first resolution on mine action to be approved as a UNSC resolution. Japan co-sponsored the resolution, alongside Bolivia, the main sponsor.
Japan has actively provided assistance for the clearance of landmine and unexploded ordnances, including cluster submunitions, and for victims of landmine and unexploded ordnances. Japan contributed a total of roughly 4.723 billion yen to 22 countries and regions in FY2016. Japan ranked second worldwide in total assistance in mine action from 2011 to 2015. Besides this assistance, Japan is also encouraging the ratification or accession of related conventions, such as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, among countries that have yet to do so. Japan intends to continue to play a proactive role in these areas.
(2) B.R. Sen Award Presented to Mr. Tomio Shichiri, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Afghanistan
Deputy Press Secretary Otaka: Japan extends its congratulations to Mr. Tomio Shichiri, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Afghanistan, on his being awarded the B.R. Sen Award, which is reputed to have the longest history of the awards granted to FAO staff.
The B.R. Sen Award, which is named after former FAO Director-General (1956-1967) Binay Ranjan Sen, is presented to FAO field officers who have made outstanding contributions to technical cooperation in the field. Mr. Shichiri is being awarded the B.R. Sen Award in appreciation of his long-running contributions to expanding FAO’s activities in Afghanistan. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place today, July 5, at the FAO Conference currently taking place in Rome.
Mr. Shichiri has also been making highly significant contributions to promoting Japan’s development cooperation in the agricultural field through FAO in Afghanistan. I would like to take this opportunity to express my respect for Mr. Shichiri’s dedicated activities over many years.