Press Releases
Foreign Minister MOTEGI’s Meeting with Mr. Barham Salih UN High Commissioner for Refugees
October 21, 2026
On October 21, commencing at 2:10 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Mr. Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI mentioned about the worsening situations for refugees and displaced persons, including in the Middle East, and expressed his respect for the staff members of UNHCR who stand by and assist refugees and displaced persons, as well as his appreciation for the initiative of High Commissioner Salih, aimed at halving refugees' long-term dependency on humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with UNHCR to improve humanitarian situations from the perspective of "human security" as advocated by the late High Commissioner Ms. OGATA Sadako.
- In response, High Commissioner Salih expressed his deep gratitude for Japan's long-standing support for the UNHCR and his intention to collaborate with Japan in supporting refugees and displaced persons worldwide.
- In addition, both sides exchanged views on the promotion of the Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) Nexus in support of refugees and displaced persons, as well as the significance of collaboration with the private sector. In this context, they shared their recognition that assistance for refugees and displaced persons in the international community contributes to the peace and stability not only of individual nations but also of the region as a whole, and that strategic cooperation with international organizations leads to global crisis management.