Remarks of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Tetsuro YANO on the Launching Ceremony of the UNIDO project
"Assistance for Revitalization of Agricultural Productive Capacities in Sudan through the Trust Fund for Human Security"

September 3, 2003

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentleman,
It is a great honor and pleasure for me to attend the Launching Ceremony of the UNIDO project supported by Japan through the Trust Fund for Human Security and to be given an opportunity to say a few words on this occasion.

(Situations in the Sudan)

The Government of Japan welcomes the conclusion of the partial ceasefire agreement in the Nuba Mountains Region on January 19, 2002. Since then, Japan has been extending humanitarian assistance in the region for consolidation of peace after the ceasefire. Peace negotiations are currently undertaken to put an end to the 20-year-long civil war. I sincerely hope that our assistance can contribute to the conclusion of a final peace agreement as soon as possible.

As a part of these efforts to promote and support the peace process, the Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance through the Trust Fund for Human Security to the project in the Nuba Mountains Region to be implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

(Human security)

Here I touch upon the concept of "human security", under which this Trust Fund was established. Human security is a concept that focuses on the viewpoints of individuals to protect them from the various threats to human lives, livelihoods and dignity, including poverty, environmental degradation, conflicts, landmines, refugee problems, illicit drugs and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and to bring out the full potential of each individual. My government has been striving to promote human security, endorsing human security as one of the key perspectives of Japan's foreign policy.

(About project)

With regard to the situation of the village, in the Nuba Mountains Region, they have been destroyed during the armed conflicts for the last 20 years. The partial ceasefire agreement in this region has allowed internally displaced persons generated by those armed conflicts to return to their villages. However, they are facing poverty.

I think that for rehabilitating those war-torn villages, it is necessary to improve agricultural productivity, and to strengthen the capabilities of the communities with a focus on individuals in line with human security.

Concerning the project, I would like to underline that the project is not only intended to provide necessary equipments to the population, but also address the improvement of local capacity of black smith for repairing and producing these equipments. I think that capacity building for agro-based industries in the local level is fundamental for sustained improvement of agricultural productivity.

(UNIDO)

We all agree that UNIDO has an outstanding expertise of delivering technical cooperation in the field of agro-based industries. I am confident that UNIDO, with its successful achievement, can implement this project effectively.

(In conclusion)

In association with the project, as the Japanese old proverb says, the people is of primary importance in nation-building.

Based on such notion, I hope that the rehabilitation of the communities under this project can help local populations in the Nuba Mountains to create sustainable livelihood.

To conclude my remarks, I would like to reiterate my best wishes for the success of this project, hoping that the project will pave the way for the consolidation of peace in the communities.