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2023/1/4
New Year's Greetings from Ambassador Hikihara (January 4, 2022)
HIKIHARA Takeshi
Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of Japan
to the International Organizations in Vienna
to the International Organizations in Vienna
Happy New Year!
I would like to offer you my heartfelt wishes for good health, happiness and prosperity in 2022.
We have embarked on this New Year marked by a continuing global crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Various worldwide efforts of reformation are underway to overcome our common enduring strains. Here in Vienna, “the third city of the United Nations”, our struggle continues to maintain global governance and enhance effective international cooperation for a united crisis response.
Despite the difficulties to maintain conventional ways of face-to-face diplomacy, Japan managed to achieve substantial results in Vienna last year.
Last March, in cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Japan hosted the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, known as the “Kyoto Congress”, in a hybrid format. It was held in Japan for the second time after 50 years. I assumed the office of Chair of the prior informal consultations and presided the negotiation for a political declaration under constraints due to anti-COVID-19 measures. The “Kyoto Declaration” thus adopted affirms the international community’s commitment to crime prevention and enhancement of criminal justice in concert, while addressing the challenges and impediments posed by the pandemic. For Japan, it was the very first successful experience to host a large-scale hybrid international conference under COVID-19.
In November last year, marking a decade after the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a milestone meeting on nuclear safety in Vienna in a hybrid format. During the meeting, topnotch international experts intensively discussed ways to further enhance nuclear safety, based upon their own experiences and the progress made in science and technology. Japan shared with participants our strenuous efforts on nuclear safety drawn on the lessons learned from the accident, and voiced the willingness to continue our contribution to strengthening nuclear safety worldwide in cooperation with the IAEA.
Japan also proactively engaged in international cooperation for global response to COVID-19 and building back better from the crisis in collaboration with the International Organizations based in Vienna, namely, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), IAEA and UNODC. Japan’s support to developing countries in need covers various fields, including measures against infectious diseases, economic recovery, enhancement of the resilience of societies and empowerment of women.
In this vein, I would like to pay my most sincere respect to all staff of the Vienna based International Organizations, including our Japanese colleagues, for their invaluable and tireless contributions, despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic. My team in the Permanent Mission of Japan and I join hands with you in our common endeavor.
This year, the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT Review Conference) is expected to take place, following the postponement last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Permanent Mission of Japan fully cooperates with the IAEA to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including in the fight against infectious diseases and cancer. In September this year, the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (RCA) will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with its first Ministerial Conference to be held in Vienna. The Government of Japan plays an active role in regional cooperation in Asia through frameworks such as the RCA. Furthermore, given the persisting severe security environment surrounding Japan, we work closely with the IAEA to enhance nuclear non-proliferation, including with regard to North Korea and Iran.
As the only country having suffered from atomic bombings during wartime, and under the leadership of Prime Minister, H.E. KISHIDA Fumio, who was born in Hiroshima, Japan continues its tireless efforts toward a world free of nuclear weapons. In this context, we promote the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Japan and Australia will co-host the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT in September 2022.
We also play an active role in the discussions of multilateral export control regimes, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by leveraging Japan's strengths in technological knowledge.
As globalization deepens, global issues such as terrorism, international crime, corruption and drugs are exacerbated. We continue to strengthen our cooperation with the UNODC, capitalizing on our expertise in these fields. This year, I will serve as Chair of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). Japan will also actively participate in the negotiations for a new convention on cybercrime.
Japan continues to work with UNIDO intensively to assist developing countries, mobilizing Japan’s private sector with their technologies and expertise. We support them in their efforts to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis and to build back better. Japan remains fully committed to support the implementation of the SDGs in various ways, including by assisting the fight against marine plastic litter and the improvement of industrial value chains.
The outer space is a new frontier, increasingly involved in the development of human economy and society. Japan actively contributes to the mission of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and cooperate closely with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). We contribute to the peaceful use of outer space and the promotion of the SDGs through space technology, making best use of our advanced capabilities and knowledge in space.
In this time of great paradigm change in the international community, it is the duty of our Mission in Vienna to make substantial contributions to various global issues through effectively strengthening multilateralism. I would be most grateful for your understanding and support for our activities.
In closing, let me reiterate my sincere wishes for your good health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
New Year's Greetings from Ambassador Hikihara (January 4, 2021)
HIKIHARA Takeshi
Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative of Japan
to the International Organizations in Vienna
to the International Organizations in Vienna
Happy New Year!
Let me offer my heartfelt wishes for your health, success and happiness in 2021.
The year 2021 started in the midst of a lockdown. The entire globe has been facing great challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This world calamity poses a direct threat to the lives of people and to the very foundation of our economy. It also poses an unprecedented challenge for the International Organizations based in Vienna, which share the responsibility for good and effective governance of the international society.
Meetings in person have become complicated to hold. Field projects have been hindered. International organizations here are striving to find ways to discharge their missions, such as through online meetings and by delegating authorities to their field offices. In parallel, through agile and flexible shift of priorities, they are making the utmost use of their expertise in the international pandemic response. All these efforts remind us once again of the critical importance of multilateralism, of which Vienna is a prime advocate.
In this vein, I would like to pay my most sincere respect to all the staff of the Vienna based International Organizations including our Japanese colleagues for their invaluable unflagging contribution.
My team in the Permanent Mission of Japan and me are engaging in this year’s work with renewed determination and fresh ideas in order to overcome current challenges and to ensure our effective international cooperation in a seamless manner.
This year in March, UNODC will hold the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto in a hybrid format with inclusive on-line participation. The Congress provides a paramount opportunity to present Japan’s leading role in promoting the rule of law in the international society. As Chair of the consultations for the political declaration of this Congress, I am determined to fully contribute to a successful adoption of this document which should serve as a new international policy guideline for crime prevention and criminal justice. We will also continue to strengthen our cooperation with UNODC by mobilizing Japan’s expertise. We have so much to tackle together, inter alia terrorism, transnational organized crimes, corruption and world drug problems, which have been seriously aggravated through globalization.
The quinquennial Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT Review Conference) is scheduled in New York this summer. At this important juncture, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue to play a key role in nuclear non-proliferation and promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including fight against infectious diseases. Needless to say, efforts for non-proliferation continue, including on the Iran or North Korea cases. Japan will contribute proactively in our joint endeavors with a view to ensuring and promoting the peace, security and prosperity of Japan and the world.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Japan, the only country who suffered atomic bombings, will continue to make efforts towards the entry into force of the CTBT as a realistic step toward a world without nuclear weapons. Japan will further contribute to enhancing the verification regime of the treaty, including through our support for capacity building of developing countries.
We would also like to play an active role in the discussions of multilateral export control regimes, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by leveraging Japan's strengths in technological knowledge.
Japan cooperates with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to assist developing countries in their COVID-19 crisis response. UNIDO, with its unique strength in the field of industrial development, actively engages Japanese companies, and transfers their relevant technologies to developing countries in need. Japan will further contribute to the efforts of the international community to overcome the crisis and build back better towards the achievement of the SDGs in cooperation with UNIDO.
The space activities are bringing various essential benefits to our societies. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) plays key roles in reviewing and encouraging international cooperation in the outer space. This year, a Japanese expert will serve as Chair of the Legal Subcommittee of the COPUUS, a unique platform for legal discussion of the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
In cooperation with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Japan will further contribute to the rule of law in outer space, achievement of the SDGs through space technology including addressing the ever-worsening space debris problem, with our advanced capabilities and knowledge in this field.
There is no doubt that 2021 will be another challenging year. In this time of hardship, it is our duty to tackle each task that lies before us and to strengthen multilateralism with wisdom, strength and perseverance. I would be most grateful for your understanding and cooperation.