Ambassador Shioguchi Patronizes UNRWA's Scholarship Alumni Ceremony, April 7, 2009
Ambassador's Speech
Madame Abu-Zayd, Commissioner-General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning and Assalaam Aleikom
Ana safiir yabanii lada Urdun,Tetsuo Shioguchi.
Today is the day of pride and congratulations. I am very pleased to be here together with you to witness the great achievement of scholarship alumni, the fruit of their diligent work throughout 4years. They all have their own version of success stories which adhere to their resolve to overcome their adversity and realize their dream through education. I would like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to the host countries for their generous support to accept Palestine refugees scholarship’s students.
Today in front of us is the solid proof of how much education can contribute to the development of competent human capital. What we will hear today are just a small fraction of the success stories. There are a lot of untold success stories, which this project created.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In 1989, Japan decided to set up the scholarship program at the initiative of Mr. Kunio Sato, who was then the Director of Education in UNRWA. Mr. Sato was actually aware that opportunities available for refugee youth to seek higher education were scarce, and proposed Japan to assist Palestinian youth to attain their educational ambition.
In Japan’s assistance to Palestine refugees, education sector has always been the field of priority, in the belief that high education nurtures the human capital necessary for the nation-building of a future independent Palestine state. Since the start of this scholarship program, about 1,000 students have graduated, who are currently playing an important role in the various sectors in the region.
Japan’s assistance to the scholarship program is only a part of our contribution to UNRWA. Japan started its assistance to UNRWA in 1953 with an amount of $10,000 and the total sum of our assistance until now reaches $560 million. Recalling that 1953 was not long after the end of the Second World War and Japan itself was a recipient of foreign aid, you can easily imagine how much value $10,000 was for Japan at that time. In spite of this, the Government deeply sympathized with the ordeal of Palestine refugees and decided to help them through a humanitarian perspective.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Japan’s assistance to the Palestine refugees has another aspect. It is part of Japan’s efforts toward the Middle East peace process. Japan has regularly invited high ranking officials and intellectuals from the both Israeli and Palestinian sides since 2003, to have exchange of opinions on the peace process and the establishment of an independent Palestine state. This aims at fostering mutual understanding and building confidence through political dialogue in the environment free of domestic pressure. The latest round was held on Oct. 2008 in Tokyo. Interior Minister of Israel Mr. Meir Sheetrit and the PLO Chief Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erakat were among the participants. Japan also has been engaged in active diplomacy to help promote such a political dialogue through Dr. Tatsuo Arima, the Special Envoy for the Middle East.
As for the economic development assistance, Japan has been carrying out a project called “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” which was launched in 2006 by the then Japan’s PM Mr. Junichiro Koizumi to achieve a self-sustainable Palestinian economy based on private sector activities with a particular focus on the agro-industry. Japan is implementing this project in cooperation with Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.
With highlighting these efforts of Japan, I would like to remind all at present today that Japan is strongly committed to the peace in the Middle East.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year UNRWA marks the 60th anniversary of its creation. This commemoration is by no means a celebratory occasion, but a painful reminder that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been perpetuated without solution and the Palestine refugees have been bereaved of human security and dignity. Also, this is an opportunity for us to appreciate UNRWA’s long-committed work toward the Palestine refugees. Without UNRWA, Palestine refugees could not have received basic social services such as education and health.
Now the Palestine refugees are facing very difficult times more than ever due to the recent Gaza crisis, stalled peace process and division of Palestinian political front. The international community cannot fail to give a lay of hope to the Palestinian youth. The Government of Japan will continue to support UNRWA’s activities in partnership with donor countries as well as host governments.
