Remarks in July 2007
Mr. Shigenobu Kato, Ambassador of Japan, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Skill for Cultural Heritage” on 26 Jull 2007
Dr. Fawwaz Al-Khraysheh, Director General, Department of Antiquities,
Mr. Mohamed Djelid, Director, UNESCO Representative in Iraq,
Mr. Hideyuki Suzuki, Representative, Iraq Unit, JICA Jordan Office,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of Japan, it is my honour to be here today for the opening ceremony of the training course for the “Comprehensive Preservation and Management Skill for Cultural Heritage” for Iraqi people in cooperation with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and UNESCO.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere and warm welcome to the Iraqi participants who have come all the way to Amman to join this memorable launching of the project today.
The Governments of Japan and Jordan have worked together as important partners, sharing the objective of peace and prosperity in the Middle East region. One aspect of the cooperation between two friendly countries is training programs for Iraqi people.
In the quest of stability and prosperity in this region, Japan has offered its full support for the reconstruction of Iraq by means of not only implementing its financial assistance package totaling up to 5 billion US dollars and humanitarian reconstruction activities in Iraq but also providing in harmony with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan the Iraqi people with training courses in various fields such as electricity, water resource management, education, and culture.
Till this day, more than 500 experts have successfully upgraded necessary skills and knowledge through the training programs, and they are now playing an important role in reconstructing and developing the country, and leading their country to overcome difficulties.
I am very pleased and proud to announce the opening of this training course, which is to follow the successful course organized last 2 years under the same title, which aimed at improving the skills and know-how for preserving and managing the archaeological sites with valuable help of the Government of Jordan and UNESCO.
It is no doubt that once stability comes back to the country, so richly endowed with the historical legacies and with the gifted people calls flood of tourists and investment in search of economic opportunities in the tourism sector. I know it sounds a daydream currently but the Japan will continue to do its utmost effort to help Iraqi friends in cooperation with of the international community to turn the dream into reality.
It is my hope that the course will provide the Iraqi experts with the latest technique and expertise in order to preserve the historical treasure not only for Iraqi people but also for all mankind, and will contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq for the Iraqi bright future. The Iraqi participants here are to fulfill the great and challenging mission.
On this occasion, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Government of Jordan and UNESCO for their great contribution to making this course feasible by providing excellent experts and training facilities. This course marks one of the fruits of cordial cooperation between the Governments of Japan and Jordan, and UNESCO.
In closing, I take this opportunity to express my wish for great success of this training course and for good stay in Jordan to all participants.
Thank you
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