Greetings from Ambassador Yanagi
2018/3/20
Dear all Japanese Residents in Jordan,
It has been more than three months since I arrived at Jordan, and I would like to report my activities since December 17, 2017, when I posted my first greeting message on this website.
1. Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Taro Kono
On December 26, 2017, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Taro Kono visited Jordan afternoon through the King Hussein Bridge from Palestine and stopped by Amman. After the meetings with Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Hani Al-Mulki and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan H.E. Mr. Ayman Safadi, Minister Kono left for Oman in the evening. Minister Kono managed a busy half-day schedule in this visit, which came only three months after he had visited Jordan in last September.
2. Development Cooperation
(1) Visit to Refugee Camps
In addition to the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, Jordan has generously received approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees since the onset of Syrian crisis (the number of registered Syrian refugees at UNHCR is around 650,000). UNHCR manages four refugee camps in Jordan and provides assistance in collaboration with other UN agencies; and Japan has been supporting financially the UN agencies providing assistance to refugees from Syria (the amount of Japan’s assistance to International organizations are 32.5 million in 2017 and 17.4 million in 2018 respectively).
Early in January, I visited the Zaatari refugee camp, which is located in the northwest of Amman (within 1.5 hour's drive) and accommodates about 80 thousand refugees, and observed projects implemented by Japanese NGOs, UNICEF and UNWOMEN with Japan’s support.
In the middle of February, I visited Azraq refugee camp, which is located in the west of Amman (within 1.5 hour's drive) and accommodate about 50 thousand refugees, and participated in the launching ceremony of the women support center established by UNWOMEN and also observed activities of UNICEF and UNFPA conducted with Japan’s support.
Also, I visited Zarqa city and observed distribution of food voucher to vulnerable Syrian refugee women by IOM in collaboration with a Japanese NGO.
(2) Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP)
I attended three ceremonies for signing grant contracts of GGP which aim to provide 1) equipment to an NGO supporting visually impaired persons in Amman, 2) medical equipment to the clinics inside the Palestinian refugee camp in Irbid governorate, which is located in the northern part of Jordan, and 3) a transportation bus for a kindergarten in Tafilah governorate, which is located in the southern part of Jordan. In addition, I attended a handover ceremony of the warehouse equipment to a humanitarian NGO in Zarqa governorate, which is located in the east of Amman.
3. Courtesy Visits to VIPs
After having presented a credential to His Majesty King Abdullah II, I had an honor to pay courtesy calls on the Royal Family including HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein, HRH Prince El Hassan, HRH Prince Faisal, HRH Princess Basma, HRH Prince Ghazi, HRH Prince Mired, and HRH Prince Ali, and Royal Court officials including Chief of Royal Court H.E. Dr. Fayez Tarawneh and then Director of King’s office H.E. Dr. Jafar Hassan.
Among the parliamentarians, I paid courtesy visits again to the president of the Senate H.E. Mr. Faisal Al Fayez and the president of House of Representatives H.E. Mr. Atef Tarawneh, both of whom I had met when a delegation of Japanese House of Councillors headed by its President Mr. Chuichi Date visited Jordan. Also, I participated in a meeting to exchange views with members of Jordanian-Japanese Parliament Friendship Committee in the Senate. Among the government officials, I paid courtesy calls on Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ayman Safadi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation H.E. Mr. Imad Fakhoury, Minister of Finance H.E. Mr. Omar Malhas, Minister of State for Media Affairs H.E. Dr. Mohammad Momani, Minister of State for Investment Affairs and Chairman of the Jordan Investment Commission H.E. Dr. Muhannad Shehadaeh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources H.E. Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Industry Trade and Supply H.E. Mr. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Environment H.E. Dr. Nayef Fayez, and Minister of Transport and Municipality Mr. Waleed Al Masri.
Among the business leaders, I paid courtesy visits to the chairman of Amman Chamber of Commerce Mr. Issa Murad, the chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce Mr. Nael Al Kabariti, and the chairman of Amman Chamber of Industry Mr. Zyad Al Homsi. All of them said the Japanese Imperial family and the Jordanian Royal Family have close ties and they appreciate Japan’s continuous assistance to various areas in Jordan. Also, they presented me with a warm word that they would like to continue good relations with Japan.
4. Others
(1) Relationship with Japanese Nationals in Jordan
In January, I held a New Year’s Party for Japanese nationals living in Jordan for the first time in several years. It was my pleasure to see many people in the party. Also, I visited the supplementary school for Japanese children in Jordan, where I had an opportunity to exchange views with members of the management committee, parents and teachers..
(2) Relationship with International Organizations
I had meetings with office managers of many international organizations, and in March, I held a reception for representatives and Japanese staffs of the international organizations in Jordan.
(3) AFC Women's Asian Cup
In April, AFC Women's Asian Cup will be held in Jordan. This tournament also serves as a preliminary match of the World Cup that will be held in France next year. The games of Japanese team (“Nadeshiko Japan”) will be broadcasted on TV in Japan. We are looking forward to watching exciting play of Nadeshiko Japan.
5. Security Issues
Last and not least, I would like to mention security issues in Jordan. Fortunately, last year in Jordan, terrorist attacks which cause casualties didn’t occur. However, I would like you to be aware of risk of terrorism as the ISIL has not been completely eradicated, although it has lost control of its territory. Please avoid places where many people gather as much as possible. Whenever you need to go such places, please pay attention to the surroundings at all times. Also, due to the severe economic situation, the number of crimes such as bank robbery is increasing lately and general security situation is somewhat deteriorating. Although Jordan is a relatively safe country in the Middle East, please be always careful and avoid going out at midnight as much as possible.
Hidenao Yanagi
Ambassador of Japan to Jordan
<Previous Greetings>
It has been more than three months since I arrived at Jordan, and I would like to report my activities since December 17, 2017, when I posted my first greeting message on this website.
1. Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Taro Kono
On December 26, 2017, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Taro Kono visited Jordan afternoon through the King Hussein Bridge from Palestine and stopped by Amman. After the meetings with Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Hani Al-Mulki and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan H.E. Mr. Ayman Safadi, Minister Kono left for Oman in the evening. Minister Kono managed a busy half-day schedule in this visit, which came only three months after he had visited Jordan in last September.
2. Development Cooperation
(1) Visit to Refugee Camps
In addition to the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, Jordan has generously received approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees since the onset of Syrian crisis (the number of registered Syrian refugees at UNHCR is around 650,000). UNHCR manages four refugee camps in Jordan and provides assistance in collaboration with other UN agencies; and Japan has been supporting financially the UN agencies providing assistance to refugees from Syria (the amount of Japan’s assistance to International organizations are 32.5 million in 2017 and 17.4 million in 2018 respectively).
Early in January, I visited the Zaatari refugee camp, which is located in the northwest of Amman (within 1.5 hour's drive) and accommodates about 80 thousand refugees, and observed projects implemented by Japanese NGOs, UNICEF and UNWOMEN with Japan’s support.
In the middle of February, I visited Azraq refugee camp, which is located in the west of Amman (within 1.5 hour's drive) and accommodate about 50 thousand refugees, and participated in the launching ceremony of the women support center established by UNWOMEN and also observed activities of UNICEF and UNFPA conducted with Japan’s support.
Also, I visited Zarqa city and observed distribution of food voucher to vulnerable Syrian refugee women by IOM in collaboration with a Japanese NGO.
(2) Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP)
I attended three ceremonies for signing grant contracts of GGP which aim to provide 1) equipment to an NGO supporting visually impaired persons in Amman, 2) medical equipment to the clinics inside the Palestinian refugee camp in Irbid governorate, which is located in the northern part of Jordan, and 3) a transportation bus for a kindergarten in Tafilah governorate, which is located in the southern part of Jordan. In addition, I attended a handover ceremony of the warehouse equipment to a humanitarian NGO in Zarqa governorate, which is located in the east of Amman.
3. Courtesy Visits to VIPs
After having presented a credential to His Majesty King Abdullah II, I had an honor to pay courtesy calls on the Royal Family including HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein, HRH Prince El Hassan, HRH Prince Faisal, HRH Princess Basma, HRH Prince Ghazi, HRH Prince Mired, and HRH Prince Ali, and Royal Court officials including Chief of Royal Court H.E. Dr. Fayez Tarawneh and then Director of King’s office H.E. Dr. Jafar Hassan.
Among the parliamentarians, I paid courtesy visits again to the president of the Senate H.E. Mr. Faisal Al Fayez and the president of House of Representatives H.E. Mr. Atef Tarawneh, both of whom I had met when a delegation of Japanese House of Councillors headed by its President Mr. Chuichi Date visited Jordan. Also, I participated in a meeting to exchange views with members of Jordanian-Japanese Parliament Friendship Committee in the Senate. Among the government officials, I paid courtesy calls on Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Ayman Safadi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation H.E. Mr. Imad Fakhoury, Minister of Finance H.E. Mr. Omar Malhas, Minister of State for Media Affairs H.E. Dr. Mohammad Momani, Minister of State for Investment Affairs and Chairman of the Jordan Investment Commission H.E. Dr. Muhannad Shehadaeh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources H.E. Dr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Minister of Industry Trade and Supply H.E. Mr. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Environment H.E. Dr. Nayef Fayez, and Minister of Transport and Municipality Mr. Waleed Al Masri.
Among the business leaders, I paid courtesy visits to the chairman of Amman Chamber of Commerce Mr. Issa Murad, the chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce Mr. Nael Al Kabariti, and the chairman of Amman Chamber of Industry Mr. Zyad Al Homsi. All of them said the Japanese Imperial family and the Jordanian Royal Family have close ties and they appreciate Japan’s continuous assistance to various areas in Jordan. Also, they presented me with a warm word that they would like to continue good relations with Japan.
4. Others
(1) Relationship with Japanese Nationals in Jordan
In January, I held a New Year’s Party for Japanese nationals living in Jordan for the first time in several years. It was my pleasure to see many people in the party. Also, I visited the supplementary school for Japanese children in Jordan, where I had an opportunity to exchange views with members of the management committee, parents and teachers..
(2) Relationship with International Organizations
I had meetings with office managers of many international organizations, and in March, I held a reception for representatives and Japanese staffs of the international organizations in Jordan.
(3) AFC Women's Asian Cup
In April, AFC Women's Asian Cup will be held in Jordan. This tournament also serves as a preliminary match of the World Cup that will be held in France next year. The games of Japanese team (“Nadeshiko Japan”) will be broadcasted on TV in Japan. We are looking forward to watching exciting play of Nadeshiko Japan.
5. Security Issues
Last and not least, I would like to mention security issues in Jordan. Fortunately, last year in Jordan, terrorist attacks which cause casualties didn’t occur. However, I would like you to be aware of risk of terrorism as the ISIL has not been completely eradicated, although it has lost control of its territory. Please avoid places where many people gather as much as possible. Whenever you need to go such places, please pay attention to the surroundings at all times. Also, due to the severe economic situation, the number of crimes such as bank robbery is increasing lately and general security situation is somewhat deteriorating. Although Jordan is a relatively safe country in the Middle East, please be always careful and avoid going out at midnight as much as possible.
Hidenao Yanagi
Ambassador of Japan to Jordan
<Previous Greetings>