Sally Fegan-Wyles, UNITAR Executive Director Meets with H.E. Fumio Kishida, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs

14 March 2015, Sendai, Japan - Sally Fegan-Wyles, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) met with the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fumio Kishida, in Sendai, Japan. Ms. Fegan-Wyles is on official mission to Japan, attending the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, taking place in Sendai, between 14 - 18 March 2015. During the meeting, Ms. Fegan-Wyles commended the Japanese initiative to lead the global discussion on disaster mitigation by hosting the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai. Ms. Fegan-Wyles emphasized that such a dialogue is paramount if the world is to prevent, manage, and reduce the risks posed by natural disasters to the citizens of the world. The Executive Director went on to take the opportunity to express her enthusiasm regarding the further strengthening of the partnership between the government of Japan and the UNITAR Hiroshima Office, which has been under the leadership of Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, since 2014.

Mr. Kishida welcomed the visit of the UNITAR delegation to the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, and highlighted the contribution of the UNITAR Delegates to the global dialogue on Disaster Risk Reduction. Mr. Kishida, well aware of the importance of international development and cooperation, stated that the training activities undertaken by the UNITAR Hiroshima Office correspond with Japanese government policy to promote international development and peace in general, and human capacity developing in particular. Mr. Kishida expressed firm determination to continue such an important partnership with the UNITAR Hiroshima Office. Given the historical as well as symbolic importance of Hiroshima, Mr. Kishida expressed appreciation for the UNITAR training activities taking place there on Nuclear Disarmament, as well as Post-Conflict Reconstruction, incorporating the experience and lessons learned of Hiroshima. Mr. Kishida concluded the meeting by expressing the Japanese governments continued cooperation with UNITAR.

Photo: Sally Fegan-Wyles, UNITAR Executive Director (left) and Mr. Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan (right)