2024 News

As the intergovernmental negotiating team is exploring options for UN Security Council reform in New York, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Permanent Representative to the UN, spoke at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo on April 18. In response to a question from Professor Sukehiro Hasegawa, she stated that the US is interested in and actively exploring the possibility of expanding the membership of the UN Security Council, including the permanent membership of Japan, Germany, and India, along with major African and Latin American countries. However, it remains to be seen whether this proposal will be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly members and ratified in accordance with the constitutional procedures of two-thirds of the member states of the United Nations, including all five current members of the Security Council. The Japanese government is called upon to exercise strong visionary leadership.

Click here to find out more. (4/5/2024)

Minister Masahito Moriyama will promote dialogue and cooperation with India in both education and science and technology. India is one of the most important countries in the Global South and the Government of Japan is keen to strengthen relations with India. We also believe that Japan should learn from India, especially since India is advanced in science and technology.

For more details of his remarks, please click here. (23/4/2024)

After World War II, Japan joined the United Nations with high hopes and ideals. Now, however, disappointment is spreading over the UN’s dysfunction. Professor Motoyoshi YOSHIKAWA, former ambassador to the United Nations, urges Japan to use the United Nations for national interests instead of idealizing it.

For more details, please refer to the article in Gakushikai Bulletin No. 9 (2024-II) by clicking here. (22/4/2024)

A former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Bill Paton, asserts that the war in Gaza lays bare, once again, the frightful arbitrariness of international justice. International rule of law has always been about rule by great powers. If we want a more just and peaceful world, developing countries – constituting the global majority – must stand up and demand one law for all.

Please click here for his full paper. (21/4/202)

It’s human nature we need to address and control to prevent conflict and war, says Hasegawa in his conversation with Rector Marwala of the UN University held on 31 August 2023. Personal desire and lust for power and wealth are the root causes of conflict that must be controlled. Please click here for video recording. (13/3/2024)

Amy E. Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), explained IOM’s latest activities at a discussion meeting with members of the National Diet of Japan from both the ruling and opposition political parties, organized by the Japanese Parliamentary Committee for World Federation. The participating Diet members asked for an explanation of the differences between the roles of IOM and UNHCR. They also pointed out the challenges in accepting more foreigners in Japan. For more information on what was discussed at this meeting, please click here. (27/2/2024)

Dr. Arbenita Sopaj, a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ) the Special Assistant to the Ambassador of Kosovo and Mr. Keitoku Ikegami, a member of the GPAJ, acted as Masters of the Ceremony of the Independence Day and 15 th year of Diplomatic Relations Kosovo- Japan celebration hosted by the Embassy of Kosovo in Japan. Ambassador Dr. Sabri Kiçmari of the Republic of Kosovo spoke to the diplomats and officials of the Japanese government who participated in the Independence Day reception held at Hotel Okura in Tokyo on February 20, 2024. (20/2/2024)

Georgios Kostakos, Yasuhiro Ueki, and Stephen Kinloch-Pichat joined President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste in discussing the world in need of a new paradigm for the future of global governance. Please click here for the full report of the online meeting held on 12 January 2024. (5/2/2024)