The meeting of the presidents of the United Nations Associations of the three countries, Japan, China, and South Korea, was held for two days, from August 21 to 22, 2023. It was held at the Guest House of the China United Nations Association in Beijing for the first time in four years. The participants actively discussed “Reform and Improvement of the Global Governance System,” “UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” and “Diversity of Civilizations.” From left in the photo are KWAAK Young Hoon, president of the Korean United Nations Association, WANG Chao, president of the Chinese United Nations Association, and Yasushi AKASHI, vice president of the United Nations Association of Japan. Please click here for the full report.
“An African View: Contemporary Global Security Crisis and the United Nations” (10/11/2023)
A group of diplomats, government officials and scholars met and discussed the contemporary global issues with Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, a scholar and diplomat, who served as the Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari from 2020 to 2023, and the United Nations as the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Special Envoys.
“Global Crises and United Nations Response and Innovations: Lessons Learned, Challenges and Prospects.” (09/11/2023)
On 9 November 2023, Professor Ibrahim Gambari joined the Director of UNU-IAS, Prof. Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi, in a conversation on “Global Crises and United Nations Response and Innovations: Lessons Learned, Challenges and Prospects.” Professor Gambari is the former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, and the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for political and other affairs. In response to questions, he pointed out the lack of national and international leadership as the main reason for the world’s inability to address challenging interlinked global crises, including climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and conflict in Ukraine and Gaza. He thought the UN Security Council needed to be reformed to reflect the actual state of the world, consisting of more countries and populations that existed when the United Nations was created more than 75 years ago.
Online Message from President Jose Ramos-Horta of the Republic of Timor-Leste (06/11/2023)
President Jose Ramos-Horta of the Republic of Timor-Leste spoke online to more than 1000 participants of the SDGs Global Governance Summit 2023 Tokyo held on 6 November 2023 in Shibuya City, Tokyo. Please click here for the video message.
Mr. Sponeck, Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq: “Mourning is NOT Enough.” (05/11/2023)
Hans von Sponeck, Former UN Assistant-Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, expresses his outrage about the hypocrisy of heads of state and foreign ministers flocking to Tel Aviv with one-sided messages and adding the fig leaf not to forget humanitarian aid and completely ignoring the context, the ‘why’ it all happened. Please click here for his full message.
Dr. Arbenita Sopaj points out that the global order becomes even more volatile if the trilateral partnership materializes among Russia , North Korea and China. (16/10/2023)
Dr. Arbenita Sopaj asserts in her article published by the Institute for Security and Development Policy on 16 October 2023 that Putin is cognizant of the fact that if he attempts to end the war in Ukraine, he will face a trial. Therefore, he pursues ultimate victory, even if it entails negative consequences for him and his people in the long run, and that includes the potential use of nuclear weapons. If the trilateral partnership materializes among the three nations, i.e., Russia, North Korea, and China, the global order becomes even more volatile as all three possess nuclear arsenals and adhere to communist ideologies, factors that should prompt Western allies to take proactive measures. Please see her full analysis by clicking the Link: In For the Long Haul: Kim’s Meeting with Putin Amid Ukraine War – Institute for Security and Development Policy (isdp.eu)
Ms. Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India was appointed as the next Assistant Secretary-General. (02/10/2023)
NODA Shoko-san was appointed on 28 September by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as the next Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Crisis Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Please click here for the announcement by the United Nations.
“History Continues: Three Models of the Continuation of History” (29/09/2023)
In his presentation of his book, entitled History Continues – Three Models of the Continuation of History, Ambassador Dr. Kicmari made a detailed assertion of the return of ideological competition in international relations. This hybrid discussion meeting was attended by 20 participants in person at the venue and about 10 persons online. The following is a summary of the presentation and the remarks made by the participants.
Mr. Shishino said, “Although the paths are different, there is only one purpose, and although each teaching is different, it is explained that the goal is one.” (21/09/2023)
In the keynote speech at the International Day of Peace symposium, SHISHINO Fumio, Chairman of the World Federation Cultural Education Promotion Council and Chairman of the Japan Religious Federation, said that in the Shinto Fuso religion, Mt. Fuji is the fundamental dojo, and there are five trails to climb the mountain. These are the Kitaguchi Yoshida Pathway and the Funatsu Pathway in Yamanashi Prefecture, and the East Exit Subashiri Pathway, Fujinomiya Murayama Pathway, and Gotemba Pathway in Shizuoka Prefecture. Each of them is proud that their path is the best, but they all agree that their destination is one place. Although the paths are different, there is only one purpose, and although each teaching is different, it is explained that the goal is one. Mr. Shishino preached that wishing and praying for the happiness of all living beings is the same thing. Click here for the full text of the keynote speech in Japanese.
International Day of Peace Ceremony and Symposium (21/09/2023)
Father Toshiaki Koso, Pastor of St. Ignatius Church, made opening remarks at the memorial ceremony and symposium for the International Day of Peace adopted by the UN General Assembly, which were held on 21 September 2023 at the St. Ignatius Church and Sophia University, Tokyo.