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.

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At the end of the consultation meeting with members of the National Diet of Japan, Vice Chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University of India Raj Kumar presented the University robe to Mr. Seishiro ETO, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the National Diet of Japan for World Federalism, Mr. Mitsuo OHASHI, Chairman of the Japan Society for World Federalism and Mr. Hisayuki FUJII, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party. (23/4/2024)

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)

Minister of Education and Science MORIYAMA Masatoshi, and members of the National Diet of Japan exchanged their views with Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the O.P. Jindal Global University, exchanged their views on the importance of education for Japan and India in strengthening the role of leadership in the international community. Please click here for what each participant said at the meeting. (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)

Ayaka Shiomura, a member of the House of Councillors, participated in a reception hosted by the Jindal Global University of India and expressed her hope that the education exchange cooperation will increase between Japan and India. She then received a special certificate of recognition from Indian Ambassador Sibi George and Vice Chancellor of Jindal Global University, Raj Kumar. (21/4/2024)

Ms. Akiko Noda explained that UNDP has always been engaged in field-based projects before, during, and after conflicts, as well as before and after natural disasters, listening to and consulting with people, governments, and civil society on their concerns, and working together to create solutions for further development.

For more information click here (5/4/2024)

On 3 April 2024, the Kyoto Peacebuilding Center (KPC), the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ), and ACUNS Tokyo Liaison Office (ACUNS-Tokyo) organized a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla Schwarz of Kosovo, who was visiting Tokyo, to explain the situation in Kosovo. She recognized the importance of making reconciliation efforts but saw continued security threats from Serbia. Ambassador Ilidio Ximenes da Costa from Timor-Leste explained how the Timorese national leaders saw a similar situation differently and achieved reconciliation and friendship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia by following the Nelson Mandela approach of putting truth before justice. (3/4/2024) You can see details here.

Philippe Lazzarini, Executive Director of the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees, expressed his horror at the involvement of 12 UNRWA staff in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and stressed that he is taking administrative steps quickly. The contracts of 12 personnel allegedly involved in the attack were terminated, allowing UNRWA to continue its operations in Gaza. He then asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish an independent investigation team. Masahiko Shibayama, a member of the House of Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party, said that if UNRWA staff were involved in terrorist acts by Hamas, it would be difficult for the international community to accept the continuation of UNRWA operations. Still, the humanitarian situation in Gaza would deteriorate significantly. In addition to the fact that other countries have resumed contributions, and the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution to resume humanitarian assistance, Japan may also consider restarting its contributions for humanitarian assistance.
Click here for details. (29/3/2024)