Farkhund Yousafzai
Nagasaki, 9 August 2024 (TDI): There was a strong showing on Friday of Arab diplomats at Japan’s 79th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the country, amid controversy over Tokyo’s refusal to invite Israel.
While the ceremony at the Nagasaki Peace Park was attended by about 2,300 people, several G7 nations sent lower-ranking representatives.
The US’ Rahm Emanuel and Britain’s Julia Longbottom did not attend, as well as the ambassadors from Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the EU.
The G7 countries were instead represented by consuls general and other officials. The United States sent its Chief Consul of Fukuoka Chuka Asike, and the UK had Minister Councilor Political Helen Smith present.
Twelve of the 13 Arab nations in attendance sent their ambassadors, while Palestine sent First Councilor Hisham Nasar.
Palestinian Ambassador to Japan Waleed Siam was unable to reach as he was not in the country.
PM Kishida attended the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony on the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing and reverently expressed his sincere condolences to the souls who were victims of the atomic bomb. (1/2)
pic.twitter.com/DVBBbs8veb— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) August 9, 2024
Arab Envoys
The Arab envoys included Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, Iraq’s temporary ambassador Pewan Jasem Ibrahim Zawitai, the UAE’s Shihab Ahmed Al-Faheem, Egypt’s Mohamed Abubakr Saleh Fattah and Kuwait’s Sami Al-Zamanan.
Others present were Djibouti’s Ibrahim Bileh Doualeh, Sudan’s Ali Mohamed Ahmed Osman, Syria’s temporary ambassador Najib Erzi, Bahrain’s Ahmed Mohammed Al-Dosari, Libya’s Ahmed S. Alnaas, Jordan’s temporary ambassador Salma El-Taweel, and Morocco’s Rachad Bouhlal.
India sent its ambassador and China its attache.
At the event, Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki said the threat of nuclear war remains ever-present, considering the heightened conflict around the world, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
