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The Japanese Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace and the Japanese Parliamentarians for Shared Security co-hosted a conference called "Roundtable Discussion on Reconciliation and Peace Prospect for Shared Security in Afghanistan" November 23-25 at a Tokyo hotel. The participants included experts in military and diplomatic affairs, private thinktanks and foundations, and religious leaders from 18 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and those of the European Union. The event was closed to the public for reasons of security.
The conference was designed as a forum to build confidence in efforts for peace in Afghanistan. As a neutral country, Japan has the trust of Afghanistan and its citizens and its immediate neighbors, and the conference was held in cooperation with Japan's Foreign Ministry.
The conference concluded with the participants issuing a statement of "Recommendation." It urges the international community to recognize and support the Afghan government's efforts to bring about lasting peace in the country. The statement also points out the importance of regional cooperation to stop terrorism, the drug trade, organized crime, and the smuggling of weapons. It emphasizes that long-term programs are required for the reduction of poverty and for socioeconomic development. It expresses the hope that Japan will maintain a key role in rebuilding the country.
On November 25, six conference participants delivered the Recommendation to Japan's Foreign Minister, Mr. Katsuya Okada, and reported to him the results of the conference. The six participants who called on Mr. Okada included Dr. Masoom Stanekzai, the Afghan president's advisor on internal security; Mr. Francesc Vendrell, a former EU special representative to Afghanistan; and Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, secretary-general of the Japanese Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace.
On the same day, seven conference representatives held a news conference in Tokyo at Japan's House of Councillors. The representatives were Dr. Stanekzai and Mr. Vendrell; Dr. William F. Vendley, secretary-general of the World Conference of Religions for Peace; Mr. Tadashi Inuzuka and Mr. Shinkun Haku, members of the House of Councillors; Professor Kenji Isezaki of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies; and Dr. Yoshiaki Sanada, director of the Peace Research Institute of Religions for Peace Japan. At the news conference, Dr. Stanekzai said the participants' expressions of hope for peace and stability in Afghanistan were extremely encouraging, and he thanked everyone who made the conference possible.
After the conference, President Nichiko Niwano, as a representative of the host organization for the roundtable conference and in his capacity as the president of the Religions for Peace Japan, visited Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to report on the conference and thank him for the support of the Japanese government.
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