February 03, Dushanbe:  Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tajikistan, Mr Lenni Montiel, hosted the Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr Toshihiro AIKI, on February 03, 2022.

During the courtesy visit, the Ambassador paid his respect to the Japanese political scientist Professor Dr Yutaka Akino, who was killed in July 1998 while on active service as a Civil Affairs Officer of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT), along with three other U.N. staff members.

In 1998, when Tajikistan was still at the very early stages of reconciliation, five UNMOT employees fell victim to an attack and killed by an unidentified gunman in Rasht district. The tragic attack, dubbed as terrorist attack, happened a year after the peace agreement between the conflicting parties of the civil war was signed.

Placing the wreath at the plaque, located at the U.N. office, Ambassador Aiki  said, "After the end of the civil war, Professor Yutaka AKINO was tirelessly dedicating himself to peacebuilding in Tajikistan. I would like to express the deepest condolences to the death of Professor Akino and the four UN staff members in the line of duty with him. Honoring their legacy in our minds, the Government of Japan will continue to assist in the stability and development of Tajikistan in cooperation with UN organizations.”

UNDP's Resident Representative, Lenni Montiel, while honouring the deceased, noted the valuable experience and contribution of Professor Yutaka Akino as a political adviser to the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) in the making of peace and stability in Tajikistan.

Lenni Montiel, thanked the People of Japan for the commendable support for the people of Tajikistan.

Japan remains a longstanding partner in UNDP's mission to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality and accelerate structural transformations and build resilience to crisis and shocks to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNDP's work in Tajikistan and the priorities of the Japanese government converge in many areas in livelihood support on the border areas, on border management, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

The Ambassador and the Resident Representative held a working meeting where they discussed the ongoing partnership between the Japanese government and UNDP to enhance the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in Tajikistan and stressed the importance of continuing the partnership.

The Ambassador was also briefed about the progress of the ongoing projects supported by the Government of Japan through JICA. Among those projects, Livelihoods Improvement in the Tajik Cross-Border Areas Project (LITACA), is working to ensure access to rural infrastructure and public services for the marginalised communities across the borders. The phase three of LITACA, started in April 2021 and will continue till 2025. There is also a project being implemented by UNDP, supported by JICA, for promoting cross-border cooperation through effective management of Tajikistan's Border with Afghanistan. Apart from that, UNDP, with support from the government of Japan, is working to strengthen the disaster risk reduction and response capacities for the people of Tajikistan.

Japan has been assisting Tajikistan in various fields; the cumulative Japanese assistance to Tajikistan since 2011 amounts to 41.5 million USD.  Affirming the ongoing partnership, both Ambassador Toshihiro AIKI and RR, Lenni Montiel hoped to continue it for reaching the furthest behind first.