Ambassador Sumi’s visit to Donetsk and Luhansk regions
4/5/2018
On May 2 and 3 Ambassador of Japan Shigeki Sumi paid a visit to Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
1. Participation in the completion ceremonies of the IOM-implemented assistance projects for the recovery of Donbas
Ambassador Sumi, together with the IOM Ukraine's Chief of Mission Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, visited Donetsk and Luhansk regions to participate in the completion ceremonies of the assistance projects financed by Japan. The events were held at local libraries renovated under the projects mentioned. The cities visited suffered heavy shelling during the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, but have accepted many people evacuated from the areas occupied by the armed groups. The renovated libraries will play a central role in the social reconciliation of these local communities in the future.
The project completion ceremony at the Toretsk Municipal Central Library was attended by the First Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Yevhen Vilinskyi, while the events held at the Popasna District Central Library and Hirske Municipal Children's Library were attended by the Deputy Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Vadym Daniyelyan. Many local representatives of both district and city levels also participated in the ceremonies. Moreover, a rose alley was planted in the Park of Culture and Leisure in Hirske city.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Sumi said that he often visits eastern Ukraine to show the solidarity of international community, including Japan, with the Ukrainian people living in eastern part of Ukraine, because the ongoing conflict there should not be forgotten. He also conveyed willingness to continue to provide support in future.
Warm welcome at Toretsk Municipal Central Library
Visit to Popasna District Central Library
Meeting with locals at Hirske Municipal Children’s Library
Rose planting in Hirske city
Sakura planting
During a press briefing
At the Donetsk Regional State Administration
1. Participation in the completion ceremonies of the IOM-implemented assistance projects for the recovery of Donbas
Ambassador Sumi, together with the IOM Ukraine's Chief of Mission Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, visited Donetsk and Luhansk regions to participate in the completion ceremonies of the assistance projects financed by Japan. The events were held at local libraries renovated under the projects mentioned. The cities visited suffered heavy shelling during the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, but have accepted many people evacuated from the areas occupied by the armed groups. The renovated libraries will play a central role in the social reconciliation of these local communities in the future.
The project completion ceremony at the Toretsk Municipal Central Library was attended by the First Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Yevhen Vilinskyi, while the events held at the Popasna District Central Library and Hirske Municipal Children's Library were attended by the Deputy Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Vadym Daniyelyan. Many local representatives of both district and city levels also participated in the ceremonies. Moreover, a rose alley was planted in the Park of Culture and Leisure in Hirske city.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Sumi said that he often visits eastern Ukraine to show the solidarity of international community, including Japan, with the Ukrainian people living in eastern part of Ukraine, because the ongoing conflict there should not be forgotten. He also conveyed willingness to continue to provide support in future.
Warm welcome at Toretsk Municipal Central Library
Visit to Popasna District Central Library
Meeting with locals at Hirske Municipal Children’s Library
Rose planting in Hirske city
2. Participation in the Sakura Planting Ceremony in Bakhmut city
Ambassador Sumi, together with the First Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Yevhen Vilinskyi and First Deputy Mayor of Bakhmut Tetiana Savchenko, planted 15 sakura trees which were presented to the city by the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Sumi noted that around 1600 sakura trees were planted throughout Ukraine in the framework of the Year of Japan in Ukraine in 2017. He conveyed hopes that every time these sakura trees bloom they will remind Ukrainian people of Japan.
Ambassador Sumi, together with the First Deputy Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Yevhen Vilinskyi and First Deputy Mayor of Bakhmut Tetiana Savchenko, planted 15 sakura trees which were presented to the city by the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Sumi noted that around 1600 sakura trees were planted throughout Ukraine in the framework of the Year of Japan in Ukraine in 2017. He conveyed hopes that every time these sakura trees bloom they will remind Ukrainian people of Japan.
Sakura planting
During a press briefing
3. Meetings with the Heads of Donetsk and Luhansk Regional Administrations
During the visit, Ambassador Sumi held meetings with the Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi and the Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Yurii Harbuz in Kramatorsk and Sievierodonetsk, respectively. During these meetings, the sides exchanged views regarding the current situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as its prospects. Both governors expressed their gratitude for Japan’s continued support.
During the visit, Ambassador Sumi held meetings with the Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi and the Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Yurii Harbuz in Kramatorsk and Sievierodonetsk, respectively. During these meetings, the sides exchanged views regarding the current situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as its prospects. Both governors expressed their gratitude for Japan’s continued support.
At the Donetsk Regional State Administration