Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > April, 2006

Prime Minister Receives a Courtesy Call from Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan Wednesday, May 17, 2006 JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi received a courtesy call from Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), and held talks at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning, Prime Minister Koizumi introduced to Secretary-General Annan a plan to issue postal stamps to commemorate the 50th year of Japan's accession to the UN. Thereafter, the two leaders discussed reform of the United Nations and the issues of the abductions by North Korea and its nuclear development. The topics also included Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) relations, owing to Secretary-General Annan's visit to the ROK prior to his trip to Japan. Furthermore, Prime Minister Koizumi said to Secretary-General Annan, who is from Ghana, "To honor scientists who have contributed to studies on diseases in Africa, I am planning to set up the Hideyo Noguchi Award after the scientist who conducted studies in Ghana." Secretary-General Annan responded, saying, "Dr. Noguchi is highly respected in Ghana. It is very significant to award studies on diseases that affect poor people." The two leaders also exchanged opinions on the importance of African development.