Diplomats in Tokyo Address Democratization Linked with Violence

Masayoshi Kajikuri
March 15, 2012
UPF -- Japan

Tokyo, Japan -- "The international community should more directly consider the dilemma between democratization and violence in the post-Arab Spring," a Japanese senior diplomat said, expressing his concern over the situation in the Middle East. Amb. Kagefumi Ueno, a former Japanese Ambassador to the Vatican, gave the keynote speech on "A Dilemma of the Post-Dictatorial Era" in the 14th Peace Diplomats Forum on March 15 in Tokyo.

The event was organized by UPF-Japan with more than 50 participants, including 27 senior diplomats from foreign embassies in Japan, several former Japanese Ambassadors, and leaders from various fields.

Referring to the Balkan conflicts, Amb. Ueno raised a question about whether the loss of many lives in popular revolutions is justifiable if there is a "greater cause" such as overthrowing an autocracy or establishing democracy.

Then he asserted that the international community should not only look at the bright side of popular revolutions but also consider the dilemma that revolutions, in most cases, induce ethnic and religious violence.

A comment on Amb. Ueno's speech was made by Mr. Yoshiniro Yamazaki, a senior researcher of the Institute for Peace Policies and an expert on the Middle East.

Acknowledging that the violence associated with ethno-nationalism and religions may have annoyed a seasoned diplomat like Amb. Ueno, Mr. Yamazaki stressed the necessity to engage religious elements and religious figures in public policy making and in diplomacy, especially if there are religiously complicated conflicts such as in the Middle East.

He also referred to the World Interfaith Harmony Week that was hosted in the UN by the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, with the attendance of many religious NGOs, including the UPF, and pointed to the significance of the event for inter-religious cooperation.

As the Peace Diplomats Forum was held almost exactly a year after the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, all participants offered a silent prayer for the victims at the beginning of the program, and Mr. Masayoshi Kajikuri, Vice President of the Association of the Ambassadors for Peace, expressed in his opening remarks his appreciation to the international communities for their support and assistance.