TIRANA – The Embassy of Japan in Albania held on Monday a Conferment Ceremony in honor of the Honorary Consul General of Japan in Tirana, Mr. Avni Ponari, who was awarded the Decoration, “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon”, said a press release issued by the Japanese Embassy in Tirana on Tuesday.
During the ceremony, Mr. Ponari received by Ambassador Ito Makoto the honorary symbols; a Patent of Decoration and the Imperial Decoration. More than 90 distinguished guests and business personalities attended the ceremony including the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Mr. Etjen Xhafaj and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Besnik Mustafaj.
In his address, Ambassador Ito congratulated the Honorary Consul General and appreciated Mr. Ponari’s efforts in promoting strong and friendly relationship between Japan and Albania over the last 10 years. In addition, Ambassador Ito considered Mr. Ponari as one of the most distinguished friends of Japan in Albania, and emphasized the impact of Mr. Ponari’s contribution in shaping the bridge of friendship and understating between Japan and Albania.
At the outset of his remarks the Ambassador offered his most sincere sympathy to Albanians who might have been affected or suffered by the massive earthquake of last November. “I wish that those Albanian friends will be able to promptly recover and return to their normal lives,” said Mr. Ito.
On his part, Mr. Ponari was delighted and honored to receive the imperial decoration and expressed heartfelt appreciation to his Majesty the Emperor, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Minister Motegi and Ambassador Ito. He dedicated the award to his colleagues, friends and family who stood by him and supported him over the years. In his closing remark, Mr. Ponari mentioned that he did his best to represent Albania with dignity, and noted that Albania has still much to learn from the Japanese experience in all fields, economic, politic, social and culture, despite his efforts over the years to bring the best examples of development and doing business from Japan.
Former Minister Mustafaj, who is also a childhood friend of the Honorary Consul General, noted that Mr. Ponari deserved this appreciation also as a self-made personality in the Albanian society and that the Albanian government should also commend his great work in a similar way. Former Minister Mustafaj concluded his remarks saying that this decoration is a symbol of the legitimation of the importance of friendship and close cooperation between our two countries, which can be fulfilled only through the dedication of people such as Avni Ponari.
Addressing the Ceremony, Deputy Minister Xhafaj spoke about the importance of Mr. Ponari’s work as Honorary Consul General. He mentioned that there are no descriptions of the role of an Honorary Consul General but, every person decides by himself on the responsibilities he wants to undertake in such a position.
Mr. Avni Ponari is the second Albanian citizen to be conferred an Imperial Decoration by the Government of Japan. He has served as the second Honorary Consul General of Japan in Tirana.
Mr. Ponari financed the reconstruction of schools in Northern Albania, together with the Embassy of Japan, he planted 200 sakura trees in March 2016 at the Park of Tirana, organized a Memorial Service Concert to commemorate the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, prepared the “Japan Film Festival”, bought a “Stone for Peace” from Hiroshima and donated it to the collection of the National Historic Museum. In addition he funded the visit of an Albanian television crew to Japan to prepare a documentary on Japan, and has supported the concerts and performances of many Japanese artists in Albania. Below is the full speech of Japanese Ambassador:
I want to start my speech offering my most sincere sympathy to all of you or your friends who might have been affected or suffered by the massive earthquake of last November. I wish that those Albanian friends will be able to promptly recover and return to their normal lives.
Now I am happy to welcome you all here today to formally honor Mr. Avni Ponari, one of the most distinguished friends of Japan here in Albania, who has devoted many years of his life to building strong and friendly relationships between our countries. I am proud to offer him, my deepest respect and congratulations, for being the recipient of the Decoration, “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon”, a decoration that represents the recognition of a lifetime of dedicated service to the goal of creating better understanding of Japan in the world.
It is my privilege to thank Ponari-san for his tireless work over many years, towards the ultimate goal of better understanding between our countries and peoples. During the last 10 years as Honorary Consul General of Japan in Tirana, Mr. Avni Ponari has worked devotedly for the protection of the welfare of local Japanese residents, companies and tourist in Albania and for the promotion of cultural exchanges in the country.
He also supported many Japanese people, providing them with the necessary assistance and information on Albania His remarkable efforts were marked by the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Bunmei IBUKI to Albania as well as the visit of the Parliamentary Vice- Minister Mr. Takao MAKINO.
In addition, their meetings with the Albanian President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs would not have been successful without Mr. Ponari’s contribution. Moreover, Mr. Ponari facilitated the visit of then Deputy Prime Minister Haxhinasto to Japan and accompanied the Albanian delegation during this visit, providing them with the necessary information on Japan’s politics and economy.
As a philanthropist, Mr. Ponari has financed with his own private funds the reconstruction of schools in Northern Albania, together with the Embassy of Japan. I am very happy to see that, every year, in the Park of Tirana, many residents enjoy the beautiful sakura blossoms. These 200 sakura trees were donated by Mr. Ponari in March 2016.
To mention only a small part of his dedication, Mr. Ponari organized a Memorial Service Concert to commemorate the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, prepared the wonderful “Japan Film Festival”, bought a “Stone for Peace” from Hiroshima and donated it to the collection of the National Historic Museum, funded the visit of an Albanian television crew to Japan in order for them to prepare a documentary on Japan, and supported the concerts and performances of many Japanese artists in Albania.
It is important to recognize the impact of his contributions, which helped to shape the first bridge of friendship and understating between Japan and Albania. I believe that the ultimate success of the relations between Albania and Japan relays on the dedication and efforts of people such as Mr. Ponari. The excellent contributions and efforts of Mr. Ponari deserve to be commended by our government. I invite you all to join me in celebrating this wonderful recognition he will now receive.
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