Sierra Leone

WHEN: Tuesday, 31 July to Thursday, 2 August 2007.

WHERE: The delegation will meet with H.E. President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah; the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Victor Angelo; the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Christiana Thorpe; the Chairman, Political Parties Registration Commission, Justice Sydney Warne; pay visits to the central prison, Wilberforce Barracks and conduct a field trip to the Arms for Development project before departure on 2 August.

WHO: H.E. Mr. Masayoshi Amada, Head of delegation and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; H.E. Mr. Masamichi Ishikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Japan in Ghana; Mr. Shigeru Ushio, Director, First Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Mr. Yoshiyasu Iseki, Secretary to the Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; Mr. Shinichi Tamamitsu, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Ghana; and Mr. Shojiro Nishimura, Official, United Nations Policy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

WHY: The objectives of the visit include: Observe the status of preparations for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone; encourage smooth and successful conduct of the elections; have discussions with representatives of the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations and other national and international stakeholders; assess the situation regarding specific needs and gaps in peacebuilding priorities in Sierra Leone following Japan’s inauguration as the chair country of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

Media Arrangements:

Members of the delegation will address the media at a press conference scheduled to take place on Thursday 2 August at 17:30 hours, at the press briefing room of the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) at Mammy Yoko Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown. Transport for journalists from SLENA at 16:30 hours to the venue of the press conference and return to SLENA will be provided.

A comprehensive press release on details of the event will be issued upon completion of the visit.