United States Seconding the Nomination of Ambassador Oshima for EXCOM Vice-Chairman

Ambassador Kevin E. Moley
U.S. Mission, Geneva

Mr. Chairman, it is a great pleasure for the delegation of the United States of America to second the nomination for Vice-Chairman of EXCOM of Ambassador Shotaro Oshima of Japan, one of the largest and most interested donors to UNHCR.

• Ambassador Oshima is extraordinarily qualified to deal with the global reach of refugee protection issues. He has served in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and in the United States. Each of those areas has unique refugee issues that he will understand better because of his regional expertise.

• Ambassador Oshima has also dealt with policy planning and economic issues in the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, which will stand him in good stead with many of the global issues confronting UNHCR's Executive Committee.

We have worked with Ambassador Oshima in other organizations -- most particularly the World Trade Organization, whose governing body he is currently chairing and where he is doing a fine job. Both personally and professionally, I am glad that he has agreed to extend his leadership of the international community in Geneva to accept the commitment to become the Vice-Chairman, and subsequently, the Chairmanship of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.