Journalist safety, media sustainability, and Japan’s support for the initiatives of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU): these key topics were discussed by the President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), Sergiy Tomilenko, and the NUJU First Secretary, Lina Kushch, with the Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome.
“The Japanese say: ‘True friendship is when people stand together in difficult times.’ I feel this from my own experience as the Chairman of the NUJU,” the President of the Union noted the country’s support through UNESCO and the Journalists’ Solidarity Centers (JSC). “It was a real honor for me to meet the Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, Mr. Masashi Nakagome. Mr. Nakagome has been appointed Ambassador to Ukraine from the end of 2024.”
He also recalled that it was the donation from the Japanese public sector in 2022 that allowed the NUJU, together with the Journalism Initiative Foundation, to support the revival of more than 25 newspapers in front-line and de-occupied territories.
Sergiy Tomilenko and Lina Kushch also raised the issue of possible Japanese support for the initiative of the NUJU – the creation of a Technical Fund to Support Regional Media of Ukraine. The head of the Ministry of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, recently addressed the same appeal to Japanese partners during her visit to Tokyo.
“Mr. Nakagome is well aware of the current issues of the safety of journalists in the war in Ukraine, and admires their courage. He deeply sympathizes with the issue of captured Ukrainian journalists imprisoned by Russia…,” added Sergiy Tomilenko.
He expressed gratitude for the warm meeting at the Embassy with Mr. Nakagome and his team and Japan’s unwavering support for Ukraine in these most difficult times.
The NUJU delegation is soon leaving for Japan to continue the dialogue and strengthen the partnership in support of Ukrainian journalists.
NUJU Information Service
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