Email from Mr. Prime Minister

How would you react if you got an email from the Prime Minister?!
I got one! Well... almost!

------- Email message -------
From: "Koizumi" <_koizumi@mmz.kantei.go.jp_>
To: aloke(at)opera.com
Subject: Cooperation with Asian and African countries (April 21, 2005)
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 08:25:00 +0200

Junichiro Koizumi here.

On Monday this week, April 18, I met with President Samuel Schmid of Switzerland and on April 20, yesterday, with Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. Japan's economic relations with both Switzerland and Australia are expected to grow even closer in the future. We enjoy a highly cooperative relationship with Australia, our joint endeavors including peacekeeping operations (PKO) in Timor-Leste and reconstruction assistance activities in Iraq. I intend to further enhance these ties with both these countries.

I will be in Indonesia from tomorrow until Sunday to attend the Asia-Africa Summit Meeting. This meeting will be convened to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference of 1955, which was attended by leaders of 29 Asian and African countries. This time leaders of approximately 100 countries are scheduled to assemble at the meeting.

At the Summit Meeting I will set out Japan's renewed cooperation commitment to Asian and African countries. To the extent that time allows, I intend to hold as many bilateral meetings as possible in between the general meeting sessions, which will further enhance Japan's relations with Asian and African countries.

On Saturday, I will fly into Aceh Province in Sumatra, which was severely damaged by the earthquake and tsunami, to see for myself the situation on the ground and Japan's reconstruction assistance efforts. Japan will continue to extend a helping hand as much as possible to assist the region in recovering from the disaster.

[...]

General Editor : Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Chief Editor : Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiken Sugiura
Publication : Cabinet Public Relations Office
1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, Japan

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Now how super cool is that?!
The Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, sends out an email to all who wish to receive one, with an update on his work and that of his cabinet ministry every fortnight.

I can't help but wonder as to how politicians in many parts of the world would misuse such a channel by splattering it with ugly blobs of propoganda.

Coming back to what's important, I think it is a commendable gesture on behalf of the barons of democracy, in reassuring faith among the populace by creating a sense of accountability, transparency and respect.

Another 'tick' in my long list of reasons for the respect that I have for this country.