Remarks	  made	  by	  H.E.	  Mr.	  ESTIFANOS	  Afeworki,	  Ambassador	  of	  the	  State	  of	  Eritrea	  to	  Japan	  and	  Dean	  of	  the	  African	  Diplomatic	  Corps	  (ADC)	  in	  Tokyo	  on	  the	  Occasion	  of	  the	  Sayonara	  Luncheon	  by	  the	  African	  Diplomatic	  Corps	  for	  H.E.	  Mr.	  Jacob	  Dickie	  NKATE,	  Ambassador	   Extraordinary	   and	   Plenipotentiary	   of	   the	   Republic	  of	  Botswana	  on	  November	  29,	  2016:	  	  	  	  H.E.	   Mr.	   Jacob	   Dickie	   NKATE,	   Ambassador	   Extraordinary	   and	  Plenipotentiary	  of	  the	  Republic	  of	  Botswana,	  	  Excellencies	  and	  Dear	  Colleagues,	  	  Let	  me	  first	  thank	  and	  express	  our	  gratitude	  to	  H.E.	  Mr.	  Jacob	  Dickie	  NKATE	   Ambassador	   of	   the	   Republic	   of	   Botswana	   to	   Japan	   for	  organizing	  this	  last	  Sayonara	  Luncheon	  in	  such	  a	  short	  notice.	  	  This	   luncheon	   is	   very	   special	   occasion	   today,	   because	   Ambassador	  NKATE	   himself	   is	   on	   departure	   after	   a	   successful	   completion	   of	  mission	   in	   Tokyo,	   where	   His	   Excellency	   served	   since	   February	   13,	  2013.	  	  	  The	   ADC	   is	   going	   to	   miss	   once	   again	   outstanding	   colleague	   who	  worked	   very	   hard	   for	   the	   success	   of	   our	   collective	   diplomacy	   in	   the	  Tokyo	   International	   Conference	   on	   African	   Development	   (TICAD)	  process.	  	  	  His	  Excellency	  has	  been	  a	  pivotal	  contributor	  in	  building	  the	  pillars	  of	  TICAD	   V	   and	   VI	   and	   has	   greatly	   contributed	   in	   enhancing	   and	  expanding	  the	  bilateral	  relations	  between	  Botswana	  and	  Japan.	  	  	  It	  is	  always	  hard	  and	  difficult	  to	  say	  goodbye,	  but	  the	  ADC	  members	  and	  myself	  consider	  ourselves	  to	  be	  very	  fortunate	  to	  have	  met	  and	  worked	  with	  a	  special	  person	  like	  Your	  Excellency.	  	  	  We	   all	   deeply	   value	   and	   appreciate	   the	   wisdom	   and	   hard	   work	   that	  you	  so	  kindly	  shared	  with	  all	  of	  us	  during	  Your	  Excellency’s	  mission	  here	  in	  Tokyo.	  	  	  As	   we	   say	   Sayonara	   to	   Your	   Excellency	   today,	   it	   is	   just	   to	   remind	  ourselves	   that	   Sayonara	   are	   not	   forever,	   nor	   is	   it	   the	   end.	   They	   are	  simply	  the	  words	  to	  say	  that	  we	  will	  miss	  you	  and	  your	  family	  dearly.	  	  1	  	  Although	   we	   may	   be	   separated	   by	   time	   and	   distance	   in	   the	   interim,	  nothing	   will	   diminish	   the	   important	   role	   that	   Your	   Excellency	   have	  and	   that	   will	   always	   play	   in	   our	   lives	   and	   into	   the	   African	   mutual	  issues	  of	  interest.	  	  	  On	   this	   occasion	   let	   me	   wish	   Your	   Excellency	   and	   family	   good	   health,	  peaceful	  life	  and	  prosperity.	  	  	  	  	  We	  all	  hope	  and	  wish	  success	  in	  Your	  Excellency’s	  future	  endeavors	  once	  again.	  	  	  We	   have	   to	   keep	   in	   touch	   wherever	   we	   are.	   	   As	   a	   token	   to	  commemorate	   this	   day,	   the	   ADC	   would	   like	   to	   present	   a	   small	  memorabilia	  and	  invite	  Your	  Excellency	  to	  make	  a	  farewell	  remarks.	  	  Just	   before	   conclusion	   for	   the	   smooth	   transfer	   of	   Ambassador	  NKATE’s	   work	   as	   a	   treasurer,	   I	   would	   like	   to	   take	   this	   opportunity	   to	  request	  ADC	  to	  suggest	  a	  replacement	  in	  this	  luncheon	  meeting.	  	  	  Thank	  you	  very	  much	  for	  your	  understanding,	  	  	  	  	  	  	  2