Haron Amin
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On 30 April 2004, Mr. Haron Amin (har-ROHN' ah-MEEN) became the first Ambassador to Japan since the Communist regime in 1978. He also serves as Afghanistan’s non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of the Philippines.
In January 2002, immediately after the Taliban-al Qaeda collapse, Mr. Amin was appointed Chargé d'Affaires (Minister Counsellor) of the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C. and sought to restore normal bilateral relations after 23 years of conflict. Between June 2002 and July 2003, Mr. Amin served as his country's second highest-ranking diplomat (Deputy Chief of Mission, Minister Plenipotentiary) in the United States. In July of 2003, he became the Chargé d'Affaires again, before being appointed Ambassador to Japan.
Mr. Amin believes his primary responsibilities are to facilitate continued relief and the on-going reconstruction and development processes, and act as a conduit for government and private sector interests seeking to participate in rebuilding Afghanistan's decimated economy and culture.
A former United Nations diplomat, Mr. Amin became well known in the American and international news media during his service as the principal spokesperson for the anti-Taliban United Front after the tragic events of September the 11th.
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1969, his family fled their homeland one year after the Soviet invasion of 1979, eventually settling in the United States. He returned to Afghanistan in 1988 to fight for his country's freedom under his mentor, Commander Massoud. In 1990, the legendary Commander assigned Mr. Amin to represent Afghan interests before the U.S. Government.
Haron Amin returned to Afghanistan in 1995, working again under Massoud while joining the Foreign Service as the Deputy Foreign Minister's chief of staff until the collapse of Kabul in September 1996.
From January to August 1997, Mr. Amin helped facilitate the promotion of Prime Minister Ghafoorzai, and served as his chief of staff until his plane crashed on 21 August.
He then worked in various capacities at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations, and as part of a bigger effort helped prevent the Afghan UN seat from either vacancy or falling in the hands of the Taliban, while participating in innumerable international conferences and forums.
[edit] Education
Mr. Amin received his Masters in Political Science from Saint John's University in New York. He has also earned a Certificate of International Law in the Master's Program.
[edit] Awards
Mr. Amin has been presented numerous awards, among them the "Learning, Faith and Freedom Medal" by Georgetown University (2002, USA) and the "President's Medal" by La Salle University (2002, USA). He was also named by Newsweek Magazine as one of 77 “People for the Future” and “changing the world as we know it” (January 7, 2002).
Ambassador Amin was appointed Visiting Professor at Takushoku University for the 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 Lecture Series: “The Role of Japan in the World Scene.”
