The Ceremony to present the “Gold Medal of Merit” to distinguished Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the „Nippon Foundation”, was held at the Embassy on October 8th.

High representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan - Serbia Association, guests from the Nippon Foundation, Tokyo Foundation, Prof. Hiroshi Yamasaki Vukelić from the University of Belgrade and other distinguished guests were present.

 This high decoration bestowed by H. E. Mr. Tomislav Nikolić, President of the Republic of Serbia is given for outstanding achievements in public and cultural activities.

Mr. Sasakawa has honorable and established place in the philanthropic and humanitarian field and is very well known and respected not only in Japan, but around the globe.
For over 30 years he has been dedicated to a global campaign to eliminate leprosy, and has been the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
Apart from humanitarian involments, „Nippon Foundation” also manages the Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund, which was established in 1987 to support talented graduate students, currently at 69 universities in 44 countries.
 In regard to that, „Nippon Foundation” has a long standing and fruitful cooperation with the University of Belgrade through its’ mutual cooperation agreement. Through Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund which was established at the University of Belgrade as far back as 1988 (then Yugoslavia), many talented students from Serbia got scholarships of this Fund enabling them to further pursue their high education at Japanese Universities and other Universities abroad.
 Some of their fellows included prominent public figures in Serbian political and economic circles.
Mr. Sasakawa’s great contribution in the educational field has been very well known in Serbia and the confirment of this high decoration represents just a small token of appreciation for Mr. Sasakawa for his emance contribution  to our country.