The assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shocked the people of Lebanon. They stand in solidarity with the Japanese people in their grief as they, too, remember the assassination of their own Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Feb. 14, 2005.  A world-class leader, like Abe, he was killed along with 21 others in a massive explosion in Beirut.

It is for this reason we can truly understand the feelings of the Japanese. We are together in pain and anger.

We had great appreciation and admiration for the late Shinzo Abe, who was a member of the Japan-Lebanon Parliamentary Friendship Committee in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He visited Lebanon as part of a delegation headed by former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, where they were received by Hariri. Abe had built a strong friendship with our prime minister and Lebanon.

We, in Lebanon, feel this great loss with our Japanese friends.

It is also a loss for the international community due to the enormous contributions made by Abe at all levels — his achievements in international conferences and forums, support for the two-state solution in occupied Palestine, and strengthening Japanese relations with Arab countries, as well as Lebanon.

My memories of the many friendly exchanges with Abe will live on. At this sad time, we do not forget to express our empathy and compassion for Akie Abe, the late prime minister’s wife, and we pray for her during this ordeal.

On one occasion, in the spring of 2019, my wife hosted Mrs. Abe at our residence in Tokyo, and offered her a Lebanese abaya (cloak) as a symbol of Lebanon and its ancient culture. Mrs. Abe expressed her admiration for the abaya and wore it even as she left the Lebanese residence. This had the greatest impact on us, as we saw the extent of the Japanese first lady’s interest in interacting with our ancient civilization.

Our government has extended its condolences and deepest sympathy to the emperor of Japan, the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, his government and the Japanese people.

Nidal Yehya is the ambassador of Lebanon in Japan