On October 18, Consul General (CG) and Mrs. Sunaga paid a courtesy call to Mr. Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President and a co-founder of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Former President Carter was the Governor of Georgia when the Consulate of Japan was established in 1974. Since then, through his presidency and his activities at The Carter Center, including economic development assistance/health program and supporting the establishment of the sister city relationship between Miyoshi City, Japan and Americas, GA, Mr. Carter has been involved in many aspects of US-Japan and Georgia-Japan relations.

    During the visit, CG Sunaga discussed with Mr. Carter various issues that include the Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Africa (The Carter Center has been playing a leading role in promoting the Program to which the Japanese government as well as private organizations/ corporations extended substantial support), peace-keeping activities, as well as the economic climate in Japan, the US, and the southeast US, etc.

    The Carter Center is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1982 in Atlanta by former President Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter. The Center seeks to advance human rights, resolve conflicts, and to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases. President Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize, in part, for his activities through The Carter Center.