DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
S P E E C H
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                         Tel. No. 834-4000                                                                                   www.dfa.gov.ph
SFA-AGR-PS069-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       28  May 2006

Departure Statement of DR. ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Secretary of Foreign Affairs

Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement
and Special Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 and China
Putrajaya, Malaysia, 28-29 May 2006
Department of Foreign Affairs, 28 May 2006

   
I leave for Putrajaya, Malaysia to attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM-CoB).  The Meeting will be held in preparation for the NAM Summit in Havana, Cuba this September.
 
The Philippines remains fully engaged as a member of NAM in building global peace.
 
This is part of our strategic approach in promoting our national interests: just as we maintain key bilateral partnerships to strengthen peace, we work with regional and global partners in building regional and global peace. All of these enhance our own national security.
 
In Putrajaya, I will review with the other NAM members international developments and issues of importance to the Movement as well as consider the appropriate strategies and approaches that can be undertaken to prepare for the Summit.
 
I will actively participate in seeking the consolidated positions of the developing countries on key global, regional, sub-regional as well as
development, social and human rights issues.
 
During the Meeting, I will apprise fellow NAM member countries of the Philippines’ main objective in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) of bridging
national and global human rights goals and standards.
 
On UN Reform, I will call on NAM member countries to reaffirm the central role of the UN General Assembly as the most important policy-making and legislative organ of the UN System. In addition, I will express the Philippines’ support for the strengthening of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) mandate, powers and responsibilities.
 
The General Assembly and the ECOSOC are important in upholding the democratic and universal nature of the UN. Both provide the fora for multilateral policy dialogue, discussion and consensus-building. The ECOSOC, in particular, gives primary focus to key global macroeconomic and development policy concerns important to the developing world.
 
During the NAM Ministerial Meeting, I will also express the Philippines’ support for global efforts to combat terrorism through our initiatives on
interfaith dialogue.
 
I will also emphasize the importance of addressing the rising cost of oil as a factor that contributed to poverty and to the resulting discontent and
alienation than terrorists exploit.
 
I will also bring the message that in combating terrorism, human rights and the rule of law must be upheld at all times, even as we pursue socio-economic development geared towards uplifting human conditions and protecting human dignity.
 
At the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial Meeting, I will also join my counterparts from the Group of 77 and China in discussing UN reform.
 
I will emphasize that coherence within the UN can indeed be enhanced with a view to strengthening the organization’s work at the policy level on key macroeconomic and development issues.
 
In Putrajaya, I will also have the opportunity to renew and reaffirm our friendship with other countries.
 
In particular, we look forward to meeting with Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, and  Morocco at the margins of NAM Ministerial Meeting as we continue to advance the Philippines’ interests in the world Islamic Ummah.  END
 
 
/jay