Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today.  It has been a while since we last met. I hope the press releases we issued helped keep you updated on our activities at the United Nations in New York.

I was in New York for the opening of the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly.  I also attended other multilateral, regional and bilateral meetings.

The 59th Session was marked by the continued healing of the divisions over Iraq. There was also a renewed determination to fight terror and consensus at the Summit level to reinvigorate efforts to alleviate poverty.  I saw increased calls for UN reform and discussed plans for holding the 60th Session as a UN Summit.

The issue of Iraq and the need to help ensure its stable and secure future remained in the spotlight. I also felt that the members of the United Nations continued to maintain their faith in the Organization and in multilateralism.

There was also strong sentiment that the UN must reform in order to be more responsive to today’s challenges.  The reform of the Security Council was particularly high on many delegations’ agenda.

In all my engagements, and as a member of the Security Council, I joined others in emphasizing the importance of maintaining international peace and stability in a world where the threats to peace come in many forms.

But I underscored that, for the Philippines, a country with over 7 million Filipinos all over the world, fostering global peace and stability is even more of an imperative.

It is in this spirit that the theme for my General Assembly speech was to place the people at the center of our work in the United Nations.  I also emphasized the need for UN reform in my UNGA speech.  I made UN reform the main point of my statement during the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement.

During the Thematic Debate in the Security Council on the topic “Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management for Peace-Building,” not only did I emphasize how important global peace is to a global nation like the Philippines, but I also pointed out that many overseas Filipinos are helping in peace-building.  They help as members of NGOs and as overseas workers involved in or doing work related to post-conflict construction and rehabilitation.

And with the people foremost in our minds, I addressed the Security Council during its consideration of the issue of Darfur. I called for an end to the humanitarian crises there, while at the same time acknowledging the important efforts of the African Union as well as some positive signs from the Sudanese government.

These are also the topics that I discussed in my meeting with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.  In addition, he expressed his strong support for our program of governance and reform as well as the positive strides we have taken in our search for peace.
With the countries hosting large numbers of Filipinos, I took up the welfare and safety of Filipinos and received the assurances of their host governments of their safety and that they will be treated well and with dignity.

With the countries supporting our peace process with the MILF, I discussed the progress of our peace talks and received support for our bid for observer status in the OIC.

I held similar discussions with Norway and they reiterated their determination to continue helping us in our search for peace with our communist rebels.

I also discussed Security Council issues which were of specific concern to certain countries.  During my meetings with my counterparts, I also discussed bilateral trade, investment and tourism issues.

I was fortunate that in spite of my busy UN schedule I was able to meet the Filipino Community, brief businessmen and investors, and discuss our peace process with non-state stakeholders.

I met with the Filipino Community from the Tri-State Area and spoke to them about the President’s program of government, their important contribution to the Philippines, and their role in choosing our leaders through overseas absentee voting.

I was deeply touched by their love and devotion for our country and their determination to do what they can to help.  It was in this spirit that they turned over a check for US$24,000 for the President’s Classroom Program with the promise of more to come.

Together with some members of the Philippine Economic Team, I briefed the Business Council for International Understanding and gave them an update on RP-US relations and the Philippine economy.  The BCIU is composed of the top corporations in America.  They welcomed the fact that RP-US relations were back on track and were very supportive of our economic reform program.  END.