DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
P R E S S  S T A T E M E N T
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                         Tel. No. 834-4000                                                                                   www.dfa.gov.ph

WELCOME REMARKS OF THE

HONORABLE NORBERTO R. BASILIO
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICAN AFFAIRS, DFA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE EID UL-FITR CELEBRATION

AT THE BLAS F. OPLE CONFERENCE ROOM
10 NOVEMBER 2005 AT 5:00 P.M.

 
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem, Assalaamulaykum Waramatulahi Wabarakatoh! Eid Mubarak!

Good evening and welcome to the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am honored to welcome such distinguished guests and ambassadors tonight as we join together to commemorate the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid ul-Fitr.

I wish to thank the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alberto G. Romulo, for his gracious presence, as well as the distinguished members of the diplomatic corps for taking the time to come and join us this evening.
 
The Philippines has close and important relations with many nations that share the faith of the Prophet Muhammad, and our gathering here tonight is testament to the great friendship that binds our countries together.

This evening, we are gathered together in the spirit of unity, brotherhood and generosity. As we mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, we pledge to work together in support of initiatives that promote a just peace in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, and the rest of the world. The Philippines is committed to making certain that our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Southern Philippines will enjoy the freedom and opportunities that they so rightly deserve.

Future historians may well write that since that Philippine revolution of 1896, the result of the work of the La Liga Filipina of Dr. Jose Rizal and the Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan of Andres Bonifacio and the end of American occupation in 1946, it is only now that we are truly developing and independent liga or katipunan or the society of Filipino brothers and sisters of various faith, the dream of all our faithful Christian and Muslim Filipino heroes who have written, acted and fought for an independent, just, democratic and progressive society in the Philippines.
 
As we work hand in hand towards the attainment of this goal, let us remember that respecting the dignity of humanity and valuing human life remain of paramount importance as we seek peace with peoples of all faiths.

Again, I say welcome and good evening to all. END.
 

/gary