MESSAGE OF
HON. ALBERTO G. ROMULO
SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE EID-EL-FITR
BULWAGANG APOLINARIO MABINI, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MANILA
19 NOVEMBER 2004
(Read by Acting Secretary Franklin Ebdalin)

EXCELLENCIES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FRIENDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.

ASSALAMO ALAIKUM, PEACE BE UPON YOU ALL! I AM PLEASED TO EXTEND TO ALL OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF THE EID-EL-FITR, AFTER THE FAITHFUL OBSERVANCE OF THE MONTH-LONG FASTING PERIOD OF RAMADHAN.

THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN COMMEMORATES THE MOMENT WHEN THE GLORIOUS HOLY QUR’AN WAS REVEALED TO MANKIND, THROUGH PROPHET MOHAMMAD, PEACE BE UPON HIM. IT IS DURING THIS HOLY MONTH WHEN EVERY FAITHFUL MUSLIM OBSERVES FASTING FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, SACRIFICES HIS WORLDLY NEEDS AND DESIRES, AND HUMBLY SUBMITS HIMSELF TO THE WILL OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD, DRAWING HIMSELF CLOSER TO GOD AND HIS FELLOWMEN THROUGH SELF-DISCIPLINE, COMPASSSION, AND FORGIVENESS.

THE SPIRIT OF RAMADHAN CALLS ON US TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE, PEACE, AND UNITY. IN THE FACE OF THE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTRY TODAY, AND THE NEED FOR OUR COUNTRYMEN TO STAND ONE AND UNITED REGARDLESS OF RELIGION OR BELIEF, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT HAS VIGOROUSLY PROMOTED INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, WITH THE HOPE THAT AN OPEN, FRANK AND HONEST EXCHANGE OF VIEWS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND ULTIMATELY, PEACE AMONG ALL OUR PEOPLE.

THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SINCERELY BELIEVES THAT INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE WILL GIVE A TREMENDOUS BOOST TO OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT TERRORISM AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE WORLD’S DIVERSE CIVILIZATIONS AND CULTURES.

WE ARE HAPPY TO NOTE THAT OUR PARTNERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN MOST SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SUCH A DIALOGUE. JUST LAST THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, THE PHILIPPINES SCORED A MAJOR DIPLOMATIC VICTORY IN THE UNITED NATIONS WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED  THE PHILIPPINE PROPOSAL CALLING FOR THE PROMOTION OF DIALOGUE AMONG THE WORLD’S DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. THE RESOLUTION WAS PRINCIPALLY AUTHORED BY THE PHILIPPINES AND CO-SPONSORED BY 24 OTHER COUNTRIES, AMONG THEM AZERBAIJAN, BANGLADESH, CONGO, GABON, GAMBIA, INDONESIA, IRAN, KAZAKHSTAN, MALAYSIA, MOROCCO AND SENEGAL.

IN THE RESOLUTION, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFFIRMED THAT MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE  CONSTITUTE IMPORTANT DIMENSIONS OF THE DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS AND THE CULTURE OF PEACE. THE RESOLUTION OPENS A NEW HORIZON FOR THE UNITED NATIONS TO ENGAGE A SECTOR OF CIVIL SOCIETY – THE RELIGIOUS SECTOR – IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT.

I ALSO WISH TO RECALL THAT ON 04-06 AUGUST 2003,  THE PHILIPPINES SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED THE RP-IRAN BILATERAL CONFERENCE ON “DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS”. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THAT CONFERENCE WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIALOGUE AND THE REJECTION OF THE USE OF FORCE; AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING IN THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FIELDS, AND STRENGTHENING OF THE FOUNDATION OF LIBERTY, JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN, EXPRESS THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC) FOR THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A LASTING PEACE IN MINDANAO, AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT.

ON THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF EID-EL-FITR, I WISH TO THANK YOU, OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S PURSUIT OF PEACE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

EID MUBARAK!