I am honored to convey to the government and people of Switzerland the warm greetings of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and those of the Filipino people on the celebration of the 714th anniversary of the foundation of the Swiss Confederation.

This occasion reminds us of the reasons the Swiss Confederation holds a preeminent position in the community of nations.  It is one of the oldest democracies in the world. While claiming and accorded a neutral status, the Swiss Confederation has been long respected for the active role it plays in promoting world peace and international understanding and the protection and propagation of human rights.

The friendly ties that exist between the Philippines and Switzerland were forged long before the two countries established formal relations forty years ago.  They however remain very strong indeed.  Recent indications show they will continue to be so in the future.

That was the determination of both sides in the political consultations held last October between Honorable Blaise Godet and Undersecretary Sonia Brady.  The consultations followed up the implementation of the trail-blazing agreements that the two countries entered into in recent years.  I am glad to note that the Agreement on the Exchange of Professional and Technical Trainees, the first of its kind signed by the Philippines with other countries, is now in the implementation stage with the nomination and acceptance of the first trainee, Mr. Roland Payog.  The past year saw the start of negotiations for the agreement on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates, as well as the ratification of the Philippine Senate of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.  We look forward to the entry into force of the agreement as soon as the Swiss side completes its internal procedures.

The economic area has also shown remarkable dynamism.  The Philippines’ trade with Switzerland grew by 36 percent in 2004, increasing from 210 million US dollars in 2003 to 329 million US dollars in 2004.  The Switzerland leg of the Philippine IT Mission to Europe in November 2004 proved to be very successful, leading to new partnerships particularly in business processes outsourcing and IT-enabled services and making us optimistic about positive, concrete results in the near future.

Topical relevance may be the other name that can be given to an ongoing joint Philippine and Swiss Project.  Responding to the interest expressed by several sectors in shifting to the federal system of government, Switzerland last year invited a team of government officials and educators to study the system of government of Switzerland, which after all is the oldest existing federal state in the world today.  We now look forward to the holding in October this year, with the support of the Swiss Government, of a High – Level Workshop on Federalism and Multiculturalism organized by the Center for Local and Regional Governance of the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines and the Institute of Federalism of the University of Fribourg.  The workshop should add the voices of scholarship and experience to the current discussion on federalism.

May I now invite everyone to join me in a toast to the good health of His Excellency Samuel Schmid and to the friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Switzerland.  Mabuhay! END