Press Release No. 166-03
10 April 2003

INT’L DEBATE ON POST-WAR IRAQ : WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT MECHANISMS WILL BE ADOPTED THAT WILL ALLOW MEANINGFUL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO REACH THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ – OPLE  

In the midst of ongoing discussions on the mechanisms through which the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq and the recovery of their country can best be addressed, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today said that deliberation on the issue of mechanisms should be the least divisive aspect of any discussion on Iraq and that he is confident that, even for the immediate terms, humanitarian aid will reach the people of Iraq. 

The Secretary made this statement in response to what appears to be a growing debate on who would have a central role in helping the people of Iraq and putting the country on the road to recovery. 

“I expect that for the near and immediate term, the United States and its allies on the ground would have an important and direct role.  But I believe that once we have addressed  the immediate needs, the United Nations should have and will have an increased role.  I also believe that the Iraqi people, through the interim Iraqi government, should have a strong say in all this,” the Secretary said.  

“On our part, we are prepared to send a humanitarian team to Iraq, whether under a mechanism set up by the United States or by the United Nations.  This debate seems almost irrelevant in the light of the urgent need to act to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Iraq,” he added.  

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had earlier instructed the Department of National Defense to discuss with its counterpart in the United States the humanitarian contribution that the Philippines could make.  The Philippines is contemplating the sending of a humanitarian contingent composed of doctors, nurses, medical technicians, civil engineers and security personnel.   

Aside from a humanitarian contingent that the Philippines might contribute, it is likely that the Philippine private, business, labor and service sectors will be tapped by private contractors to help address the immediate needs of Iraq as well as contribute to Iraq’s future growth. 

“We too are also making sure that we will have a clear framework with which we can administer our humanitarian contribution and with which we can best manage and promote the contributions that our private sector can make in rebuilding Iraq,” the Secretary said. END.