Press Release No.194-03
24 April 2003
POST-WAR DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST – OPLE

Philippine policy with regard to the issue of Iraq has always been guided by the clear need to ensure the long-term safety of the 1.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East and the need to prevent terrorists from being in a position where they could credibly threaten the Philippines and the entire world with weapons of mass destruction, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said today.

“Our Filipinos in the Middle East cannot truly be safe unless there is greater stability there.  Right now, the stability and viability of Iraq is a vital key to stability in the Middle East.  We must help the people of Iraq at this critical juncture, where, for the first time in many years, they have a clear chance to guide their own destiny, and to join the international community as a restored democracy and as a free, pluralistic and stable society,” Secretary Ople said.

“With our humanitarian contingent, we hope, in our own small way, to contribute to building a stable Iraq.  We also hope that as we join contingents from countries with different races and religions, we will be able to help to build an Iraq that will be tolerant of all races and religions,” the Secretary said.

“The long-term protection of our overseas Filipinos and the prevention of terrorism are clearly in our national interest.  We have to actively pursue our national interests.  This is not a time to withdraw and ignore the need to protect and advance our national interests,” he added.

“The pursuit of the national interest, the protection of overseas Filipinos, the implementation of our foreign policy are all public purposes for which public funds can be spent,” the Secretary said.

The Secretary pointed out that in a policy statement at the start of the year, he had said that fixed boundaries no longer exclusively define the Filipino nation. “Filipinos are in over 150 countries and on all the world’s oceans.  Our interests can be found in all parts of the world and events anywhere can deeply affect us as a nation. Our diplomacy must contend with the many fronts that face a truly global nation like the Philippines,” he said.

“We must do what we can, within our capabilities and accepted norms of international law, to protect our people, be they in the Philippines or overseas.  This clearly is in our national interest,” the Secretary added.