Press Release No. 039-03
1 February 2003
PRESIDENT
TO HOLD COMMAND CONFERENCE WITH RP AMBASSADORS STATIONED IN THE MIDDLE
EAST
As part of her activities in Kuwait aimed at ensuring the safety and welfare
of Filipinos in the Middle East in case of any military action against Iraq,
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will meet with the Philippine Middle East
Ambassadors for a Command Conference. This was announced today by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople.
The Philippine Ambassadors and Charge d’Affaires from Egypt, Iran, Iraq,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United
Arab Emirates will gather in Kuwait and meet the President for the Command
Conference.
Labor Secretary Pat Sto. Tomas and DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers
Chito Brilliantes will also be at the meeting, as well as the labor attaches
assigned in the Middle East.
“After consulting with the President on this matter, I instructed our Middle
East ambassadors to proceed to Kuwait to brief the President and to discuss
with her the overall situation in the Middle East and to brief her on our
contingency plans,” Secretary Ople said.
“Our ambassadors in the Middle East will also convey to the President the
sentiments and aspirations of our Filipinos in the Middle East,” Secretary
Ople said.
“I have been told by our ambassadors that the Filipinos in the Middle East
are generally calm and composed, finding strength in their respective communities
and keeping faith with the leadership and decisions of the President on matters
relating to the Middle East,” Secretary Ople added.
Asked to comment on the short-notice visit of the President to the
Middle East, Secretary Ople said: “I and the Department of Foreign Affairs
fully support her visit. We had made previous recommendations for the President
to visit the Middle East and we are glad that she has decided to go.”
Although the announcement of the President’s current visit was made
on short notice, plans have already been in place for the President to visit
the Middle East.
“We had always wanted a visit to acknowledge the importance we give to our
Filipinos there and to show our concern for their welfare as well as to express
our appreciation to their host countries and to obtain their host countries’
further commitment to ensure
their safety and welfare,’ Secretary Ople added.