Press Release No. 121-03
27 March 2003
FOCUS
ON IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS, NOT ON THE DIVISIVE ISSUES – OPLE
While the Philippines welcomes the decision of the United Nations Security
Council to hold an open debate on the issue of Iraq, the Philippines believes
that the United Nations should begin to focus on addressing the humanitarian
needs of the Iraqi people, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F.
Ople.
“I join United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in reiterating that the
international community should move beyond the issues that divide and must
focus instead on becoming united, particularly on the need to address the
humanitarian challenges facing the Iraqi people,” Secretary Ople said.
During the open debate today in the Security Council, Secretary-General Kofi
Annan reiterated his call for the international community to unite to face
the immediate challenges facing the people in Iraq.
Last week, Secretary-General Kofi Annan had called on the international community
not “to dwell on the divisions of the past. Let us confront the realities
of the present, however harsh, and look for ways to forge stronger unity
in the future.” Secretary Ople had supported this earlier call of the
Secretary-General.
“I would like to specifically call on the countries that object to the proposal
of the Secretary-General to use the oil-for-food program to prepare for the
humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people to reconsider their decision.
I understand their concerns, but the issue of the legitimacy of the the war
on Iraq should be disassociated from the urgent need to prepare for the humanitarian
needs of the Iraqi people,” Secretary Ople said.
End