PRESS RELEASE                                                                     
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                    *      Tel. No. 834-4000                                                 *     www.dfa.gov.ph
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SFA-DDA-226-04                                                                                                                             5 April  2004
 
 
DFA LAUNCHES BOOK ON RP FOREIGN POLICY
 Manila, 5 April 2004 – Philippine Foreign Policy under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been marked by a clear determination to make foreign policy work directly for the benefit of the Filipino people.  The President’s vision is a foreign policy that is relevant to the nation and one that calls for profound changes in policy and its implementation.
 
This was the message conveyed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert during today’s formal launching of the monograph entitled “Relevance and Change: Foreign Policy under the Administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo” held at the Summit Lounge of the Department of Foreign Affairs.  Cabinet
officials, members of the diplomatic corps, officers of the DFA, and other invited guests attended the launching ceremony.

In describing the foreign policy thrusts of the President, Secretary Albert stressed that “principled actions on foreign policy were taken by the administration with nothing else but the welfare and well-being of the nation and its people in mind, regardless of, at times what were perceived as, the domestic political costs.”

“These were decisions and actions that could only be taken by a leader with experience and vision, by a leader who has a meaningful understanding of the world, by a leader dedicated to doing what is best for the nation,” the Secretary added.

Secretary Albert disclosed that, after her appointment as Foreign Affairs Secretary last December, she decided that she would begin a review of Philippine foreign policy. “Last December, the burden and honor of leadership fell unexpectedly on me and I knew immediately that I had to live up to the trust given to me by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  I also had to fill in the sudden void and profound legacy left by Secretary Blas F. Ople, in whose work and wisdom I have found much inspiration,” she said.  

The Secretary added that she first discussed these reflections during her lecture at the Third University of the Philippines Public Lecture Series on Philippine Presidency and Administration at the UP Faculty Center Conference Hall on 23 February 2004.

“After more reflection and fueled by the positive response I received from this lecture, I decided to publish a short work that embodies my appreciation, analysis and perspectives of Philippine foreign policy,” the Secretary said.

Relevance and Change is the result of this effort and highlights the vision, framework, initiatives, achievements, as well as the challenges that will continue to be addressed by foreign policy under the leadership of President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. END.