12 February 2003 - Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert met last Tuesday, 10 February at the Department of Foreign Affairs with the European Ambassadors accredited to the Philippines to discuss RP-Europe relations.

During the call, the European Ambassadors expressed interest in the progress of the Philippine Government's exploratory talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).  European countries and the European Community are among those that have committed funds to contribute to the so-called Multi-Trust Donor Fund
for Mindanao, an initiative between the World Bank and the Department of Finance.  The establishment of the fund, which is pegged at USD 540 million, is conditioned upon the signing of a peace accord with the MILF.

The Secretary said she looked forward to receiving visitors from some European countries, namely the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Spain, the Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy of Sweden, and the Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy.  Secretary Albert cited the recent successful visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic.

She also told the Ambassadors that she would continue the work begun by the late Secretary Blas Ople to make the Philippine career foreign service world-class.

The Secretary said that foreign policies responsive to national interests are in place, and she hopes to make a difference in the Department of Foreign Affairs in the limited time of her tenure as Secretary by doing what she calls "housekeeping".

“I told the Ambassadors that I plan to meet with our young career officers and see to it that they receive all the necessary training to become effective diplomats in bilateral as well as multilateral diplomacy,” Secretary Albert said.

Secretary Albert also briefed the European Ambassadors on the results of the Philippines' successful hosting of the FEALAC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and of her fruitful visit to Bali, Indonesia to attend the Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism.  The European Ambassadors congratulated the Philippines
for being the only country in Asia to have signed all 12 international covenants on anti-terrorism.

The Secretary said she looks forward to the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vietnam in June where the issue of ASEM enlargement and the ramifications of EU enlargement will be discussed.  Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the 10 European countries that will officially accede to the European Union in May this year are
being considered for membership in the forum.  Russia has also applied for membership.

The Secretary also briefed the Ambassadors on the preparations undertaken by the Department and its 81 missions abroad for the absentee voting exercise for overseas Filipinos.

“I assured the Ambassadors that the DFA is prepared to face the challenges of this mandate and responsibility, and I thank the countries represented who allowed and cooperated with the Philippines in making absentee voting possible,” she said.

The Secretary conveyed the condolences of the Philippine Government to the Turkish Ambassador for the earthquake in Ankara, and to the Russian Ambassador for the bombing of a subway train last week in Moscow.

Present during the courtesy call were the Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the European Commission Delegation in Manila, and the Charge' d' Affaires of Sweden.
– END