19 January 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today confirmed that one of the Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia died of malaria on 12 January 2004. The Philippines had sent 145 soldiers to join 9,000 peacekeepers from other UN members.

“It is with deep regret that we confirm that one of our United Nations peacekeepers in Liberia succumbed to malaria.  I would like to convey to his family our profound sympathies.  He has brought great honor to our country for he died while in the service of peace,” Secretary Albert said.

The Secretary said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is in touch with the family of the peacekeeper and that the Department is coordinating with the United Nations in New York for the return of his remains.  The Secretary said that the AFP will be the one to announce the name of the peacekeeper when it deems proper to already do so and in accordance with its existing regulations.

“We are committed to remaining in Liberia.  Liberia's political and security situation is improving by the day and the prospects for restoring peace are getting better.  We will help make peace happen,” the Secretary said.

Our Permanent Mission in New York is constantly monitoring the situation in Liberia and, as the Vice-Chairman of the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on Liberia, is deeply involved in the future of Liberia,” the
Secretary added.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative on Lliberia, Jacques Paul Klein, told a news briefing at UN Headquarters in New York that he believed the peace process is now irreversible despite the inevitable challenges that would arise in a country shattered by nearly 15 years of strife that spread to its
neighbors and destabilized the region.

“Many analysts have said that the peace process in Liberia would be one of the most difficult in the world.  The advances that have been made show that given a chance, a peace process, no matter how difficult, can be made to move forward,” Secretary Albert said. END.