9 June 2004 – Saying that the adoption of a crucial resolution on Iraq will pave the way for the meaningful return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert congratulated the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York for successfully leading the negotiations on this key resolution.

“Ambassador Lauro Baja, our Permanent Representative in New York, with the  able support of his officers and staff, armed with decades of negotiating experience and charged with the crucial task of seeing this resolution through, did an excellent job by securing the unanimous support of all the members of the United Nations Security Council for this resolution,” Secretary Albert said.

“This is a victory for the Iraqi people and a victory for peace,” she added.  The UN Security Council yesterday unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a "sovereign interim government" in Iraq and the continued presence of the multinational force, currently composed of Coalition members. The resolution, which passed 15 to 0 after going through several revisions, endorses the transfer of power from the occupation authority to the recently appointed interim Iraqi government, which will administer the country until elections are held by the end of January 2005.

“This is a resolution that has the full backing of the Interim Government of Iraq, the total commitment of the UN Security Council and the full support of the international community.  This is a major step in healing the divisions of Iraq.  The world is now united behind a firm and secure future for the people of Iraq,” the Secretary said. The Philippines is a non-permanent member of the Security Council and is its current President.  Ambassador Baja chaired the formal and informal negotiations on the text of the resolution. END.