Manila, 16 March 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert has  designated Director Raul S. Hernandez of the Office of Middle East and  African Affairs to be the DFA Spokesperson on all matters related to the  Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Department of Foreign Affairs  announced today.

Mr. Hernandez’s appointment as OIC Spokesperson came in the wake of  Secretary Albert’s successful visit to Turkey recently, where she received  assurances from that country that the Philippines will be invited to  participate in the 31st Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul  in June.

“I have designated an official DFA Spokesperson for the OIC in view of the  importance and the continuing interest that we are giving to our efforts to  secure Observer status in that organization,” Secretary Albert said.

She added that having a spokesperson specifically for the OIC will enable  the Department to “keep the public regularly informed on the initiatives and  strategy that we are taking to secure our bid for OIC observer status.”

Secretary Albert’s recent visit to Ankara, where she received the invitation  extended by Turkey for the Philippines to participate in the next Islamic  Conference of Foreign Ministers in June, is widely seen as another milestone  in the Philippines’ continuing quest for Observer status in the OIC.

The Philippines formally filed its application for Observer status in the  organization during the 30th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM)  held in Tehran in May 2003. In October last year, President Gloria Macapagal  Arroyo was invited and attended the 10th Islamic Summit in Kuala Lumpur,  marking the highest level of participation by the Philippines in an OIC  meeting. The Philippines hopes that the ICFM in Istanbul in June will take a  positive action on its application, together with those of other countries.

“As an observer in the OIC, the Philippines will be in a better position to  represent all Muslim Filipinos in all parts of the country. It will also  enable us to engage the organization and its member states as well as other
Islamic agencies to extend their assistance for the economic development of  Muslim Mindanao, thus contributing to our continuing effort to achieve  long-lasting peace and prosperity in the area,” Secretary Albert said.

Mr. Hernandez, currently the Director for Gulf States in OMEAA, had served  previously at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague as Second Secretary and  Consul and earlier as Vice Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in  Hong Kong. His stint in the Home Office included assignments in the  Southeast Asia Division of the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs, and the  Central Europe Division of the Office of European Affairs. He holds a Master  degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College
 of the Philippines and took a program in Master in Business Administration  in Macau / Hong Kong. END.