New York, 18 March 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert held a dialogue today with the
 members of Fil-Am media in Eastern USA and discussed the advances made by the Arroyo Administration’s
 multi-track diplomacy.  “I discussed with the media practitioners our strategy of pursuing our diplomacy
 along three major tracks.  We have a President who believes in the necessity of multi-tasking in today’s
 globalized and vastly more complex world in order to promote and ensure the national interest,” Secretary
 Albert said after her meeting.  “By embarking on this trip, I intend to win greater international support
 for our initiatives in dealing with issues and concerns that impact on Philippine territorial
 integrity and sovereignty, national economic development and welfare of overseas Filipinos,” Albert
 explained to the Fil-Am media.

 “I just came from Turkey where we succeeded in being invited to the 31st OIC ministerial meeting in June.
 This will contribute to our search for peace and progress in Mindanao.  I also just came from Geneva,
 where we joined forces with other countries to work for the welfare of women migrants.  In Washington, I
 will review with Secretary Powell our strategic relationship and focus on cooperation on our war
 against terrorism and our war against crime, particularly against illicit drugs,” the Secretary
 said.  “I will also focus on Philippine defense and security, the welfare of Filipino war veterans, and
 support of the US in addressing the Mindanao problem.

 Asked on whether the Philippine Government will maintain its presence in Iraq in view of the recent
 terrorist attacks in Spain, Albert said “I do not foresee any reduction. The Philippine government will
 continue to abide by its international commitments in the global fight against terrorism and in addressing
 the serious security and humanitarian needs of our friends in the international community like Iraq.”

 On the perceived overlapping between government offices in protecting OFWs, Albert said that “any
 overlapping is, in fact, desirable if not a necessity for us, whose total OFW population is almost equal to
 the population of a small state like Switzerland.” Undersecretary Jose Brillantes, who was also present
 in the meeting, said “any perceived overlapping of functions was probably by design rather than accident.
 For a country with more than 7 million migrant workers like the Philippines, the existence of several offices
 attending to the latter’s needs is desirable if not mandatory.” END.