Washington D.C., 22 March 2004 – In a roundtable discussion with Fil-Am media this morning, Foreign
 Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert reported on her recently-concluded official trips to Turkey, Geneva
 and New York, as well as on the purpose of her visit to Washington D.C.

 On instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Secretary Albert went to Ankara to follow-up the
 invitation for the Philippines to attend the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).  Turkey,
 chair of the OIC, has invited the Philippines to attend the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Instanbul
 this June.  The OIC – which brokered our peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front
 (MNLF) “is vital not only in strengthening our relations with the member countries of the OIC, but
 also in helping us attain peace and development in Muslim Mindanao,” Secretary Albert said.

 In Geneva, Secretary Albert attended the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights-High Level Segment.  She
 also met with 21 female Foreign Ministers and dignitaries during a forum on violence against women.
 Secretary Albert pushed for the criminalization of the trafficking of women and children as well as for the
 protection of the rights of migrant workers, majority of whom are women.

 While in Geneva, she also met with OIC Secretary General Abdelouahed Belkeziz and reiterated the
 Philippines’ bid to be granted observer status in the OIC.  The Secretary General said that the OIC will
 consider the Philippines’ application for observer status and suggested that an OIC representative be
 invited in the next round of talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
 Front (MILF).

 In New York, Secretary Albert met with Mr. Julian Robert Hunte, President of the 58th UN General
 Assembly.  They discussed Philippine initiatives for dialogues among different cultures as a means to
 strengthen peace-making and peace-building measures. She likewise met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who, Secretary Albert said, was keen to see the UN’s re-engagement in Iraq.

 Secretary Albert arrived yesterday in Washington D.C.  She was invited by Representative Darrell Issa,
 Co-Chair of the US-Philippines Friendship Caucus on the occasion of the Caucus’ first anniversary
 celebration on 24 March.  The Caucus is bipartisan in nature and now has 72 members from the US House of
 Representatives.

 This afternoon, Secretary Albert met National Security Adviser Dr. Condoleeza Rice, and Deputy Adviser Steve Hadley, as well as with Senator Richard Lugar.  She will also have meetings with the following:  USAID
 Administrator Andrew Natsios, the Filipino community, State Department Undersecretary for Global Affairs
 Paula Dobriansky, State Department Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Management
 Margaret Tutwiler, Organization of American States Cesar Gaviria and State Secretary Colin Powell.

 Secretary Albert said that the objectives of her official multi-country trip are “to strengthen the
 country’s multilateral relations, enhance our national security through economic diplomacy, and to ensure the
 protection and promotion of the welfare of Filipinos overseas.”