13 May 2004, Putrajaya, Malaysia – Malaysia will continue to do all it can to help the Philippines in its search for peace in the Southern Philippines.  This was the assurance given today by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert.  The Secretary called on Prime Minister Badawi today.  Secretary Albert is in Malaysia for the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting of the Committee on Palestine and for a bilateral visit.

“The Prime Minister reiterated his strong support for our peace process. He said that Malaysia will do all it can to help us find peace in the Southern Philippines,” the Secretary said after her meeting with the Prime Minister.

“I thanked the Prime Minister for the role that Malaysia has played in bringing peace to the Southern Philippines.  But he told me that much of the credit for the current success of the peace process and the development of Mindanao should be given not to anyone else but to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” Secretary Albert revealed.

 
“The Prime Minster said that he admired the leadership and strength that President Arroyo has shown in dealing with the Southern Philippines issue.  He even said that he looks forward to continue working with President Arroyo on this as well as on other issues,” she added.

“We also discussed several issues of critical concern to all of us, including the future of Iraq and the Middle East peace process,” Secretary Albert said.

The Secretary said that the Prime Minister also pledged his support and cooperation as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, for the Philippines, particularly when the Philippines holds the Presidency of the UN Security Council this June.

“We will chair the Security Council at a critical time in the history of world peace and security.  It is a great comfort to know that we have the support of close friends like Malaysia,” Secretary Albert said. END.