14 May 2004, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur – While in Malaysia for the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement’s Committee on Palestine (13 May) and  or an official bilateral visit (14 May), local and international reporters interviewed Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert on the Middle East peace  process, RP-Malaysia relations and the elections in the Philippines.

On the Middle East peace process, the Secretary told reporters that the Philippines fully shares the desire of the international community to find a lasting solution. “We give our full support to the attainment of a just and comprehensive negotiated peace in the Middle East resulting in two viable, sovereign and independent states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,” the Secretary told reporters.  She also said that “NAM has an important role to play in all this. Malaysia’s efforts as the Chairman of NAM in the search for peace in the Middle East, has the full support of the Philippines, as a member of NAM and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

RP-Malaysia cooperation in the search for peace is not limited to the Middle East, Secretary Albert told reporters, saying that “Malaysia is also our partner in our search for lasting peace in the Southern Philippines.  Malaysia has been instrumental in bringing the parties together and in creating an atmosphere of confidence within which formal peace talks can be undertaken.  Both Prime Minister Badawi and Foreign Minister Albar have reiterated Malaysia’s  commitment to our peace process.”

Several reporters also expressed interest in the 10 May elections, saying that although there were violent incidents, the elections seemed generally credible. “The elections were indeed credible. There were isolated violent incidents and these are regrettable.  But these do not change the fact that the elections were credible,” the Secretary told the reporters, citing the fact that even the Malaysian election observers were convinced that the elections were credible and generally peaceful. END.