12 November 2004—Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo announced that the Philippine proposal to promote inter-faith dialogue among nations was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, November 11, 2004.

Secretary Romulo described the unanimous approval of the Philippine resolution, which was co-sponsored by 24 other countries, as “a major moral and diplomatic victory for the Philippines”.

The Secretary said the Philippine resolution was filed upon the instructions of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  He said the President firmly believes in the importance of viewing other country's needs not only through a narrow prism of economic values but with full knowledge of and equal sensitivity to moral and religious norms.

Secretary Romulo recalled that the President also discussed the need for inter-religious dialogues at the recent Asian-Europe Meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Foreign Affairs Secretary said world leaders from both continents appreciated the President's call for continuous dialogues among civilizations.

The Secretary also recalled that House Speaker Jose de Venecia proposed the establishment of an inter-religious council or a special committee within the United Nations to President George W. Bush during the US state visit of the President last year.  Speaker de Venecia is a leading advocate of inter-faith dialogues among world parliamentarians.

Secretary Romulo's statement is as follows:

"It took a country like the Philippines where majority of Christians and Muslims live together in harmony and yet continue to pursue permanent peace, to remind the United Nations that religion plays a key role in preventing conflicts.

"What this resolution does is to enshrine and promote the participation of religious leaders and spiritual communities in the global quest for peace and development. We are grateful that the resolution has been adopted by consensus with broad support from all geographic regions of the world.”

"I would like to commend the Philippine Mission to the United Nations headed by Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, for their dedicated work in having this resolution unanimously approved.”

“The Philippines under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will continue to promote inter-faith dialogue both bilaterally and multilaterally, as an instrument of peace and harmony in our conflict-ridden world." END