25 November 2004 – Speaking as the Acting Chairman of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo called for a broadening of its membership and an enhancement of its work.  The HCOC is the only international instrument that addresses the non-proliferation of ballistic missiles.

In his opening statement during the third regular meeting of the Subscribing States to the Hague Code of Conduct held in Vienna on 17 and 18 November 2004, Ambassador Manalo explained that one of the most important objectives of the Philippine Chairmanship would be to continue striving for universalization of the Code.

“The Philippines would concentrate its outreach activities in Asia,” Ambassador Manalo said as he called for efforts to coordinate outreach efforts and ensure greater coherence, while avoiding unnecessary duplication in such efforts.  He also affirmed that the Philippines, as HCOC Chairman, would lead efforts to table a new HCOC resolution during the 60th United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York next year.

During the Meeting, Ambassador Manalo also led discussions on how to enhance the work of the HCOC, particularly making it more effective and cost-efficient through better use of available resources including in the conduct of the HCOC’s meetings and activities.

Discussions on how to improve the format and timeframe for the annual declarations and pre-launch notifications to enhance and facilitate compliance with the Code of Conduct were also conducted. END