DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 

SFA-AGR-535-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             02 August 2005

RP PREPARES FOR SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENCY, UN SUMMITS

 
2 August 2005, NEW YORK— The Philippines will again take the center-stage next month when it assumes the presidency of the Security Council and also possibly convene and chair a summit of the leaders of the 15-member states that make up the most powerful organ of the United Nations.
 
The Philippine Mission to the United Nations said the Security Council summit Filipino diplomats are proposing would be the highlight of several high-level meetings that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other Philippine officials would be attending here in September.
 
"A successful Philippine presidency of the Security Council in September, including a possible summit meeting, will cap our two-year membership in this vital organ of the United Nations," said Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, adding that this would be the second time the Philippines will be holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council since assuming its elected seat in January 2004.
 
Ambassador Baja said that aside from the proposed Security Council summit, President Arroyo would also be joining other heads of state and governments in the 2005 World Summit; the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; and the ASEAN-United Nations Summit that are scheduled to take place from 12 to 16 September.
 
The ambassador said that other Philippine initiatives will be highlighted in September, particularly the Informal Summit on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, which President Arroyo will chair and the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments which House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon will participate in.
 
Ambassador Baja said at least 16 heads of states or governments who support the Philippine initiative on inter-religious dialogue, first proposed by Speaker de Venecia last year, will attend the informal summit on interfaith cooperation. The summit is an offshoot of the successful Tripartite Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace held on 22 June 2005 and chaired by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.
 
In the General Assembly, Ambassador Baja said that the Philippines will advocate the debt for equity proposal of Speaker De Venecia. "The vision has been gaining wide reception and acceptance in various fora," he said.
 
"Expectations from the Philippines have been raised but we will build upon our previous successes," the ambassador said. "The Mission is now in full swing with negotiations and preparation of position papers and outcome documents."   END
 
/jay