5 October 2005 Paris, France –- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today welcomed renewed international support for dialogue as an instrument for bridging cultures and achieving global peace, saying that such support will boost Philippine efforts to promote greater interfaith dialogue.

Romulo said statements from UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura, President Horst Kohler of Germany and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan expressing strong support for dialogue and cooperation are important contributions to promoting interfaith dialogue.

Director-General Matsuura, President Kohler and President Karzai expressed their support for greater dialogue in their statements before today’s special session of UNESCO.  Today’s special session was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

"The Leaders' statements during the special session give further impetus to greater cooperation through interfaith dialogue. The Philippines looks forward to strengthening our global peace agenda through interfaith and intercultural dialogue, especially with the interest shown by our friends and partners in the international community," Romulo explained.

Interfaith dialogue is a key Philippine global initiative.  In September, an historic interfaith summit chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was held at the United Nations World Leaders Summit. Through their joint declaration, the leaders recognized that a culture of peace can be enhanced by inter-religious, inter-cultural, and intercivilizational dialogue and cooperation.

In June this year, the Philippines co-sponsored at the United Nations the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, chaired by Secretary Romulo and convened by a landmark tripartite convening group of governments, the United Nations System organizations and civil society organizations.

Romulo heads the Philippines delegation to the UNESCO General Conference and is scheduled to deliver the Philippines’ position during the general policy debate at the plenary session Thursday here.

Romulo will reiterate the Philippines’ advocacy for interfaith dialogue and debt-for-equity swaps, two key initiatives for peace and development.  Romulo will also push for the inclusion of migrant worker education in UNESCO’s flagship “Education for All” program.

In his welcome address at the special session Wednesday, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura called for dialogue and vigilance in the face of all contemporary offenses against human dignity.

Germany's President Horst Kohler, meanwhile, emphasized the value of cultural diversity for the well-being of the international community during his remarks. Kohler also advocated the need to create a world of partnership between cultures that would benefit individuals in both developed and developing nations.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, meanwhile, also underscored the need for further cooperative work between developed and developing countries at the UNESCO to further advance human dignity.

UNESCO, the specialized UN agency promoting international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and communication, is currently holding its 33rd session of the General Conference. Established 60 years ago, UNESCO has a central role in the United Nations System in the promotion of cultural diversity.  END.