21 September 2005, NEW YORK—A week after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided over a historic summit of the Security Council, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations continues to receive congratulations for a fantastic job in planning, organizing and convening the Security Council meeting last  September 14.

 Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, informed Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that UN  member-states continue to commend President Arroyo and the Philippines for  successfully steering what is only the third Security Council summit in the history of the world organization.

 Ambassador Baja said that with that landmark gathering of leaders of member-states that make up the most powerful organ of the UN, President Arroyo will go down in history as the first Philippine president, the first  Asian leader and the first woman head of state to chair a Security Council summit.

 "The President's chairing of the Security Council enhanced the respect of the UN member-states for the Philippines," Ambassador Baja said.

 In her statement during the Summit, President emphasized the need to intensify international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, highlighting the success of the Philippines in counter-terrorism, regional and global cooperation in fighting terrorism, peace-building and fostering greater interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

In an earlier statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Romulo said President Arroyo's presiding over the summit upheld the tradition of Philippines advocacy and leadership in the UN.

"The President's firm guidance of the session of the Security Council reflects the tradition of advocacy and leadership for which the Philippines has been long recognized in the United Nations," Secretary Romulo said. "The President upheld that tradition for our nations and our people."

"This fine tradition started even before the founding of the UN, when the Philippines, led by General Carlos P. Romulo, actively shaped the final form of the United Nations Charter by ensuring, even in the face of strong opposition, that the Charter would give life to the aspirations of developing countries and soon-to-be independent nations," the Secretary said.

Aside from the Security Council Summit, the president presided over the informal summit on interfaith dialogue for peace and cooperation and attended the ASEAN-UN Summit. On September 15, she delivered the policy statement of the Philippines in the High-Level Plenary Meeting of Leaders before the 191 members of the General Assembly.

 President Arroyo's interventions on UN-related activities centered on terrorism, spiraling oil prices, debt for equity in Millennium Development Goals projects, interfaith dialogue and migration, according to Ambassador Baja.

Ambassador Baja said the President's proposals have been favorably received
and commended by numerous delegations. END