PHILIPPINES ASSUMES CHAIRMANSHIP OF ASEAN PARIS COMMITTEE;
FORGES CLOSER RELATIONS WITH FRENCH OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC 

31 May 20006  - Philippine Ambassador to France Jose Abeto Zaide has reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippines has assumed the chairmanship of the ASEAN Paris Committee (APC), with the objective of strengthening the collective presence of ASEAN in the largest country in Western Europe by cultivating not only high-level contacts in the French government but also with the French general public. 

The Philippines holds the APC chairmanship from May to August 2006. 

As APC Chairman, Ambassador Zaide will lead a call this week by ASEAN Ambassadors on French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy for the purpose, among others, of seeking French support for the ASEAN candidature for the post of UN Secretary General in the person of Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, the current Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France can veto any candidate for the post of UN Secretary General. Mr. Kofi Annan, the current UN Secretary General, will finish his second five-year term in December this year. 

The Ambassador is also arranging meetings with key French trade officials with the aim of exchanging views on common international and regional economic issues, including the latest developments in the World Trade Organization and the state-of-play of the on­going negotiations for the Doha Development Agenda.   

ASEAN is strongly supporting the early accession of Lao PDR and Viet Nam to the WTO. ASEAN Economic Ministers met in Manila earlier this month Mr. Peter Benjamin Mandelson, European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner, where they exchanged views on global economic developments particularly those which influence regional economic integration initiatives in both ASEAN and the EU. 

In the realm of culture as an instrument of diplomacy, for which France has assumed a leading international profile in favor of greater cultural diversity, Ambassador Zaide reported that he is discussing with Mr. Stephane Martin, president of the Musee du Quai Branly (http://www.quaibranly.fr), on possible contributions which the Philippines and ASEAN may donate to this museum. 

The Musee du quai Branly will be the legacy and "grand project" of French President Jacques Chirac, who has demonstrated a preference for indigenous traditional and ethnic arts and crafts throughout his presidency.   With over 300,000 historic and cultural artifacts, the museum will house in a single complex the French state's most important holdings on the arts and civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.   It will occupy an exceptional site on the banks of the Seine River, under the shade of the Eiffel Tower and in the heart of the historic and artistic circuit of the French capital.  The museum's opening later this year is greatly anticipated in France and around the world. It is currently considering possible future collaborations. 

A 500-year old, sitting bulol statue of the Ifugao, which was housed for many years in the venerable musee du Louvre, will be the Philippines' primary contribution to the new museum.

A photograph of the artifact may be viewed through the link: http://www.quaibranlv.fr/article.php3?id article-301. 

In terms of fostering closer people-to-people contacts with the local French public, Ambassador Zaide added that he will lead this weekend an ARC trip to Bordeaux, southwest of France. Bordeaux hardly needs introduction as the home of the greatest red wine appellations in the world, notwithstanding its present economic crunch resulting in large part from the strong competition offered by new wines from Australia, South Africa, Chile and California's Napa Valley. 

An important segment of the trip will be an exploration of commercial opportunities by way of a visit to Eurasie, an Asian hypermarket operating in Bordeaux. In enhancing their trade ties with France, ASEAN trade missions are relaxing their concentration on the Paris region and are examining ways and means of penetrating the other commercial centers throughout the country. 

The Philippine Embassy is leading the preparations for this year's ASEAN Family Day, which is scheduled on 24 June 2006 at Athis-Mons, south of Paris. The event is an annual day long activity that affirms the close family ties that have been nurtured among the ten ASEAN Embassies in Paris. 

For this year, the Philippine Embassy is organizing a volleyball tournament among the ASEAN Embassies. In addition, the Philippine Embassy is coordinating the children's games, a food tasting of the different culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, and a Lucky Draw Raffle of minor prizes and gift items. It will also invite as guests of APC local French officials who are rendering invaluable assistance in the organization of the event. 

The Philippines' chairmanship of APC coincides with the commencement of the Philippines' chairmanship of the ASEAN Standing Committee for 2006-2007 next July. END