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-763-06                                                                                                                                                                        14 September  2006

PHILIPPINES TO HOST TWO HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS ON INTERFAITH COOPERATION FOR PEACE 

14 September 2006, NEW YORK — The Philippines will advance its initiatives in inter-religious dialogue when it hosts two high-level meetings on interfaith cooperation for peace on the sides of the 61st United Nations General Assembly next week, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations said today. 

Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr., Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the Philippines will host a breakfast meeting to be attended by 15 foreign ministers of countries that participated in the Informal Summit chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo here in New York in September last year. 

He said 13 other foreign ministers have indicated their interest to attend the meeting as observers. 

Ambassador Baja said that aside from the ministerial breakfast meeting, the Philippines will also host the High-Level Conference of the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace. The Forum is composed of representatives from governments, the United Nations system and non­governmental organizations.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo will host the breakfast meeting and deliver the opening remarks at the High-Level Conference. 

Ambassador Baja said President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal will deliver the keynote address of the High Level Conference of the Tripartite Forum. The President of the 61st General Assembly, Ambassador Haya Rashid Al-Khalifa; Secretary General Kofi Annan and the President of the Economic and Social Council, Ambassador Ali Hachani of Tunisia will also address the Conference, he added. 

“Both meetings will be held on 21 September, the International Day of Peace designated by the United Nations,” Ambassador Baja said. “Both meetings will further enhance the Philippines initiative on interfaith dialogue to promote peace.” 

According to him, a ministerial statement will be adopted and issued by the ministers after the breakfast meeting. “Preparations for these meetings are now in their final stages,” Ambassador Baja said. END

/jay

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