Filipino Diplomat Elected Chairman of the 

International Mobile Satellite Organization

8 March 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain Edgardo Espiritu reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that First Secretary and Consul, Neil F. Ferrer was unanimously elected on 05 March 2007 by the Assembly of Parties to the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) as Chairman of its 19^th Extraordinary Session currently being held at the IMSO Headquarters in London. 

The IMSO is the inter-governmental organization that oversees certain public satellite communication services provided via the Inmarsat satellites and the Assembly is its highest governing body.

Ambassador Espiritu, who is the Philippine Permanent Representative to International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the head of the Philippine delegation to the said IMSO Assembly Extraordinary Session, noted that this is the first time for a Philippine official to be elected Chairman of the Assembly since the Philippines joined the IMSO in l981.

“It makes us all in the Philippine Delegation very proud of Neil,” Ambassador Espiritu remarked. “It is indeed a strong recognition by the IMSO of our strong commitment and active participation in the Organization.”

Consul Ferrer is also serving as Philippine Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO.

The Special Session of the IMSO Assembly was convened specifically to discuss the provisional application of the amendments to the IMSO Convention adopted at the last Session of the Assembly which would allow the IMSO to undertake the oversight of future satellite providers in the global maritime distress and safety system and serve as coordinator for the long range identification and tracking of ships system.

Ambassador Espiritu further reported that under the leadership of Mr. Ferrrer, the IMSO Assembly decided in favor of the provisional application of the amendments pending their formal entry into force, which emphasized the urgency and importance the Organization attaches to maritime safety and security.

Mr. Ferrer’s election as Chairman of the IMSO Assembly followed his successful chairmanship of the 82^nd session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee held on 29 November - 8 December 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey. Mr. Ferrer would remain as Chairman of the IMSO Assembly until its next regular session in 2008. END

/egret

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