SFA-AGR-804-07                                                                                                                                      26 OCT 2007

RP ELECTED TO UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD; PLACES 2^ND IN ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP

26 October 2007– The international community affirmed the Philippines’ continuing contributions to secure greater global peace and development and voted the Philippines to a four-year seat in the UNESCO Executive Board.

Receiving a report from Philippine Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO Jose Zaide on the Philippines’ election, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said the Philippines’ victory in the “key UN organization” was “a clear vote of confidence for the country’s agenda of development for the benefit of all.”

In Ambassador Zaide’s report, the Philippines received 137 votes, placing it in firm second in the Asia-Pacific Group.  The Philippines’ term will be from 2007 to 2011.

Nine countries competed for the six seats renewed for the Asia-Pacific group.  Other Asia-Pacific countries elected to the UNESCO Executive Board were Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and Pakistan.

The Philippines’ victory came within days of Secretary Romulo’s address to the 193 members during the 34^th session of UNESCO General Conference.   Secretary Romulo led the Philippine delegation.

Immediately after Secretary Romulo’s address, the President of the 34^th session of the UNESCO General Conference cited Romulo for expressing the Philippines’ support for UNESCO’s action to protect linguistic diversity.

In his meeting at the sidelines of the 34^th session of the UNESCO General Conference, UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura lauded the Philippines through Secretary Romulo for initiatives that advance greater peace and full development in the global community.

The Philippines’ initiatives in the specialized United Nations agency that promotes international collaboration in education, science, culture and communication include interfaith dialogue, debt-for-development swaps and lifelong learning.

“This recent victory inspires us to do more for our nation and our world.  With the continued support of our partners, we will continue to bring the world closer to our shared objective of a caring and more sharing world,” said Secretary Romulo.

The Executive Board comprises 58 member states divided across six regional electoral groups. Half of the board’s membership is renewed at the biennial session of the General Conference, UNESCO’s highest policymaking body.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus will represent the Philippines in the Executive Board.   Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, Secretary General of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, will serve as alternate.  She was RP representative to the Board from 1986-1987.  

The Philippines has been a member of UNESCO since 1946 and was most recently in the UNESCO Executive Board from 1999-2003.END  

/allan