THE ROAD TO RECONCILIATION

Hon. DR. ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines

High Level Political Dialogue of the Group of Friends:

“Reinforcing Our Commitment to Our Alliance”

First Alliance of Civilizations Forum

3:30-5:30 pm, Tuesday, 15 January 2008

Madrid Municipal Convention Center, Madrid

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies:

Eyes Fixed on the Far Horizon

The Philippines is honored to be counted among the Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, and congratulates Spain and Turkey for bringing us together, here, at the First Forum of the Alliance. 

We welcome the opportunity to share our experience in bridging differences between nations and cultures, and in developing partnerships in promoting global cross-cultural understanding.  We are also eager to hear the experience of others

These are among the great challenges of our time, and we must remain resolute. 

When the world was faced with different, but equally great challenges five decades ago, Dag Hammarskjold said:  “only he who keeps his eyes fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.”

A Firm Hand and an Open Heart and Open Mind

The Philippines is a pluralistic society of over 85 million people belonging to various ethnic and religious groups. 

Catholicism is embraced by a majority of Filipinos.  Islam has been practiced for centuries by a significant section of our society, particularly in the South.  Indigenous beliefs continue to be held deeply by our local cultures.

Extremists have sought to exploit these religious differences in my country.  But they are increasingly failing in their unholy quest.

Today the Philippines has made steady progress in uprooting extremism, curtailing conflict and strife and building strong bridges of tolerance and understanding.

To do this we have used an approach that has “hard” and “soft” components, an approach that requires both a firm hand and an open mind and heart.

The “hard” components are aimed at neutralizing the armed capabilities of extremists, decimating their leadership, disintegrating their organizational networks, stopping their finances, and cutting their links to foreign support.  

The “soft” components focus on separating the extremists from the rest of the population, addressing the humanitarian and development needs of the people, reducing the ideological attractiveness of the terrorists, promoting dialogue and other forms of consultation to strengthen trust, understanding and confidence, and negotiating peace.

A Key Element

A key element in the success of this dual approach has been interfaith dialogue, an integral part of the Philippines’ Medium Term Development Plan as an official framework for government reconciliation programs.

The Philippines has a rich network of interfaith groups and organizations such as the Interfaith Commission, the Bishops-Ulama Council and the Interfaith Center for a Culture of Non-Violence, among others.

Together with the Philippine Government, these groups have been instrumental in fostering a culture of peace, cooperation and development especially in the Southern Philippines.

I would like to share with you our initiatives and have circulated a short paper on this.

Global Engagement

Our national and regional experience in building better understanding, greater tolerance and meaningful peace through interfaith dialogue inspired us to share this with the world.

We have promoted interfaith dialogue in regional and global fora, engaging states, international organizations, non-government organizations and religious groups.

Three years after it was launched, the Philippine Interfaith Initiative in the United Nations continues to gain ground with more member-states giving their full support to the General Assembly resolution calling for the promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue.

In December 2007, 58 countries co-sponsored the Philippine resolution "Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace” which was adopted by consensus by the 62nd General Assembly.  This is the fourth resolution adopted without a vote by the General Assembly since the Philippines first introduced the interfaith resolution in 2004.

In 2009, the Philippines will host in the city of Davao in Mindanao the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace.

The Road to Reconciliation

My nation’s search for lasting peace and greater understanding between peoples of different faiths and cultures has been greatly aided by our partnerships with other countries.

With the opening of hearts and minds to the presumption of sincerity and goodwill of those whose faith and ethnicity differ from ours, we continue to draw peoples closer in respect.

We are working closely with countries of the West, like the European Union and its members, the United States, Australia and New Zealand on one hand, and with the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its member countries, particularly the ASEAN members of the OIC: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, on the other.

What we have in Mindanao are successful partnerships between historically diverse forces facing a common goal – to fight extremism by promoting better understanding between faiths and cultures.

Reflecting on the success of this unique alliance, I believe that the road to reconciliation between the West and Islam might perhaps run through Southeast Asia. 

The following factors in Southeast Asia reinforce this belief:

·        The Philippines is a majority Christian Country, but largely at peace with its Muslim minority.  We have completed a peace process with one group of secessionists in Mindanao and we are working hard to conclude another with the remaining group.

·        Predominantly Christian Philippines and predominantly Muslim Indonesia are working closely with partners Australia and New Zealand in further broadening the frontiers of interfaith and cross-cultural appreciation. 

With our partners, we laid the groundwork for greater understanding and tolerance between peoples in the Asia-Pacific region with the regional dialogue on interfaith cooperation in Jakarta.  In Cebu, we broadened stakeholder interest and participation in interfaith dialogue as an instrument of peace.  And in Waitangi, we were drawn together again in our sincere desire to bridge peoples of various faiths through concrete actions and projects. 

Our unyielding commitment is to sustain our collective efforts and to move forward on this road to greater peace and understanding between our nations and peoples.

·        Malaysia is the current chair of the OIC and one of its most influential leaders.  It is a successful multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

Malaysia, as head of the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, is helping pave the way for more peoples to take the road of peace and understanding through their involvement in interfaith activities in the Southern Philippines.

·        Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims and is a strong voice for moderation and democracy.

·        Brunei Darussalam, one of the wealthiest members of the OIC, is also one of the strongest supporters of its projects and activities.

·        ASEAN as a whole is building a new regional community.  As agreed to by our Leaders at their Summit in the Philippine island of Cebu last year, it will be a “caring and sharing community”.

·        ASEAN’s new Secretary General is himself a Muslim.  Though we have had Muslim Secretary-Generals before, what makes Surin Pitsuwan unique, is that he is the first to come from a non-Muslim majority country.  He too believes that Southeast Asia can play a key role in bridging the differences between the West and Islam.

I am convinced that the widest part of this road to reconciliation passes through Southeast Asia and Mindanao in the Philippines.

It is a road that has been cleared of the debris of extremists and terrorists, built resolutely by the caring and committed hands of Filipinos and aided by our partners in the region and beyond. 

It is a road that has been paved with the concrete results of our interfaith dialogue initiatives. 

Let Us Journey Together

Under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines spearheads an interfaith movement that seeks to help untangle conflicts and distrust feeding on the distortion of religion and bridge unnecessary religious divides.

Wherever this road may pass, the Philippines, together with the other supporters of our interfaith dialogue initiatives, is committed to strengthen this road side-by-side with the Alliance of Civilizations.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on the horizon and journey on this road together.

Thank you. END