PIA Dispatch - Saturday, November 15, 2008

Unanimous adoption of RP-initiated interfaith resolution caps two-day high level meeting of UN General Assembly

NEW YORK—The United Nations General Assembly capped its two-day meeting on interfaith cooperation for peace on Thursday (13 November) with the unanimous adoption of a Philippine-initiated resolution calling on member-states to take steps to further promote inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and understanding.

In its report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations said the resolution entitled "Promotion of Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace," tabled by the Philippines and Pakistan, was adopted by the General Assembly at the end of its plenary meeting with high level participation on Thursday evening.

The resolution was personally introduced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the opening on Wednesday of the plenary meeting on Agenda Item 45: A Culture of Peace, which was also participated in by world leaders led by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan, United States President George Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that in addition to the Philippines and Pakistan, 76 other member-states, including China, Japan and Russia, co-sponsored the resolution, up from the 56 Member-States that co-sponsored the resolution last year and the 24 that co-sponsored the original resolution in 2004.

"Although it is the fifth resolution tabled by the Philippines and adopted by consensus by the General Assembly since 2004, the 2008 resolution is specially significant because it formally took note for the first time of the four major interfaith initiatives of the Philippines, outside the ambit of the United Nations," Ambassador Davide said.

These are the Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace at the international level and the Asia-Europe Interfaith Dialogue Forum and the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Harmony at the regional level.

"The resolution planted the seed for the eventual declaration of a United Nations Decade on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace from 2011 to 2020," Ambassador Davide said. "It also encouraged Member States to consider the idea of an enhanced process of dialogue among world religions," he added.

Ambassador Leslie Gatan, Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative, said these new elements were obtained after hard-fought negotiations steered by diplomats at the Philippine Mission.

"The Philippine interfaith initiative used to be sponsored only by developing countries," Ambassador Gatan pointed out. "After five years, other countries such as China, Japan and Russia have joined the group of supporters."

The Philippines first drew the attention of the United Nations on issues concerning religious in the secular affairs of the world body when it introduced the resolution in 2004.

The resolution, which affirms that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace, lauded the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as integral to building tolerant societies and durable peace.

It also reaffirmed the solemn commitment of the United Nations to promote universal respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The resolution also encouraged the promotion of dialogue among media from all cultures and called on Member-States to consider initiatives that identify practical actions in all levels of society for promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and understanding.

The resolution mandates preparations for the 2010 International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures with interfaith dialogue at its core, under the leadership of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The co-sponsors of this year's resolution are Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,

Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

China, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Grenada, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Macedonia, Peru, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Paraguay, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia.


PGMA's trip to MILF/NPA stronghold in Lanao del Norte lauded

ILIGAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s trip to Nunungan, Lanao Del Norte is a symbolic initiative of the national government to unite the Filipino people.

Lanao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo made this assessment a day after the Chief Executive visited Nunungan yesterday, a well-known stronghold of both members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People’s Army (NPA).

“It is the pride of our people that the President of the republic visited Nunungan and each of the 22 other municipalities of Lanao del Norte. Her visit is a symbolic of her ardent desire to unite the Filipino nation,” Dimaporo said in a text message this morning in reply to question about his view on the visit of the President in Nunungan.

Fresh from her participation in the interfaith dialogue in the United Nations, the President made her first visit to a remote and mountainous municipality of Nunungan Friday afternoon despite of the bad weather brought about by a tropical depression “Tonyo.”

Dimaporo said the trip of the President to Nunungan is also a clear manifestation of her desire to reach out for the poor and bring development to rural areas.

Dimaporo lauded the President for being the only elected President who visited Nunungan.

He added that even during election campaigns in the past, no candidates for senator and vice president ever visited Nunungan.

Located at 2,000 feet above sea level, Nunungan is the transit point and favorite rest.


PGMA sees no major changes in US policies on RP under Obama presidency

ILIGAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed confidence that the close ties between the Philippines and the United States will remain as strong as ever.

Saying that she looks forward to working with US President-elect Barack Obama, President Macapagal-Arroyo told Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)-Iligan at the Macaraeg-Macapagal ancestral house in Timoga town here that she sees no major changes in US policies on the Philippines.

In the exclusive interview in her childhood home, the President cited the deep and strong alliance between the two countries since World War II; and the conversation that she had with the American leader before the US presidential election.

“As a result of that conversation and other public statements that he has made about US-Philippine relations, I remain very confident that the relationship between the two nations will move forward, strong as ever,” she said.

The President also revealed that in a letter sent to her by Obama last June, the American leader acknowledged the history of alliance between the two countries during World War II and the Gulf War, and in the fight against fascism and terrorism.

“The Philippines remains a steadfast ally of the US,” she said as she underscored that the ties between the Philippine and American peoples are deeply rooted in shared history and values, as well as in a shared commitment to global peace and security.

Apart from their long-standing relationship, the Philippines and the US share common interests in climate change, food security and poverty reduction, the President said.

“That’s our (RP and US) common interest that we could work together,” she added.

At present, the United States government is supporting the ongoing Mindanao peace process through USAID programs designed to make Mindanao “a welcoming place for development and investment.”

The US is also supporting the Philippine Defense Reform Program which is designed to enhance, the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and the government’s anti-corruption efforts and fiscal reforms through the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Country Program.
destination of the MILF, particularly the group of Kumander Bravo, who were responsible for the atrocities and displacement of civilians in Kauswagan, Lanao Del Norte, and some town of North Cotabato and Camiguin provinces.

Although, Nunungan is only 16 kilometers from neighboring Sapad town, the travel time between the two towns is two-hours, due to the very bad road condition.



ASEAN Charter enters into force next month

New York, 14 November 2008 - Thailand delivered the tenth and final instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter when Ambassador Don Pramudwinai, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations, deposited the document with Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the Thai Mission here on early Friday, 14 November.

“This is certainly an occasion to celebrate for the 570 million people of ASEAN,” said a beaming Secretary-General, upon receiving the Thai document.

"This means that when the ASEAN Leaders gather at their annual Summit in mid December, the ASEAN Charter will have come into force," Dr Surin told reporters.

Two days earlier, on 12 November, Philippines deposited its instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter and a day later on 13 November, Indonesia deposited its instrument of ratification.

The ASEAN Leaders signed the ASEAN Charter last November at the 13th ASEAN Summit. They urged their member states to fully ratify it by the end of 2008. All member states have now responded to their call.

When they meet again in Chiang Mai , Thailand for their 14th ASEAN Summit on 15-18 December, they will celebrate not only the full ratification of the ASEAN Charter but also the entering into force of the new basic law of ASEAN. It will be a rules-based and people-oriented organisation with its own legal personality.