The Americas Happenings
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |  |  |  |
PRESS RELEASE
NYPM-054-06
20 DECEMBER 2006
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RP RESOLUTION
ON INTERFAITH COOPERATION FOR PEACE
NEW YORK—The United Nations General Assembly adopted today, December 20, the resolution which
the Philippines initiated with Pakistan, entitled "Promotion of Inter-religious Dialogue, Understanding
and Cooperation for Peace."
The Philippine Mission to the United Nations said the resolution, which was co-sponsored by 46 other
countries representing all regional groups and all major religions, was adopted by consensus in a
plenary meeting under its agenda item "Culture of Peace."
Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said the
resolution contains three major provisions, the most important of which is the designation of a focal
point in the United Nations Secretariat to ensure the systematic and overall coordination and coherence
of all inter-religious, intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation efforts.
Aside from the designation of a focal point in the Secretariat, Ambassador Baja said the resolution also
calls for the convening of a high-level dialogue on the subject next year and the declaration of one of the
coming years as the Year of Dialogue Among Religions and Cultures."
A brainchild of House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., Interfaith Cooperation for Peace is one of the major
initiatives of the Philippines in the United Nations. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo have given their full support to the Philippine Mission to the UN in New
York in its efforts to promote awareness in the United Nations and among delegations and members of
civil society of the value of cooperation among religions, cultures and civilizations to enhance peace.
Ambassador Baja said the resolution also encourages the promotion of dialogue among media from
all cultures and civilizations and emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression. "It
also reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may
therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but theses shall only be such as are provided by law and
necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public
order, or of public health or morals," Ambassador Baja said.
"The adoption of the resolution completes the fulfillment of major objectives and initiatives which the
Philippine Mission has set as its goals for 2006. "We spent delicate hours to find ways to
accommodate in the text of the resolution as many divergent views to achieve consensus but we did it,"
Ambassador Baja said as he cited the important role Ambassador Leslie Gatan and Second Secretary
Emma Sarne played in the drafting of the resolution. END
--
Elmer G. Cato
Second Secretary
Philippine Mission to the United Nations
556 Fifth Avenue, New York 10036
Telephone No. 212.764.1300 Extension 38
