RP backs creation of Palestinian state

The Philippines supports the United Nations’ call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said yesterday President Arroyo and the Cabinet have ordered the Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN to express the country’s stand that Israeli troops must pull out from the headquarters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on the West Bank.

"The Philippines is one with the position of the UN that Palestine should have its own state," he said. "Our ambassador to the UN has stated our position on this matter."

Perez said Mrs. Arroyo has instructed Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who is also foreign affairs secretary, to clearly express to the UN the Philippine stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The position of the Philippines, through the DFA, is we align ourselves with Palestine," he said. "We want the Israel military to get out from their occupied territories."

However, Perez said he does not know if Mrs. Arroyo was able to discuss the matter with the Israeli ambassador during the cocktail reception for the diplomatic corps during her 55th birthday at Malacañang Friday night.

Perez said the Israel-Palestinian conflict has caused oil prices to shoot up during the past few days and that an oil embargo might affect the oil supply of the Philippines.

"So in this Israel-Palestinian conflict, we really should now choose who to support," he said. "But it’s our belief that the greater number of more moderates among the Arab nations won’t follow the (oil embargo) because they really need their oil revenues."

Perez said some unscrupulous oil traders have capitalized on the threats of an oil embargo by Iraq and Iran to justify the raising of the prices of oil.

"But even if Iraq goes towards that direction of oil embargo, we can really replace this with our buying oil from other countries," he said. "even if they do the (oil embargo), the world economy is still weak, especially in America, so whatever their plan is, it will not fly."

The Dubai benchmark on which the Philippines based its oil price monitoring, has eased down significantly in the last two days, falling to $25.50 per barrel, he added. — Marichu Villanueva