GMA invites UN chief to visit RP

JAKARTA, Indonesia (via PLDT) — President Arroyo has invited United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to visit the Philippines.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the invitation was made during Mrs. Arroyo’s meeting with Annan on the sidelines of a summit between Asian and African leaders here.

She also sought UN support for an interfaith dialogue as well as an ASEAN-UN summit, Bunye said.

"The UN Secretary General is definitely interested to visit the Philippines," he said, adding the date would still have to be arranged by the Philippines’ envoy to the UN, Lauro Baja Jr.

During their meeting Friday, Mrs. Arroyo asked for Annan’s help in setting up an interfaith dialogue to be held under the auspices of the Philippines at the UN in September.

"The UN Secretary General was very supportive of the proposed plan (for interfaith dialogue) but the details are yet to be finalized," Bunye said in a press briefing. "The idea (of the interfaith dialogue) has caught the interest of many countries, the follow-up steps have to be taken at the ministerial level."

Bunye said President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana gave a positive response to the proposed interfaith dialogue.

"President Arroyo has been pushing for this in various forums. The idea is now constantly and frequently being talked about… The support is gathering. The President advocated for this since it would be good in lessening world tensions," Bunye said.

Annan also asked for Manila’s support for reforms he is planning at the UN, particularly a move to replace the body’s human rights commission with a more effective panel.

Annan said the current human rights commission had failed to do its job and had put the UN’s credibility in question.

"The gist of the meeting was (a) request for mutual support for the different initiatives that we are undertaking… The President committed support for the UN reforms like (creation of a) peace-building commission, human rights council and enhancement of working methods within the Security Council," Bunye said.

Mrs. Arroyo sought broader interfaith dialogue to engender peace and understanding between the two continents and throughout the world during a speech at the plenary session of the Asia-Africa summit on Friday.

She also urged world leaders to work together to soften the impact of rising world market prices of crude oil, which she said is hurting developing nations’ economies.

"Asia and Africa are cradles of civilization, and our peoples have much to learn from each country’s glorious past," she said, adding that the "new realities" of the Asia-Africa strategic relationship should cover "political solidarity, economic cooperation and socio-cultural relations."

She thanked Asian and African leaders for their help in bringing peace in strife-torn Mindanao.

In the area of economic cooperation, the President said Asian and African nations should work together and help slow the rising prices of crude oil.

She warned of a "full-blown" global economic crisis if oil prices continue their upward trend.

Stabilizing world market prices of crude oil will help developing countries combat poverty, which she said helps spawn terrorism.