RP assumes UNSC chair today

The Philippines will take center stage in the United Nations as it formally assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) today.

Manila will preside over the UNSC for the entire month of September, the second time in its two-year term as an elected member that it has overseen the work of the most powerful body in the United Nations.

Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Lauro Baja Jr. said the Philippines will assume the UNSC leadership at a crucial time when the 191 member-countries are discussing reforms in the organization with more than 170 heads of states attending, including President Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo and the other heads of states and governments confirmed their attendance for the High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly.

"In the Security Council we are planning a summit to discuss threats to international peace and security with no less than President Arroyo presiding," Baja said.

Baja added the meeting of leaders of the 15 member-countries of the UNSC, the third since 1992, could be the highlight of the latest Philippine membership in the Council.

"President Arroyo will be the first president of the Philippines to preside over a summit meeting of the Security Council and the first woman head of state to do so," Baja said.

He stressed Mrs. Arroyo will also have the distinction of being the first Asian leader to chair the powerful UNSC summit.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo is also scheduled to preside over a thematic debate in the UNSC on "The Role of Civil Society in Conflict Prevention and the Pacific Settlement of Dispute."

"We established a precedent last year when, for the first time, civil society was given the opportunity to participate in formal meetings of the Security Council," Baja said.

"We have maintained a constructive relationship with non-government organizations not only in the Council but also in the plenary and committee meetings of the General Assembly," he added.

Manila will take over the UNSC presidency from Japan and will oversee the program of work of the Security Council for the entire month of September.

The Philippines was elected in October 2003 to a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the term 2004-2005 with an overwhelming vote of 179 out of 181 UN members present and voting. It will vacate its elected seat on Dec. 31.

The Philippines was elected for the fourth time as member of the Security Council.

A charter member of the UN, Manila was an active non-permanent member of the Security Council in 1957-1958, 1963-1964 and 1980-1981.

"Our vision and our independent posture define our role in the Security Council and we are proud that our participation in the Council has earned respect for the Philippines in the United Nations," Baja said.

According to Baja, the Philippines would build on its successful presidency in June last year when it led the Security Council in, among other things, the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1546 in endorsing the interim government of Iraq and its assumption of full sovereignty over the country.

Manila also has the distinction of serving on several of its subsidiary bodies with Baja chairing the important 751 Sanctions Committee on Somalia and the 1566 Working Group on Terrorism.

Baja is also the vice chairman of the 1540 Committee Against Transfer of Weapons of Mass Destruction to Non-State Actors (Terrorists and Terrorist Organizations), the Sanctions Committees on Liberia, on Sudan and on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Philippines also hopes to include the steady increase in oil prices in discussions held during the 60th UN General Assembly in New York.

Diplomatic sources said Baja has taken the initiative to bring up the rising oil prices in the world market and its inclusion in the significant and urgent issues in the agenda during the world leaders’ meeting.

Romulo is certain that the seemingly unstoppable fuel price increase will be included in the UN agenda.

Romulo said the Philippines will have an opportunity to express its concerns over the oil prices and energy crisis.

Manila is expected to discuss before the UN the issues confronting developing countries adversely affected by the increase in oil prices.

"In fact, we keep on discussing that and obviously there’s a need for a specific agenda but it’ll be in the UN agenda and we (the Philippines) will pick it up there," Romulo said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have been discussing "oil diplomacy" with other countries to increase the oil supply.

Romulo added the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should make representations with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for alternative fuel sources or steady oil supply.

On Saturday, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during an interview with Vice President Noli de Castro on his weekly radio program "Para Sa’yo … Bayan" that Mrs. Arroyo will seek Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continue supplying oil to the Philippines at a "special" price when she visits the world’s largest oil exporting country.

Lotilla said the President will visit Riyadh for two days beginning Sept. 10 before proceeding to New York on Sept. 12 to attend the UN General Assembly.

He expressed optimism Mrs. Arroyo’s meetings with Saudi officials will have a positive outcome.

The Philippines has also voted in favor of the UNSC resolution against terrorism in Iraq condemning the recent wave of "horrific" terror attacks on civilians and foreign diplomats.

Manila called on member states to cooperate in stanching the flow of terrorists in and out of the strife-torn country and preventing disruption of the political process.

Baja said the Philippines was among the nations that supported Resolution 1618 of August 2005 which condemned the terrorist attacks in Iraq and other terror attacks that pose a threat to global peace and security.

With the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1618, the Security Council also strongly urged member states to prevent trafficking in arms and the financing of terrorists, as it emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation of countries in the region for that purpose.

The UNSC had called on international support for the new government of Iraq and measures to protect the diplomatic community, UN staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in the war-torn country.

The UNSC had also expressed deep concern over the attacks on foreign diplomats.