Pinoy tapped to coordinate UN training of diplomats

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino diplomat was chosen to act as coordinator for an important resolution to allow the United Nations to continue training diplomats, especially those from developing and least developed countries.

Reporting to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide Jr. said Second Secretary Jimmy Blas was given the responsibility to help ensure the adoption of the resolution by Ambassador John W. Ashe, chairman of the Group of 77, and China.

“The focus of the resolution is the sustainability of the core diplomatic training accorded to diplomats of the member-states of the United Nations, in particular those representing developing and least developed countries,” he said.

Davide said as coordinator for the Group of 77 and China, Blas will be the point man for the draft resolution on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to be submitted for adoption by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during its session this month.

“There is a progressive increase in the demand for training and capacity development on multilateral affairs and aggressive fund-raising activities must be adopted to enable UNITAR to carry out its mandate of training and research,” he said. – Pia Lee-Brago