Noy thanks international community for Philippine achievements

MANILA, Philippines - For the country’s many achievements, including the successful visit of Pope Francis and the brighter peace prospects in Mindanao, there is the international community to thank for its assistance and contributions, President Aquino told the diplomatic corps yesterday in his final New Year vin d’ honneur at Malacañang.

In his message, Aquino said forging stronger bilateral ties would require more than words and wishful thinking, but firm and sincere commitment and action.

Aquino said he saw in many of the diplomats their deep desire to help Filipinos and, by extension, their own people. “You have done your countries proud,” Aquino said.

“To the friends of the Filipino people, may each success we share be the building blocks to help us reach far greater heights that we may not even be able to imagine today; to the unity that binds all of us today – a unity that has allowed us to work under the guidance of the Almighty, towards promoting inclusive growth, safety and stability across our borders,” Aquino said as he offered a toast.

Aquino said the dean of the diplomatic corps, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, worked closely with the Philippines not only in ensuring the success of last year’s papal visit but also in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

Aquino also thanked Ambassador Guy Ledoux, former head of the European Union delegation, for being instrumental in the country’s achievements in aviation, agriculture, trade and even in the peace process.

He also cited US Ambassador Philip Goldberg for helping strengthen bilateral defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US.

“Former Japanese ambassador Toshinao Urabe and his successor, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, have worked to enhance our countries’ strategic partnership, for instance, through facilitating significant humanitarian assistance and official development assistance, as well as the successful state visits to both nations,” Aquino said.

Japan meets with MILF

The President noted Urabe’s help in arranging the initial meeting with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Tokyo.

“We also thank former Australian ambassador Bill Tweddell and his successor Amanda Gorely, for the extensive assistance they have helped to facilitate, almost immediately, in the wake of calamities,” Aquino said.

“There is also Korean Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim, who has been an able representative of his country: helping to strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Korea, and also to coordinate projects we undertook for our countrymen like the construction of schools in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan,” Aquino said. Haiyan was the international codename of Super Typhoon Yolanda which devastated many parts of the Visayas in 2013.

The President said he would never forget former and current Indonesian ambassadors Yohanes Legowo and Johnny Lumintang; as well as Malaysian envoy Dato Mohd Zamri Bim Mohd Kassim for their extraordinary work in strengthening cooperation and friendship with the Philippines.