Aquino thanks foreign gov’ts for helping PH
IN HIS LAST New Year vin d’honneur, President Aquino yesterday expressed gratitude to governments that supported the security, defense and peace initiatives of the Philippines as well as those that extended humanitarian assistance in times of disaster.
Mr. Aquino thanked countries that supported the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which continued to face rough sailing in Congress following the Mamasapano debacle on Jan. 25 last year.
“We express a special gratitude to those who have helped us along the path to peace: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, the European Union, Libya, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and all those who continue to trust our determination to bring lasting peace to Mindanao. I am thankful that you did not give up on us, and that you remain advocates and champions of peace,” the President said.
In his toast, the President emphasized that unity and cooper- ation among nations transcend “parochial concerns” as exemplified by the agreement forged by countries in the recent 21st Conference of Parties in Paris to address climate change.
The papal nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto,, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, replied by praising the government for its pursuit of peace especially in Mindanao, its efforts to reduce the effects of global warming and climate change and its work to promote justice and common good.
Thanking Europe
Mr. Aquino thanked Ambassador Guy Ledoux, former head of the European Union delegation in the Philippines, saying he was “instrumental” in the Philippines’ achievements in aviation, agriculture, trade and the peace process.
The President expressed gratitude to US Ambassador Philip Goldberg for “forging a strengthened bilateral defense cooperation” between the Philippines and America.
He thanked the Ambassadors of Japan, Toshinao Urabe and his successor, Kazuhide Ishikawa, for the enhanced strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.
The President cited Urabe’s help in arranging his meeting with Murad Ebrahim, chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in Tokyo in 2011. He said the meeting served as “the foundation on which both parties built trust and mutual goodwill—which remain key to the peace process.”
He thanked former Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell and his successor, Amanda Gorely for the “extensive assistance” of Australia to the Philippines in the wake of calamities.
Mr. Aquino described Korean Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim as an “able representative of his country” for helping strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Korea.
The President said he “cannot forget” former and current Indonesian Ambassadors Yohanes Legowo and Johnny Lumintang and Malaysian Ambassador Dato Mohd Zamri Bim Mohd Kassim for their “extraordinary work in strengthening the cooperation and friendships between our people, particularly in the antiterrorism effort and humanitarian relief.”