The ambassadors of Japan Ryuichiro Yamazaki; Peter Sutherland, of Canada; Kristie Kenney, of the United States, Peter Beckingham, of the United Kingdom; Tony Hely, of Australia; and David Pine, of New Zealand, visited the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga and Basilan island on Monday 13 Nov 2006 and pledged support to the peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is fighting for a separate Islamic state in the strife-torn region. The 6 countries are staunch allies of the Philippines in the fight against homegrown terrorism.(Mindanao Examiner)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 13 Nov) - Six ambassadors have pledged support to the Philippine peace efforts in Mindanao and renewed commitments to help develop the troubled island, south of Manila.
The ambassadors -- Ryuichiro Yamazaki, of Japan; Peter Sutherland, of Canada; Kristie Kenney, of the United States, Peter Beckingham, of the United Kingdom; Tony Hely, of Australia; and David Pine, of New Zealand arrived here together and met with senior military commanders and government officials.
"These six countries all support myriad development projects in Mindanao, focusing on education and job skills training, small business development, local governance, improved healthcare, agricultural sustainability, poverty alleviation, peace building and counter-terrorism," a joint statement released by the US Embassy said.
The ambassadors met with Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, commander of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command and were briefed about the security situation in Mindanao.
They later met with the local mayor Celso Lobregat, who also briefed them about the city's tourism and investment program, before proceeding to the Islamic Institute of the Philippines in the Muslim enclave of Rio Hondo where they mingled with students and teachers.
Kenney also led the turnover ceremony of computers and Internet connections to the school under the program called Computer Literacy and Internet Connection or CLIC.Sutherland said Canada is supporting the peace process and development efforts in Mindanao.
"Our objective in visiting Zamboanga and Basilan is to demonstrate our support to the peace process and development in Mindanao," he said. "We have a collective interest in Mindanao to bring peace and development."
And Japan has also committed to support the peace talks, saying, it already sent a representative to Mindanao to join an international group of cease-fire observers.
"We are also supporting the peace process. We hope to help in the development of Mindanao," said Yamazaki in Zamboanga City.
The group also flew by helicopters to Lamitan town in Basilan island to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community learning center donated by Australia under the so-called Basic Assistance for Mindanao program.
The 6 countries are staunch allies of the Philippines have provided funds to help the government fight homegrown terrorism. Manila is currently negotiating peace with the MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group. (Mindanao Examiner)
1 comment:
how nice these ambassadors are
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