RP, UN seal MOU formalizing RP’s commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts

MANILA, Nov 1 (PNA) -- The Philippines and the United Nations (UN) sealed  the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) on Contributions to the UN Standby Arrangement System, formalizing the Philippines’ commitment to contribute to the UN’s peacekeeping operations.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon signed in behalf of the world body while Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo signed for the Philippine government.

The signing of the pact was held in Malacañang before the gala dinner tendered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in honor of the visiting UN Secretary-General.

Ban arrived in the country Tuesday night (Oct. 28) to address the opening Wednesday of the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development (SGFMD2) being hosted by the Philippines.

The President witnessed the signing of the accord that formalized the Philippines’ commitment to ”make available specified resources that could be made available for UN Peacekeeping Operations within the agreed response time.”

“The commitment could be in the form of military formation, specialized personnel, services, as well as material and equipment,” the MOU stated.

The resources agreed upon shall remain on standby in the Philippines where necessary operations, including UN-guided trainings, are conducted, the MOU further stated.

The resources will be used exclusively for peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN Security Council, it added.

“We are very proud of the signing of the agreement earlier for a standby arrangement with our peacekeeping forces. We are very proud of our police force which is one of the biggest contingents in the UN Peacekeeping Operations,” the President said in her statement before the gala dinner.

For his part, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon lauded the Philippines for being “one of the strongest supporters of the UN Peacekeeping Forces.”

At present, the Philippines has 621 police and military personnel serving in nine UN mission areas -- Afghanistan, Koltival, Darfur, Georgia, Haiti, Kosovo, Liberia, Sudan and Timor Leste.