14 July 2013 – The safety and security of Filipino peacekeepers in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights topped Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario’s agenda in his meeting with key United Nations (UN) officials on July 12 at the UN Headquarters in New York.  

Meeting with Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous and other key UN officials, Secretary del Rosario emphasized the conditionalities set by the Philippine Government for its continued engagement in UNDOF.  Secretary del Rosario, however, informed Under-Secretary Ladsous that Philippine troops would in the meantime remain in UNDOF until August 11.  

Secretary del Rosario identified the following conditionalities:

·         The UN is able to deploy UNDOF’s mandated full troop strength of 1,250 by October 2013;

·         The necessary equipment for the protection and defense of Filipino troops and other UNDOF are procured by October 2013;

·         The Philippines be allowed to deploy troops using a six (6) month rotation.

Under-Secretary General Ladsous, for his part, commended the Philippines’ contribution to UN peacekeeping operations and particularly its engagement with UNDOF saying that UNDOF contributes to security and stability in the Middle East region.

Under-Secretary Ladsous conveyed understanding of the Philippines’ position and agreed that providing more robust self-defense capabilities for UNDOF personnel would be vital to the success of the Mission. He said that the UN will be working with all stakeholders to provide what is needed, consistent with the Disengagement Agreement and its protocols. END