1 October 2014 - At the ASEAN-UN Ministerial Meeting on 26 September 2014 and at the General Debate of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly held on 29 September 2014, both held in New York, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario sought support for the Philippine Triple Action Plan (TAP) on the South China Sea, raised concerns by threats posed by foreign terrorist groups like ISIS and called for a review of the rules of engagement for UN peacekeepers to ensure their safety and security.

In advocating for regional and global security, Secretary Del Rosario reiterated need for the rule of law in Southeast Asia. Referring to the Philippine Memorial submitted to the Arbitral Tribunal under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Secretary stressed that it will clarify the maritime entitlements for all parties, serve as the basis for the enduring solution to the maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and in so doing, reaffirm the primacy of the rule of law.

He also reiterated Philippine support for UN Security Council Resolution 2617 (2014) to suppress foreign terrorist groups, like ISIS, which pose a threat to international peace and security.

The review of the rules of engagement for UN peacekeepers would update the mandate and parameters of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Golan Heights, to make these more responsive to current security challenges. END