Guatemalan President Conveys Best Wishes to Philippine Nation, President Duterte through Phl Ambassador

Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega with Guatemalan President Morales (center) and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raúl Morales (far right) during the presentation of the Ambassador’s credentials

09 August 2017 GUATEMALA – As part of the Philippines’ efforts to enhance relations with Central American countries, the Philippine Ambassador to Mexico, Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega, visited Guatemala on July 25 to 27 to meet the Guatemalan officials and present his credentials as non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales.

During his discussion with President Morales, Ambassador de Vega highlighted the independent foreign policy of President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs. He likewise conveyed to President Morales that President Duterte fully understands Guatemala’s problems, citing that they face the same criticism from developed countries which often do not understand the real facts on the ground and the nature of the particular problems facing developing countries.

In response, President Morales expressed his great appreciation for President Duterte’s understanding and support and similarly stated how the Philippines must take action to resolve its problems without interference from outside parties who do not understand the actual situation in the country. He added that Guatemala will never interfere with other countries’ internal affairs because it duly respects the principle of sovereignty and non-interference.

At the end of the discussion, President Morales conveys his best wishes to the people of the Philippines and to President Duterte as well as to the Filipino community in Guatemala.

A day before the presentation of his credentials to the President of Guatemala, Ambassador de Vega presented the open copies of his credentials to Foreign-Vice Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado and subsequently had a meeting with Guatemalan Foreign Ministry’s head of bilateral relations for Africa, Asia and Oceania, Ms. Silvia Elena Arévalo. In his meetings with both officials, Ambassador de Vega discussed political and trade cooperation initiatives which have been under consideration, as well as pending Philippine candidatures to international bodies.

On the sidelines of his official visit in Guatemala, the undersigned also met with the members of the Filipino Community in Guatemala, who indicated their satisfaction with living and working in Guatemala and likewise expressed their support for the Filipino nation and President Duterte.

For more information, visit www.mexicope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/MexicoPE. END

Ambassador Eduardo Jose A. de Vega with Guatemalan Foreign-Vice Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez during the presentation the open copies of the former’s credentials