13 October 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro accompanied by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Andre Peter C. Estanislao, visited Strasbourg from October 08 to 09 to promote Philippine national interests in the region as well as to explore potential Philippine partnerships and areas of cooperation especially in trade and investment and human rights advocacy. Strasbourg, approximately 490 kilometers east of Paris, is home to various European political centers of power such as the European Parliament.

 Ambassador Lazaro met with local government officials based in Strasbourg. The Ambassador was first received by Mr. Stéphane Fratacci, the Prefect of Alsace and Bas-Rhin Region at the Prefecture based in Strasbourg and then by Ms. Nawil Rafik-Elmrini, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg in-charge of International and European Relations at the Strasbourg City Hall. Though not as many as the Filipinos living in the south of France or in Paris, there are still a considerable number of Filipinos who live in the eastern region of France. In the discussions with the Prefect and the Deputy Mayor, Ambassador Lazaro emphasized that the Embassy is committed to ensure that that the rights and welfare of Filipinos are protected and upheld.

 Ambassador Lazaro also met with various officials to sustain momentum in the Embassy’s intensified efforts in promoting political and economic diplomacy. In her meeting with M. Michel De Salvia, Vice President of the International Institute for Human Rights, the Ambassador emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to ensuring that human rights in the Philippines are protected. Ambassador Lazaro also met with Ms. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Mr. Zoltan Taubner, Director for External Relations. Ambassador Lazaro re-emphasized in this meeting the Philippines unfaltering commitment to its international obligations in upholding human rights, migration, rule of law, free elections, and gender equality.

 To discuss matters on economy, industry and areas for cooperation on economic diplomacy, Ambassador Lazaro met with Mr. Bernard Strinweiss, President of the Alsace Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In this meeting, Ambassador Lazaro and Mr. Strinweiss welcomed the idea of a reciprocal business delegation to Alsace and to the Philippines.

 Aside from these officials, Ambassador Lazaro also met with Ambassador Shinsuke Shimizu, Japanese envoy to the Council of Europe and concurrent Consul General of Japan to Strasbourg, and formerly assigned to the Japanese Embassy in Manila as Minister-Counsellor, to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the Philippines and its ally Japan in the Alsace region. END