By: InterAksyon.com
October 3, 2015 9:47 AM

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario speaks at the 70th UN General Assembly. (DFA photo)

MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario urged the United Nations and the international community to continue supporting efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“With the growing support from the international community in peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, including through arbitration, the Philippines is hopeful that the final outcome of the arbitration process would pave the way for a settlement of maritime disputes,” Del Rosario told a meeting between foreign affairs chief of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the world body’s 70th General Assembly in New York, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Also at the meeting was 70th UN General Assembly President Mogen Lykketoft.

Del Rosario also addressed the UN General Assembly, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the rule of law and for sustainable development through key priority areas in the United Nations, including climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation, women, peace and security, migration and human trafficking, peacekeeping, and UN reform.

At the UN-ASEAN meeting, Del Rosario reiterated the Philippines’ appeal to support “the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and the expeditious conclusion of a binding Code of Conduct” among nations laying claim to territories within the strategic body of water.

In response, Ban urged all parties involved in the South China Sea “to increase transparency and predictability of their actions, open lines of communication, and avoid incendiary rhetoric,” and to “exercise utmost restraint and to resolve their disputes in a peaceful manner.”

The UN chief noted that the meeting took place at a “critical time in world history,” with the UN adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ASEAN poised to introduce its Community Vision 2025, agendas he said “are complementary and share common goals.”

He urged the regional bloc to “have a stronger ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In his speech at the General Assembly, Del Rosario noted that, “with all the successes and challenges, praises and pitfalls, the United Nations has not only demonstrated its resilience, but has also affirmed continuing relevance against the backdrop of complex global issues and emerging regional threats to peace and security.”

He said the assembly’s theme, “The United Nations at 70: The Road Ahead for Peace, Security and Human Rights,” was also at the core of President Benigno Aquino III’s “Social Contract with the Filipino People,” which includes poverty reduction and social inclusion; environment sustainability, climate change and disaster risk management; accountable, responsive and participatory governance; a fair and stable order based on the rule of law; and peace and security.

He also urged the international community to “adopt a new legally-binding climate agreement that is universal and equitable, one that ensures a bright and low-carbon future for the next generation; and one that addresses the needs of vulnerable states and sectors particularly the poor, women, migrants and indigenous peoples.”

At the same time, he held out hopes that the country’s territorial tiff with China, which he called “a long-time partner and neighbor,” over the South China Sea “will finally see actions that are consistent with Beijing’s declarations so that genuine efforts to lower tensions in the South China Sea can succeed and the peaceful settlement of disputes can be obtained.”

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry, at a separate meeting between the ASEAN foreign affairs heads, said the future of his country and the regional bloc “are intertwined” as he pledged support “to sustain the prosperity of the region.”

He also reiterated the US’ commitment not to “accept restrictions on freedom of navigation and overflight or on other lawful uses” of the South China Sea.

“It doesn’t matter if the vessel is a large warship or a tiny little fishing boat. The principle must be very clear -- the rights of all nations must be respected,” Kerry said.

PDF Attachment: PISU Note: Article online also contains an embedded PDF of the SFA's speech as delivered.