CLARK FREEPORT – Arriving the previous night from Libya, Pres. Arroyo justified here her latest foreign travel as part of the government’s effort to preserve peace in Mindanao.
“I just arrived from Libya which is a key ally that strengthens our paradigm for peace in Mindanao. Libya has always stood by us,” the President said before mayors of the Mindanao cluster under the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
Noting that “Libya has significantly helped in bringing peace and hope in Mindanao”, the President also noted that because Libyan president Maummar Qadaffi “is a leader in the entire Africa where there are many Muslim countries”, he would also be “of great help in our forming deeper relations with countries including Brunei and Japan which together with Libya comprise our international monitoring team on ceasefire.”
The President also reported that she met with officials of the Qadaffi Foundation which plans to invest in Mindanao to help in the government’s poverty alleviation efforts. (See separate story).
Saying that “Libya has always stood by us,” the President recalled that “during our first terrorist crisis in 2002 in Dos Palmas, I talked to Pres. Qadaffi and he asked what help we wanted.” She was referring to the kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf bandits of mostly foreign tourists at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan.
The President said she told Qaddafi that she wanted to fight the terrorists amid her government’s no ransom policy on such kidnapping .
“He said he would help and he has been helping since then,” Mrs. Arroyo noted.
The President flew to Libya last Aug. 31 to attend the African Union Summit. The 53-member African Union is the premier institution and principal organization for the promotion of accelerated socio-economic integration of the African continent. Libya is the chair of the organization.
The President’s visit also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution to which she was invited by Qadaffi.
“I just arrived from Libya which is a key ally that strengthens our paradigm for peace in Mindanao. Libya has always stood by us,” the President said before mayors of the Mindanao cluster under the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).
Noting that “Libya has significantly helped in bringing peace and hope in Mindanao”, the President also noted that because Libyan president Maummar Qadaffi “is a leader in the entire Africa where there are many Muslim countries”, he would also be “of great help in our forming deeper relations with countries including Brunei and Japan which together with Libya comprise our international monitoring team on ceasefire.”
The President also reported that she met with officials of the Qadaffi Foundation which plans to invest in Mindanao to help in the government’s poverty alleviation efforts. (See separate story).
Saying that “Libya has always stood by us,” the President recalled that “during our first terrorist crisis in 2002 in Dos Palmas, I talked to Pres. Qadaffi and he asked what help we wanted.” She was referring to the kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf bandits of mostly foreign tourists at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan.
The President said she told Qaddafi that she wanted to fight the terrorists amid her government’s no ransom policy on such kidnapping .
“He said he would help and he has been helping since then,” Mrs. Arroyo noted.
The President flew to Libya last Aug. 31 to attend the African Union Summit. The 53-member African Union is the premier institution and principal organization for the promotion of accelerated socio-economic integration of the African continent. Libya is the chair of the organization.
The President’s visit also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Revolution to which she was invited by Qadaffi.
