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Philippines to hold peace and reconciliation symposium, Peace Process Secretary Deles to keynote
Photo: Facebook Page of Asean Foundation
The Philippines will host the first Symposium of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) from April 7 to 8 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati, Philippines.
The symposium comes a few days after the historic signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It is meant to help give the AIPR Governing Council an overview of the peace and reconciliation initiatives being undertaken in the region and throughout the world, and to allow them to network with various think tanks and organizations involved in peace and reconciliation activities.
Renowned experts have been invited as speakers for the symposium. Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Philippine Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the main architect of the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement, will be the keynote speaker at the Symposium. Secretary Deles is also the Philippine representative to the AIPR Advisory Board, the members of which will also attend the symposium. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Policy Evan P. Garcia will deliver the opening remarks during the event. Undersecretary Garcia is expected to highlight the Philippines’ advocacy for peaceful settlement of disputes in his speech.
The symposium is co-sponsored by the ASEAN Foundation and the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund (JASF), while the Philippines, through the DFA, will provide secretariat, logistical support and other administrative arrangements.
The AIPR was created based on the ASEAN Leaders’ Joint Statement on the Establishment of the AIPR on 8 May 2011. Under the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the AIPR, which was finalized during the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 2012, the Institute was established to serve as the ASEAN institution for researching activities on peace, conflict management and conflict resolution.
The Governing Council oversees the overall functions and policy direction of the AIPR. It consists of senior representatives from all 10 ASEAN Member States, the Secretary General of the ASEAN Secretariat, and an Executive Director to be appointed by the members. The Governing Council held its inaugural meeting in Jakarta on 10 December 2013
