Cayetano to address UN General Assembly

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano will address a session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Saturday to deliver President Rodrigo Duterte’s message for the international community to unite against terrorism, nuclear weapons and other common threats.

Cayetano is representing the President in the annual event that brings together leaders from all over the world.

Philippine Permanent Representative Teodoro Locsin, Jr. said Cayetano’s statement is expected to tackle the need to deal the threats posed by the Islamic State and the continuing missile test launches and detonations by North Korea.

The Philippines has reiterated its call for North Korea to stop its provocations and head back to the negotiating table after it fired missiles towards Japan last week.

Locsin said Cayetano will also share with other UN member-states the efforts being undertaken by the Philippine government to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipino migrant workers as well as the ongoing campaign against criminality and illegal drugs.

In addition to the various events at UN Headquarters, the DFA chief will have bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Belgium, Colombia, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Norway, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and the Vatican.

Cayetano will also attend the 4th ASEAN Pacific Alliance Foreign Ministers Meeting; the 41st Annual Meeting for Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77; and the ASEAN-Mercosur Foreign Ministers Meeting.

He will also host an informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and attend the group’s meeting with the President of the 72nd UN General assembly and the UN Secretary General.

Consul General Maria Theresa De Vega of the Philippine Consulate General in New York said Cayetano will also speak before the Asia Society and will be meeting with members of the Filipino Community.