RP to send peacekeepers to war-torn Liberia

NEW YORK (via PLDT) – About 500 Filipino peacekeeping troops will be sent to Liberia to help rebuild the strife-torn West African nation in response to a request from the United Nations.

President Arroyo said she told UN Secretary General Kofi Annan the Philippines is willing to send a peacekeeping and humanitarian contingent to Iraq under UN command.

"We have contributed military personnel, civilian police officers and civil affairs personnel in major UN operations in Iraq, Cambodia, East Timor, to name a few," she said.

"And I have informed the secretary general that we are willing to take in similar tasks in Liberia. We will help in Liberia.

"We’ll be sending peacekeeping forces. They have invited us, for a number as high as 500, to participate in a multinational force which will augment security in Liberia."

In a 25-minute meeting with Annan, Mrs. Arroyo also vowed "to gradually" increase the 95-strong Filipino peacekeeping and humanitarian contingent in Iraq.

"The Philippines is anticipating a highly rewarding stint as a member of the UN Security Council," she said.

"And so we intend to help the UN Security Council to promote the idea of collective security established under the UN charter.

"We intend to help the UN strengthen the multilateral approach ... For instance, I did say I believe the UN should play a stronger role in Iraq. That would be the multilateral approach."

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, who was with Mrs. Arroyo in the meeting with Annan, said the Philippines is scheduled to be elected to a non-permanent seat in the Security Council on Oct. 23.

"We have counted 128 votes for the Philippines and we think it’s sufficient to meet the two-thirds for becoming a member of the Security Council," he said.

"We’ll try our best to fulfill our obligations as one of the non-permanent members of the UN."

Mrs. Arroyo is in New York attending the UN General Assembly.

Some 200,000 people have died in 14 years of almost non-stop fighting in Liberia that began when former president Charles Taylor launched a rebellion in 1989.

The Philippines, which expects to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, has contributed military and police personnel to other peacekeeping forces in Cambodia, Haiti, Kosovo, East Timor and Iraq. — Marichu Villanueva, Reuters