Nobel laureates set to visit RP

At least 21 Nobel Peace laureates will visit the Philippines between November 2007 and April 2008 as part of a Southeast Asia-wide peace dialogue to be led by the Vienna-based International Peace Foundation (IPF).

Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein, chairman of the IPF Advisory Board, confirmed to President Arroyo at Malacañang last Saturday the participation of the Nobel laureates in the event.

"We are honored to come to the Philippines. We will bring 21 Nobel Peace Prize laureates and they are excited to come," Prince Alfred told Mrs. Arroyo.

"Welcome to the Philippines. I am glad that you chose my country to be part of this event," Mrs. Arroyo said in response.

The coming IPF activities are part of the "Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace" from November this year to April 2008.

The events are aimed at stimulating the intellectual, scientific and cultural exchanges in Southeast Asia. IPF, which has an Asian office in Bangkok, is known as an independent, apolitical and ecumenical foundation.

Each Nobel laureate’s visit is expected to last for four to six days. They are expected to hold dialogues in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas, the Asian Institute of Management, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions will touch on various subjects like politics, science, and culture and will highlight the challenges of both globalization and regionalism and their impact on development and international cooperation.

Presidential Assistant for Agrarian Reform Heherson Alvarez, Executive Director of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, and IPF board chairman Uwe Morawetz accompanied Prince Alfred in his Malacañang visit. – Paolo Romero