'Germany one of Phl's strongest economic partners'

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has conveyed to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that the Philippines regards Germany as one of its strongest economic, political and cultural partners, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

Del Rosario also said that trade and investment between the two countries have increased despite the Fraport issue or the dispute over Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3.

Del Rosario said that the Philippines has made serious efforts in arriving at a fair and just resolution to the Fraport case, using credible dispute settlement modes.

“Both Secretary Del Rosario and Minister Westerwelle agreed that the Fraport issue should not affect other aspects of the long and robust relations between the Philippines and Germany. Both officials expressed hope in finding a way forward to this longstanding minor irritant between the two governments,” the DFA said.

Former German ambassador to Manila Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch urged the Aquino administration “to do away with the ghosts of the past” created by the NAIA-3 project and bring the parties involved to the negotiating table “to facilitate a legal, fair and timely solution for an inherited problem.”

Del Rosario and Westerwelle met in Berlin on Dec. 7 to discuss ways to deepen economic, political and cultural cooperation. This is the first official visit to Germany by a Philippine foreign affairs secretary in ten years, after then Foreign Secretary Blas Ople visited Germany.

Del Rosario highlighted the robust growth and expansion of German companies in Philippine economic zones, the DFA said.

Del Rosario also thanked Germany for its support for poverty reduction and conflict transformation in Mindanao.

Westerwelle and Del Rosario also signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on cultural relations between the Philippines and Germany aimed at closer cooperation in areas such as literary works, performing arts, film and television, museology, heritage and art conservation, among others.