Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano INQUIRER file photo
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stressed that the Philippine government is committed to finding a resolution to mend the strained diplomatic relations with Kuwait.
“We are committed to find a way with our counterparts in Kuwait to achieve our shared goal of strengthening our bilateral relations based on what we hope would be a common desire to ensure the well-being of our kababayans [countrymen] there,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano maintained, though, that the actions the Philippine Embassy to Kuwait carried out were “a rightful exercise of duty under international law.”
“Our actions are consistent both with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Cayetano said.
“In pursuing these discussions, we remain guided by the President’s policy that the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas is paramount. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment have been carrying out this policy by ensuring that we always come to the aid of Filipinos in distress anywhere in the world,” he added.
The secretary also said that the current scenario is an opportunity to strengthen Philippine-Kuwaiti ties. However, in this case, Cayetano asked the media and the public to provide the Philippines and Kuwait the necessary “diplomatic space” while the two countries are discussing appropriate concerns.
“If we reach agreement on this, the ties between our two countries would become stronger than ever,” Cayetano added. /jpv
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