Manila tells UN conditions for Golan force to stay

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ top diplomat has laid down conditions to the United Nations for Filipino peacekeepers to stay in the Golan Heights, including additional weapons for their protection and shorter periods of deployment in the volatile buffer region separating Israel from Syria.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said Sunday that UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous pledged in a meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in New York that the world body will work “with all stakeholders to provide what is needed consistent with the disengagement agreement.”

A department statement says del Rosario assured Ladsous the Filipinos will stay until Aug. 11, then decide whether to stay involved, depending whether the troops get better protection. UN and US officials have warned of “maximum volatility” if the Filipinos withdraw.