BAKU, 07 July 2023. The Philippine Embassy in Ankara joined officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), led by Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Economic Relations (UMAIER) Carlos D. Sorreta in discussing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with 14 countries on the sidelines of the Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from 03 to 06 July 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta with Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov (Embassy photo)

Undersecretary Sorreta met with high level representatives from Azerbaijan, Cuba, Iran, Mauritania, Namibia, Venezuela, Mozambique, Bolivia, India, Kazakhstan, Uganda, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

He discussed possible Philippine investments in port development with both Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerado Peñalver of Cuba and Deputy Foreign Minister Karla Gabriela Samayoa Recari of Guatemala.

The establishment of bilateral consultative mechanisms and political consultations was raised with Ambassador Adnane Salem Cheibani Amar of Mauritania, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Manuel José Gonçalves of Mozambique, Ambassador Diego Pary of Bolivia and Foreign Minister Denis Moncada Colindres of Nicaragua.

Undersecretary Sorreta congratulated Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov of Azerbaijan for the successful chairmanship of the NAM. In a separate meeting, Sorreta conveyed the support and cooperation of the Philippines to Foreign Minister Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar of Uganda for their incoming chairmanship of the NAM.

Undersecretary Sorreta with Ugandan Foreign Minister Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar (Embassy photo)

India and the Philippines discussed mutual support on key issues and reform of the working methods of the NAM.

In all bilateral meetings, Undersecretary Sorreta highlighted that the Philippines was deeply committed to peace and security and the principles of the NAM.  He requested support for PH bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027–2028.##