May 2021 | International Law Alerts | Foreign Policy / Bilateral Relations

 

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Philippine Representative Jaime Victor B. Ledda joined representatives of other ASEAN Member States in discussing current developments on human rights in the region and expressed deep concern over developments in Myanmar during the 33rd Meeting of the AICHR held via video conference from 06 to 08 April 2021

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido J. Dulay received Colombian Ambassador to the Philippines Marcela Ordonez on 04 May 2021 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), where they discussed various areas of mutual interest and cooperation between the Philippines and Colombia.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. spoke today with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry via telephone call, discussing major initiatives to address the climate crisis. Secretary Locsin congratulated the United States for successfully hosting the Leaders Summit on Climate on 22-23 April 2021.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and VFS Global signed today the first renewal of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Outsourcing of the Non-Sensitive, Non-Discretionary and Non-Complex Elements of Passport Renewal covering areas under the jurisdiction of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United Arab Emirates and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The outgoing Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bussairy paid his farewell call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. yesterday at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building, Pasay City.

Acting Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Elizabeth P. Buensuceso successfully co-chaired the 4th Philippines-Argentina Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on 17 May 2021 via Zoom together with Argentinian Undersecretary for Foreign Policy Gustavo Alejandro Dzugala.

Speaking by phone on 12 May, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Chung Eui Yong highlighted their countries’ defense cooperation, noting ROK’s contribution to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the delivery of two guided-missile frigates over the past year

In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and Russia’s MGIMO University organized a virtual conference on Philippines-Russia bilateral relations on 25 May 2021.

With the return of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal to General Community Quarantine(GCQ) status, with heightened restrictions, effective from 17 to 31 May 2021, the public is hereby advised concerning the consular operations of the Office of Consular Affairs in Aseana, Parañaque City and the Consular Offices in Antipolo, Dasmariñas, Malolos and San Pablo

Philippine Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, Eduardo José A. de Vega, delivered a virtual lecture on Philippine foreign policy to officials and approximately 50 students taking their executive master’s programs in international politics and in governance and development policy at the Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales & Stratgégiques – Université Libre de Bruxelles(CERIS-ULB) Diplomatic School of Brussels.

PH Honorary Consul General Luiz Paulo Sequeira, Jr. of Rio de Janeiro PHCG called on Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Leilani S. Feliciano on 13 May 2021 to discuss possibilities for bilateral, cultural and economic cooperation between the Philippines and Brazil, particularly Rio de Janeiro, for 2021 during the time of coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippines and Argentina held their first bilateral meeting on nuclear energy cooperation on 20 May 2021 via video conference, where agencies under the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology, such as the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and officials of Argentina’s INVAP S.E., one of the world’s leading aerospace and nuclear energy companies, discussed potential areas of cooperation, such as nuclear energy, food and agriculture, technical assistance, and capacity-building.

Philippine Ambassador to Czech Republic Ombra T. Jainal, together with Madam Elsie Jainal, led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in getting inoculated against COVID-19 at the Royal University Hospital in Vinohrady, Prague on 22 May 2021.