We are receptive to the idea but the recommendation of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is that President Gloria Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo present the proposal during the general assembly and promote it to the 190 countries of the UN.

The president herself and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo have always supported the ASEAN endorsement of Dr. Surakiart.

Much will depend on how we remove the attitudinal barriers from both sides while building an environment that nurtures trust and confidence.

The Quartet - the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States - must move past their formal meetings. The Security Council must go beyond presidential and press statements after its monthly meetings on the Middle East and the Arabs must do more that what they are doing now.

The two are a disgrace to the Philippines, the Filipino people, and Filipino peacekeepers who are proudly serving in United Nations missions worldwide.