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A BRIEF TESTIMONIAL OF
H.E. AMBASSADOR PROF. IRZAN TANDJUNG,
Ph.D
AT THE LAUNCHING OF AMBASSADOR
MANUEL T. YAN’S
PEACE
RESOURCE CENTER (AMTY-PRC)
OPAPP, PASIG CITY
28 SEPTEMBER 2009
-----------------------------
Hon. Eduardo Ermita, Executive
Secretary;
Hon. Secretary Avelino Razon, Jr.,
Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process;
Hon. Ambassador Howard Dee;
General Fortunato Abat;
Ms. Alma Evangelista, Assistant
Resident Representative of UNDP;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good morning! Magandang umaga po
sa inyong lahat!
I
would like to convey my deepest
appreciation and sincere gratitude
especially to Secretary Razon, Jr.
for inviting me to deliver a
brief testimonial to honor General
Manuel T. Yan, one of the finest
public servants the Philippines has
ever had.
As
a result of my research, I have
learned that the late General Manuel
T. Yan, as a soldier, diplomat and
peacemaker had served his nation and
people for an unbroken period of 63
years under 11 presidents from
President Quezon to President
Estrada. He was also appointed as
Ambassador to Indonesia. A few
months after he retired from the
Foreign Service in November 1992,
President Fidel V. Ramos appointed
him as a Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process.
His
work as a Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process had culminated in
the signing of the Final Peace
Agreement between the Government of
the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) in
September 1996. On this achievement,
General Manuel T. Yan had devoted
his untiring effort to support a
just and lasting peace sought by all
parties concerned. Indonesia as well
as the other members of the OIC
Committee of the Six that were
involved during the rounds of peace
negotiations between the GRP and the
MNLF had undoubtedly enjoyed his
significant role in formalizing the
said peace agreement. During the
period of the GRP-MNLF peace
negotiations, it can be acknowledged
that General Manuel Yan had worked
intensively with his Indonesian
counterparts, Ambassador Wirjono
Sastrohandoyo and then Director Nur
Hassan Wirajuda who is now the
Indonesian Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
Distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen:
Allow me to take this opportunity to
reiterate that Indonesia is
committed to preserve peace,
stability and prosperity with
regards to the ongoing peace process
in the Southern part of the
Philippines. Indonesia will further
maintain its commitment to do its
utmost effort and contributions for
the creation of a lasting peace,
stability and prosperity in
Mindanao. Today, as Chairman of the
Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) Peace Committee for
the Southern Philippines, Indonesia
will ensure the continuing process
of genuine dialogue in fully
implementing the 1996 Final Peace
Agreement under the aegis of the OIC.
And I know that the late Ambassador
Yan would have agreed with my
opinion to share this vision of
lasting peace, particularly
pertaining to the ongoing peace
process in the Southern part of the
Philippines.
To
end my brief testimonial, the
launching of Ambassador Manuel T.
Yan’s Peace Resource Center this
morning is indeed a true testament
that peace can be achieved and
promoted through common resolves.
It is my fervent hope that this
Center will further share the light
of an eternal and lasting peace that
Ambassador Yan had long envisioned
during his service rendered to the
nation and to the world.
Thank you. Mabuhay po tayong
lahat!
