Münster, Germany – Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe R. Natividad delivered a speech honoring 60 years of Philippine-German diplomatic relations at the historic city of Münster, Germany on 7 November 2013. Münster, along with Osnabruck, is the city where the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648, ending the Thirty Years’ War and laying down the foundations of modern day diplomacy.

Ambassador Natividad was the guest of honor for the 2013 edition of the   “Münsteraner Botschaftergespräche” (Münster Ambassador Talks), a biannual event, upon invitation of Corps Rheno-Guestphalia and its head Mr. Dirk Frotscher. The Ambassador’s speech focused on prospects and challenges for stronger Philippine-German diplomatic relations. She delivered a presentation on “Moving Forward: Towards 60 years of Philippine-German diplomatic relations”, marking one of the Embassy’s initiatives in raising awareness on the anniversary of Philippine-German bilateral relations which was established in 1954, through the opening of a Philippine consulate in Hamburg headed by Dr. Policronio de Venecia. After her speech, the Ambassador opened the floor for questions from the audience.

As part of the programme, a courtesy call was arranged with Münster Mayor Beate Vilhjalmsson who personally guided the Ambassador through the historic town hall, including the room where the Peace of Westphalia was signed. Incidentally, Mayor Vilhjalmsson also shared that she was part of the team that helped in the language studies and cultural integration of the first batch of Filipino health professionals who entered Germany in the 1970s.

While in Münster, the Ambassador also met with Ms. Meike Friedrich, Superintendent of the Evangelischen Kirchenkreises Münster and with Reverand Martin Martin Mustroph. The Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of the partnership with the South Bicol Conference  of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Afterwards, the Ambassador had an informal gathering with the German-Philippine Barkadas youth group and students of the Annette von Droste-Hulshoff High School and discussed developments in Philippine government and society.

The program was capped with a visit to the German Police University, Münster-Hiltrup, North Rhine-Westphalia where the Ambassador had the chance to talk with Mr. Zeiser and discuss possible training partnership between the Philippine police and the German Police University.
Reflecting on activities in Münster, Ambassador Natividad remarked, “It was an excellent program which opened avenues for future cooperation and made possible through the efforts of a German organization, the Corps Rheno-Guestphalia.” END

ITLOS President Shunji Yanai dialogues with Asia Pacific Ambassadors at the Philippine Residence in Berlin#

22 October 2013 – Berlin. Consistent with the Department’s efforts to promote rule of law and seek open, friendly, and durable solution to international maritime disputes, H.E. Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, Ambassador of the Philippines to Germany, recently invited  H.E. Shunji Yanai, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), to be the guest of honor at the Asia Pacific Group of Ambassadors luncheon in Berlin.

Ambassador Natividad hosted the luncheon and dialogue with the objective of highlighting the important role of ITLOS in adjudicating international maritime disputes and the impressive work of the ITLOS under President Yanai.

In her introductory remarks, Ambassador Natividad highlighted that international cooperation must be founded on the rule of law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  This echoed the sentiment of President Aquino during the recent ASEAN Summit and related Summits, where the West Philippine Sea once again took center stage.

During the briefing and open forum with Ambassadors of Asia Pacific countries, President Yanai explained the dispute settlement procedures under the 1982 UNCLOS.  He also gave updates on the developments in the tribunal, particularly those relevant to Asia Pacific states.
The Asia Pacific Ambassadors were particularly interested to hear President Yanai’s review of the territorial sea delimitation case brought to ITLOS by Bangladesh and Myanmar, the first of its kind heard by the court.  President Yanai, for his part, further noted that the 2012 ITLOS decision established the boundary of the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf between both Myanmar and Bangladesh.  The ITLOS case followed years of protracted negotiations between both countries.

As the sitting ITLOS President, Mr. Yanai was tasked earlier in the year to nominate the remaining arbitrators on the arbitral panel to hear the case initiated by the Philippines against China’s claims to the South China Sea under the 1982 UNCLOS. To date, the Arbitral Tribunal constituted has adopted the rules of procedure and decided that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague shall act as the Registry in the proceedings.

Recently, ITLOS has again found itself at the center of a high profile dispute, with Netherlands recently requesting ITLOS to prescribe provisional measures against the Russian Federation, with respect to the release of the Greenpeace vessel “Arctic Sunrise” and its thirty man crew, which was detained last month in the Barents Sea. – END

22 October 2013, BERLIN – Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad met with Major Ricnon Carolasan, Philippine participant in the newly-resumed Philippine-German military training cooperation, in Cologne, Germany.

“Defense is one of the priority areas for cooperation as the Philippines and Germany celebrate 60th year of bilateral relations, “ stated Ambassdaor Natividad.

Major Ricnon Carolasan arrived in Cologne in August 2013 to commence his German language studies preparatory to the military course in Hamburg.Major Carolasan is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy in 1994 and has been in active service for 22 years. Major Carolasan is a multiawarded official and recipient of various commendations.

Major Carolasan’s participation marks the revival of defense cooperation between the two countries.

As early as 1974, the Philippines and Germany inked an agreement on military training assistance. The administrative agreement formed the basis for trainings and scholarships for Philippine military officers who were able to take up command and staff courses in military schools in Germany. Many of these officers now hold responsible positions in the Philippine defense establishment. However, Philippine participation stopped in 1998.

In May 2012, with support from the Department and the Department of National Defense (DND), H.E. Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad exerted efforts to revive military training assistance and spearheaded discussions with the German Ministry of Defense on enhancing bilateral security  and defense cooperation. Germany responded with an offer for military training assistance, among others.

Bilateral defense l consultations were held for the first time between the DND and the Federal Ministry of Defense and their counterparts in the Philippine Defense Ministry in Manila from 13 to 15 February 2013. The next follow-up defense consultations is expected to take place in 2014 in Berlin.

Major Carolasan’s participation is seen to be a breakthrough.“ This is a concrete outcome of the recent defense consultations. We look forward to more cooperation projects: including hopefully an agreement on a framework for cooperation’, said Ambassador Natividad.  END