Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo (center) chairs the first in-person Ambassadorial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG), accompanied by Deputy Permanent Representative Ariel Rodelas Peñaranda (left) and Election   Officer   Marivil   V.  Valles (right) of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations (Photo Credit: New York PM).

 

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 15 September 2022 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Amb. Antonio M. Lagdameo chaired the first in-person Ambassadorial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) today, after more than two years of virtual consultations, since the pandemic affected the conduct of the Group’s methods of work.

In his opening remarks, he acknowledged the improvements in the global health situation taking place each day, with the most recent allotment of vaccines to help address the Omicron sub-variants. He said that these developments motivated his delegation to hold the first Ambassadorial APG meeting in person after more than two years.

“We can support monthly in-person meetings should this be the modality that we will follow in the succeeding months, but with due regard to the safety and health advice of the relevant state and UN authorities,” he said.

As current Chair of the Asia-Pacific Group, PH leads discussions on issues concerning the region, including the Group’s candidatures and nominations to the United Nations and various UN bodies.

According to established practice, the meeting is conducted every end of the month, but for this month, the Philippines held the meeting in mid-September in view of the upcoming High-Level Week of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, with most of the Heads of States and/or Foreign Ministers arriving in New York to participate in the High-Level Meetings scheduled for the second half of the month.

Ambassador Lagdameo was introduced to the Group by Deputy Permanent Representative, Amb. Ariel Rodelas Peñaranda,

The Ambassador was welcomed by several of his counterpart Permanent Representatives from the region, including the ASEAN Permanent Representatives.-END.