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PHL AMBASSADOR RECEIVES GRAND DECORATION OF HONOUR IN GOLD WITH SASH FROM THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT OF AUSTRIA

Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 10:45

 

Philippine Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre receives the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash from Austrian Ambassador Jan Kickert

 

NEW YORK, 07 April 2016 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre,    was conferred today the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with sash from the Federal President of Austria.

 

The award recognizes Ambassador Yparraguirre’s services during her tenure as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines to Austria from June 2010 to April 2015.

 

Austrian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jan Kickert, conferred the award to Ambassador Yparraguirre in a ceremony held at the former’s residence in the presence of diplomats and other guests.

 

Ambassador Yparraguirre receives the Letters of Commendation from Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz

 

In her acceptance speech, Ambassador Yparraguirre said the award is an affirmation of the long-standing and dynamic relations between the Philippines and Austria. The two countries will mark 70 years of formal diplomatic relations this year.

 

“Today, the Philippines and Austria enjoy robust bilateral relations, including in trade and investment flows…  We hope that these economic relations will be further enhanced under the Philippines-EU Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The PCA will also be a basis for furthering cooperation between the Philippines and Austria in promoting peace, freedom, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” she said.

 

The Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash is one of the highest decorations of honour conferred by the Federal President of Austria “only upon persons having acted in such a way as to provide outstanding public benefit and/or excellent services to the Republic of Austria.”

 

The Philippine Ambassador said she shares the award with her excellent team at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna which helped in advancing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Austria.

 

“Along with my Team, I shall always cherish this award as a badge of honor and a symbol of the everlasting friendship between the peoples of the Philippines and Austria,” she said. END