PHILIPPINE TROOPS TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001362

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/29/2019
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PINR PREL RP SY UNDOF
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE TROOPS TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS
PEACEKEEPERS IN GOLAN HEIGHTS

Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Philippine government has announced
that a battalion of 340 Philippine military and law
enforcement personnel is expected to join United Nations
peacekeepers in the Golan Heights soon. The dispatch of this
battalion, which will serve with the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) for at least six months,
represents the largest overseas deployment of Philippine
troops in eight years. The Philippines is currently the
30th-largest contributor of UN peacekeepers, and the Arroyo
administration has repeatedly emphasized its continued
commitment to serving in United Nations peacekeeping
operations, notwithstanding the demands placed on military
and law enforcement resources by offensive operations against
insurgent groups and terrorists in the Philippines. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) Philippine Ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide, Jr.
and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced June
23 that a battalion of 340 Philippine troops will be
dispatched in September to join the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force in the disputed Golan Heights
region on the border of Syria and Israel. This deployment,
the largest overseas movement of Philippine troops since 600
troops were sent to East Timor in 2001 in support of the
United Nations Transitional Administration, will comprise
both military and law enforcement personnel who will serve
for a minimum of six months. The Filipinos will replace a
Polish battalion, joining more than 1,000 peacekeepers from
Austria, Canada, Croatia, Japan, India, and Poland presently
assigned to the Golan Heights. Commenting on the impending
deployment, Ambassador Davide noted, "In our own little way,
we will help keep the peace in that part of the Middle East."



3. (U) Philippine military and law enforcement personnel
have served in various United Nations peacekeeping missions
for more than 45 years, and have an excellent reputation as
peacekeepers and observers. The Philippines is currently the
30th largest contributor of UN peacekeepers, with some 613
military and law enforcement personnel now serving in United
Nations missions in Afghanistan, Cote d'Ivoire, East Timor,
Georgia, Haiti, Liberia, and Sudan. AFP spokesperson Lt.
Col. Romeo Brawner recently asserted that the United Nations
prefers to have Philippine personnel supporting their most
difficult and challenging peacekeeping operations.


4. (C) Since the Philippines' initial participation in
United Nations peacekeeping operations in 1963, 16 Filipino
peacekeepers have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Valuing its reputation for professionalism and discipline as
peacekeepers, the Philippine government has repeatedly
emphasized its continued commitment to the support of United
Nations peacekeeping operations. However, the Arroyo
administration's troop-intensive offensive against communist
New People's Army rebels, rogue Muslim insurgent elements,
and Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists has placed heavy demands on
both military and law enforcement personnel, forcing the
government to make increasingly difficult resource decisions
in order to maintain its long-standing commitment to United
Nations peacekeeping operations.
KENNEY