As part of its cultural diplomacy program and in celebration of National Heritage Month, the Philippine Embassy in Rabat, in partnership with Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talentong Pilipino (KUNST), hosted an art lecture and workshop for artistically-inclined members of the Filipino community on 5 May 2024 at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat, Morocco.

In his candid and informal lecture, Mr. Virgilio Cuizon, the Head of Delegation of the Viaje 3 exhibition, introduced the concept of ‘Filipinism’ to the attendees, which he described as a unique expression of an artist’s personality and character to form a Filipino identity. He emphasized that inspiration can emerge from the artists’ childhood environment, their places of origin, and their language or dialect. He believes that these elements contribute to the expression of ‘Filipinism’ in their work.

Visiting Filipino artists, namely Lerma Julian, Eric Punzalan, Frederick Epistola, Doy Kastilyo and Yelcast facilitated the art workshop. Using oil pastel and felt paper, the participants sketched landscape, life, and still life images applying the various drawing and coloring techniques taught by the artists.

Mr. Cuizon interviewed some participants to ask them about their experience during the workshop. Some of them described it as relaxing, therapeutic, and nakakabata, while others noted how interesting it was to use oil pastel with felt paper and sandpaper to create pieces with more texture and depth, compared to using a regular drawing pad or board.

As tokens of appreciation, the artists presented souvenir artworks to the participants which were warmly received.

The Filipino artists are in Morocco for the Viaje 3 Filipinism What Makes Art Filipino exhibition which runs from 7 to 15 May 2024 at the Abla Ababou Gallery in Rabat. This is the first exhibition from Asian artists mounted by the gallery since it opened its doors in 2017.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, May 14, 2024, as National Unification Day and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the day is in consonance with an act of Legislature of the Republic passed in 1960, declaring the 14th of May of each year as a National Unification Day, realizing the benefits to be accrued from the Unification and Integration Policy.

The Proclamation recounts that since the Unification and Integration Policy became a cogent part of the National Development Plan, the people of Liberia have seen marked progress and improvement in all spheres of national endeavor, particularly in the economic, educational, communication and social fields.

It recalls that the wisdom of the Unification Policy has found expression in the national fabric through the representation of all sections of the country in the Legislature and every other branch of Government, thereby promoting conditions of peace and unity.

The Presidential Proclamation stresses that being mindful of the years of civil strife in the country and its harmful impacts on the people of Liberia, it becomes imperative that all Liberians embrace the noble ideals enshrined in the Unification Act to promote unity and peace among all Liberians.

The Proclamation furthers that the Government of Liberia adheres to the principles of justice, equality, fair play, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of tribe or clan, creed, religion, or economic status so that Liberians might be united in a consolidated whole, as a result of this national aspiration, a Unification and Integration Program was enunciated and pursued in the country.

President Boakai also directed that appropriate programs be organized to celebrate the day.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Barrie Freeman of the United States as his new Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

Ms. Freeman succeeds Giovanie Biha of Burundi, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her accomplishments in West Africa and the Sahel, including her role in advancing implementation of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.  The Secretary-General also thanks Khassim Diagne of Senegal, who has been providing steadfast support to UNOWAS in the interim.

Ms. Freeman brings to the position over 30 years of wide-ranging experience in international peace and security.  She has served since 2021 as Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).  Prior to that, she served as Deputy Head and Political Director in the Peacebuilding Support Office of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs from 2018 to 2021.  She also brings valuable field experience as Chief of Staff from 2016 to 2018, and, before that, as Director of Political Affairs in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Prior to her work with the United Nations, Ms. Freeman served in senior positions at the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C., the United States, and with the United States Department of State, where she held multiple positions in Washington, D.C., and in several African countries, including in Western Africa.

Ms. Freeman has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University and completed master’s coursework at Georgetown University.  She is fluent in English and French.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General.

Eritrean nationals residing in Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the USA are actively participating in extensive public diplomacy activities, including seminars, conferences, and celebrations, among others.

According to a report from the Public and Community Affairs Office in Italy, seminars were held from 14 January to 28 April in 11 cities, including Abruzzo, Florence, Padova, Torino, Bologna, Napoli, Bari, Catania, and Palermo. These seminars saw the participation of over 2,000 nationals. At these events, the Eritrean Ambassador to the Republic of Italy, Mr. Fesshazion Pietros, along with diplomats from the Eritrean Embassy, delivered briefings focused on strengthening the resilience and organizational capacity of the 4th Front. They highlighted the noble values and resilience of the Eritrean people in achieving independence, safeguarding sovereignty, and countering external conspiracies, and called for enhanced participation of nationals abroad in the implementation of outlined national development programs.

In related news, on April 21 and 27, respectively, Mr. Negasi Kassa, the ambassador of Eritrea to the EU and Benelux Countries, gave seminars for citizens living in Amsterdam and Sullen.

During these seminars, Ambassador Negasi provided extensive briefings on national development programs outlined for 2024 and beyond, Eritrea’s foreign policy, and the significance of strong organizational capacity in implementing national programs.

Mr. Kibreab Tewolde, Head of Consular Affairs, and Mr. Isaac Minassie, Head of Public and Community Affairs, also provided extensive briefings on consular services and public diplomacy activities.

Likewise, the National Union of Eritrean Women branch in Sweden organized a virtual annual activity assessment meeting via webinar on 27 April. Ms. Saba Tekle, Head of the branch union, underscored the heroic role of Eritrean women in achieving independence, safeguarding sovereignty, and preserving national values and identity, calling for its sustainability. Participants, including the Head of the Public and Community Affairs branch in the Embassy of Eritrea in Scandinavian countries, discussed observed strengths and weaknesses.

Similarly, in the US, nationals residing in Columbus and its environs in Ohio State, as well as Indianapolis, conducted a celebration under the theme “Fenkil against all odds and challenges.” During the occasion, Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet, Charge d’Affairs of the Eritrean Embassy in the USA, presented a seminar titled “Current Opportunities and Challenges.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.