UN, US warn of ‘maximum volatility’ in Golan Heights if Philippine peacekeepers withdraw

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ top diplomat says U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have appealed to Manila not to withdraw more than 300 Filipino peacekeepers from the Golan Heights to avoid “maximum volatility” in the restive Middle East region.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Wednesday the diplomats made the appeal to him in separate recent talks.

The Filipino troops will stay in the region up to Aug. 3, when they need to be replaced by a fresh batch. But del Rosario said the Philippines may withdraw from the peacekeeping mission if no additional safeguards will be put in place to ensure the safety of the Filipinos.

Del Rosario recommended the withdrawal of the Filipinos following two separate abductions of Filipino peacekepers in the Golan Heights.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles