The Philippines will host the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting (SNAMMM) on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development on March 16-18, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. Originally scheduled for December 1-3 last year, the ministerial meeting was postponed to a later date so that the Philippine government could concentrate on relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of two devastating cyclones that struck the country in the latter part of 2009. As of January, 40 NAM countries have already confirmed their participation in the conference. The Philippines expects 30 to 40 foreign ministers to head the delegations. The meeting will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila. A one-day Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) will be held on March 16 to finalize the conference's draft outcome document. The SNAMM meet is consistent with the Sharm El Sheikh Declaration by NAM heads of state or government to “identify and pursue necessary measures and contribute positively in further promoting dialogue of civilizations, culture of peace, and interfaith dialogue.” At the 15th Summit of NAM in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on July 15-16 last year, the heads of state or government and heads of delegations issued a “call for an active participation and engagement of all NAM members in the SNAMMM on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development to be held in Manila, Philippines on the initiative of the government of the Philippines.” The Philippines considers that intercultural and interfaith dialogue policy framework paves the way for the coming together of people of different cultures and faiths to build, through dialogue and action, a shared environment of peace and security based on mutual understanding, trust, and respect.
