(Eagle News) – Senate President Koko Pimentel on Monday, April 30, said Qatar or Saudi Arabia could serve as “intermediaries” between the Philippines and Kuwait.
Pimentel made the statement following what appears to be a straining of relations between the Asian country and the Gulf state stemming from the abuse of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle Eastern country.
Kuwait has ordered the expulsion of Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and the recall of its Manila representative in protest of what it said was a recent illegal rescue of abused OFWs in the Gulf State by Philippine Embassy officials.
Kuwait allegedly deems the rescue illegal since it was not properly coordinated with Kuwaiti authorities.
“Let’s look at the Koreas: we need high-level contacts, honest discussions, and most importantly, no posting on social media or anywhere else on the Internet,” Pimentel said, referring to North Korea and South Korea which, only recently, pledged to end the Korean War which ended with only an armistice between the two countries’ military forces, and not between the two governments, in 1953.
Pimentel expressed hope the ties between the Philippines and Kuwait would “normalize,” noting that both countries “need each other.”
“I am inspired by the Korean example. If, after a full-blown war and decades of tension, two countries can make peace, what more two countries that have always enjoyed good relations and have strong economic ties?” he said.
“This is a highly-charged issue that is very tempting to politicize. Let’s put the country’s interests first and let the Department of Foreign Affairs take charge so that only one voice is heard by the Kuwaitis,” he added.