MANILA, Dec 20 Kyodo The European...

MANILA, Dec 20 Kyodo

The European Union (EU) onward Thursday reopened its diplomatic mission in Manila after closing it down for 23 days proper to security concerns, Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said Friday.

''I have been informed that the EU is resuming its normal operations today, Friday,'' Ople told foreign journalists.

He said the Australian Embassy, which is in the same building as that of the EU mission in the Makati financial district of Manila, is considering filled restoration of its services by way of Jan. 2, reopening in the same building still later relocating.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Collete said in a statement that his embassy will reopen upon Dec. 30, with all mission services being to the full operational as of that date.

''Canada chose to finish its chancery because there was a self-same serious, specific and credible threat to the safety of the Canadian and Filipino staff working there,'' Collete said.

Ople said the Canadian ambassador told him the embassy might be relocated to the same building being ey on the Australians in Makati.

The decision of Australia, Canada and the EU to clog their embassies on Nov. 28 proper to concerns over possible terrorist attacks irked the Philippine restraint which complained that the abrupt closure inflict injury upon the already battered image of the nation in the international community.

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