Friday, January 12, 2007 Glo, 6 other heads of state due today for summit opening By Jeanette P. Malinao Sun.Star Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Arroyo will fly to Cebu today, as six more heads of state will arrive for the official opening of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
Shortly after her arrival at midday, the President will attend the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) summit at the Shagri-la Mactan Island Resort at 2 p.m.
The BIMP-Eaga is expected to come up with agreements to accelerate economic development in the region through increased investments, the development of human resources, effective use of natural resources and stronger security measures.
After the signing ceremonies at the BIMP-Eaga summit, she will meet with former president Fidel Ramos, the Philippine representative to the Eminent Persons Group, before proceeding to the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
She will unveil the commemorative marker that states how the CICC, built out of Cebuano money and in only eight months, stands for the “indomitable spirit” of the Cebuanos.
Arroyo will then formally open the exhibits of sites and products from Cebu’s towns and that of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, which is intended to highlight “the Best of Cebu.”
Heads of state of the 10 Asean member-countries and some of the dialogue partners will then be welcomed into the CICC by Arroyo and other local and national officials. This will be followed by an informal meeting among the leaders.
First on the agenda is the establishment of the Asean charter, the provisions of which were tackled by the Eminent Persons Group. The charter will make the Asean a rules-based grouping instead of one based on consensus.
Tonight, President Arroyo is expected to meet with Timor Leste Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta in one of the bilateral rooms at the CICC, on the accession of the former Portuguese colony to the Asean.
The heads of Brunei, Laos, Malaysia and Myan-mar arrived in Cebu yesterday. The prime ministers of Cambodia, Singa-pore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam are flying in today, as well as the president of Indonesia.
Aside from tackling counter-terrorism, renewable energy, the protection of migrant workers and the resumption of trade talks, Present Arroyo is also offering for the Philippines to host the Six-Party talks aimed at finding a solution to North Korea’s nuclear testing.
As chairman of the Asean foreign ministers, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo issued last year a statement calling on Pyongyang to abide by the United Nations resolution against it, and for it to return to the Six-Party talks to find a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the nuclear issue.
Romulo has stated that Asean is ready to assist in ending the standoff.
Offer
Asean spokesman Victo-riano Lecaros, in a media briefing yesterday, said the Philippines’ offer remains and “will not be withdrawn soon.”
So far, none of the participants showed any indication of accepting the offer, although they have not rejected it either.
“Perhaps the complexity of the issues is such that the parties are keeping their cards close to their chest,” said Lecaros.
The summit will end on Monday, with authorities expecting to sign, among others, what will be the “Cebu Declaration Towards a Caring and Sharing Community.”
The Cebu Declaration will contain Asean’s commitment to address common concerns such as terrorism and improving social conditions particularly for women and children, enhancing the safety of migrants, mitigating disasters and managing potential pandemic diseases.
It also aims to address the need to “upgrade the quality of life” through education, science, technology, trade and tourism.
