Tuesday, August 10, 2004 RP insists ties with US remain 'strong'
MANILA -- President Arroyo's administration repeated Monday that Philippine and US relations remain strong and robust, shrugging off reports that the country's status as a non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) ally was in peril.
The Philippine government offered to help the United States rebuild Iraq "within its capability", during talks Monday between Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert and US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone.
Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Albert and Ricciardone, who had flown home for consultations with his superiors after Washington accused Manila of caving in to terrorists, reiterated after the meeting the commitment of the two nations to strengthen their relations.
"They have issued a statement after the meeting. I think the gist of the statement is our relationship remains robust at nakalagay doon ang kooperasyon ng ating gobyerno at gobyerno ng US at ang ating relasyon ay nanatiling matatag (and it states that the cooperation between our government and the US government and our relations remain strong)," Bunye said.
Bunye said this means that the Philippines and the US will continue to undertake joint efforts, whether political, cultural, economic or trade-related.
Albert confirmed that she and Ricciardone "discussed the state of relations between our two countries and reiterated our common determination to strengthen these relations."
Both countries "remain committed to the future of Iraq" and "the Philippines will continue to do its part within its capability and pursuant to its interests in helping the people of Iraq," she added.
Albert did not say what that offer might mean.
Albert said Manila "continues to condemn the acts of terrorism in Iraq," particularly "the attacks on innocent civilians" as well as "efforts to breed intolerance and hate."
Ricciardone said he "associates myself with the statement of the secretary in general terms," and thanked Arroyo for the contribution of 4,200 Filipino civilian workers in Iraq who are helping in the rebuilding efforts there.
"I wouldn't suggest to you that nothing had happened," Ricciardone said, acknowledging "serious disagreements" which had had an impact on bilateral ties as well as with Manila's relations with other members of the coalition.
President Arroyo, citing national interest, recalled the 51-member military and police contingent in Iraq on July 19 to save the life of kidnapped truck driver Angelo de la Cruz, who was threatened with beheading by militants opposed to the US-led foreign military presence.
Before that, the Arroyo government had publicly endorsed the US-led invasion and contributed troops and other personnel after the downfall of Saddam Hussein last year.
Nonetheless, Ricciardone said Washington and Manila, its former colony, had "very important security relations" and "very important common interests" and that it was in their common interest to rebuild bilateral ties.
Albert said defense and military cooperation would continue, including annual large-scale joint military exercises on Philippine territory as well as counter-terrorist training provided by US military advisers to Filipino forces.
President Arroyo, meanwhile, thanked the United Nations for its US$107.7 million five-point development agenda for the Philippines. The program will help address the country's poverty problems.
"We appreciate the UN's development agenda for the country. It is a close companion of our 10-point agenda and five reform packages," Arroyo said.
"We have always adhered to the human development principles of the UN and the holistic approach combining good governance and equitable economic programs. Our quest for human progress extends beyond our borders, enveloping eight million Filipinos abroad and their host nations," she added.
The UN Development Assistance Framework in the Philippines (Undaf), which will run from 2005 to 2009, was awarded to the Philippines after it was found out that the incidence of poverty in the country remains higher than in any other nation in Southeast Asia.
The UN said the amount of money a person needs to earn to meet his nutritional and other basic needs stands at P11,605 in the Philippines, which means that about 34 percent of Filipino families are poor.
The UN also noted that access to basic social services like health and education needs to be widened. JMR/With AFP
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